To J. D. Hooker   27 [January 1868]

My dear Hooker

I had heard nothing about Woollaston’s recent losses, & I am deeply grieved.¹ Several months ago I heard from Lyell that he had had some losses in Railways, but he did not speak of it as so bad, as the case now appears.—² It will be a real pleasure to me to help & I can well afford to subscribe ^£100; so will you be so kind as to act for me. Poor fellow with his broken health it is a fearful calamity.³ If his affairs do not recover, he w^d. be a most proper man for a Government pension.— I presume it w^d hurt his pride to receive temporary aid from Royal Soc. though in my opinion it ought not.—⁴ Anyhow I hope there may be a private subscription for Books, collections &c.— How foolish men are in their investments!—

Hearty thanks for your congratulations about George.⁵ It has greatly delighted us & made us as proud as peacocks. He owes it to indomitable energy & perseverance, which qualities he has shown, literally from his infancy. It pleases me particularly that he has never slaved himself, but taken a fair share of amusement & interest in other subjects.— Four-fifths of our delight has been in the sympathy of our friends,—& you my dear old fellow I always look at as our best & truest.

Yours affect^ly. | C. Darwin

Do you think Woollaston w^d like to hear the sympathy of old friends. What makes me doubt, that I have had no communication with him for some years;⁶ I think he had got rather to hate me.—