From J. D. Hooker   [25 January 1869]¹

Dear Darwin

Just one last thought anent genetic characters of no value to the plant–: is not the fact, that characters of primary value in system are so often of no use, an argument in favour of your conclusion, that such characters as are of no use if not in any way detrimental, are not necessarily eliminated, but may be retained ad infinitum—²

On the other hand, is it not an argument against the theory of characters acquired by the individual being hereditary—thus—if hereditary modifications that never come into play, do not die out; is it likely that non hereditary modifications brought into play by the individual (for its own special use) should be transmitted?—

I dare say you have put all this in the Origin,—& I have forgot it.

We dined at the Lyell’s the other day & I was put in Elysium between that lovely Mrs Norton who I met at your house, & took down, whose face is nearest an Angel’s (barring the Nose) of any I ever saw, in a dream.—& Miss Symonds, dau^r of the Pendock man, such a nice girl—with the lovely name of “Hyacinthe”.³ Poor old Murchison was there, looking rather “got up”— he is a good old soul. & now that he wears a stick in the house, he looks quite picturesque, with his star & high cravat.⁴ The Huxleys & Lady Eastlake⁵ & Leonard Lyell were there, no one else; & it was a delightful little party.— Lyell complained of a cold, but looked remarkably well— I wish he would not babble to me about the Copley medal. I do hate it. & it is such bad taste. & all the more as, on my soul, I would rather not have the Copley than have it with the draw-back of an after-dinner speech at the R.S. anniversary.⁶

We go to a tremendous wedding at Bury S^t. Edmunds this week, of our old friend the Rev C. Babington, of Cambridge, now Rector of Cockfield in Suffolk. it is to be a wonderful affair I hear. We go to Cockfield on Wednesday, & I return on Thursday night to Kew.⁷

Ever yrs affec | J D Hooker

Have you seen a curious notice of the Cannibal tribes of S. Africa, very horrid—printed in S. Africa.⁸

See p 490 of Appendix D^r Spencer on Materialism.⁹