To J. D. Hooker   [21 October 1866]1

Down

Sunday

My dear Hooker

The Bearer of this is Prof. Ernst Häckel, a first-rate Zoologist, who wishes much to know you, so I could not refuse a note of introduction, but I hope he will not take up very much of your time.—2

Your splendid present of trees & conifers has arrived all safe & Emma is very much obliged to you.—3

I am delighted to hear about the Government & your Fathers Herbarium & Books; though £7000 is a good big sum, I suppose it is a mere fraction of what your Father must have spent on them.—4

Lyell sent me the same chapters to read: they seemed to me very good indeed, not that I am convinced that change of land & water will do all that he thinks.—5

I am tired so good night.

Ever Yours | C. Darwin

1
The date is established by the reference to Ernst Haeckel, who visited CD on 21 October 1866 (Emma Darwin’s diary (DAR 242)).
2
Haeckel visited CD while on his way to Madeira to conduct research (see letter from Ernst Haeckel, 19 October 1866 and n. 2).
4
Hooker had told CD that the government was planning to purchase the herbarium and books of his late father, William Jackson Hooker, for the price Hooker had requested (see letter from J. D. Hooker, 19 October 1866 and n. 5).
5
Charles Lyell sent proof pages of chapters 10 to 12 of the first volume of the tenth edition of his Principles of geology (C. Lyell 1867–8). Lyell had argued that the relative distribution of land and water over the globe was a modifying influence on climate (see letter from J. D. Hooker, 19 October 1866 and n. 4).

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-5257,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-5257