From J. D. Hooker   14 November 1869

Dear Old Darwin

I should have written to you ere this & explained the CB. The only intimation I have hitherto had is from the Times!—¹ a month ago Murchison wrote to me to the effect, that the P.M. had written to him, stating that Lord Russell had recommended me for the Bath, regretting that no K.C.B was vacant, & asking if I would like C.B. The letter went on to ask, if I would accept Knighthood en attendant a K.C.B. after longer service—² I wrote by return of post, accepting CB. for services, & declining K^thood— the latter I did on various grounds, partly—because it signifies nothing,—whilst the CB. recognizes services, which is the only recognition I care for—& because if they wanted to Knight me (& I do not wish for Knighthood) they might have offered it in an order that indicated special Services—³

This said & done, I heard no more of the CB., till I saw it in the papers, & have heard nothing since. Nor had I a word from Lord Russell, though I wrote to thank him, through my Lady.—⁴

Murchison & Lyell⁵ have however strongly recommended me to the D. of Argyll for the Knight Commandership of the Star of India—but I do not think there is the least chance of my getting the offer of it.—⁶ Lyell has seen the Duke several times about it, who always says that he has “set his subs to seek official information on which to act”! Can you conceive such humbug? he may look long enough & find nothing— The E.I.C. absolutely ignored me & refused me every kind of countenance & assistance. The K.C.S.I. is so rare an honor that I might well be proud to have it—for my India services;⁷ but I really do not desire Knighthood, & would infinitely rather be plain D^r Hooker with CB to testify to my having done my duty as well as others who have that certificate.— So if it comes I shall be proud of it, if not I shall be as well content. Please say nothing about it— The fact is the D. might do it with a stroke of his pen, but he doesn’t like my Darwinism & my Address, & I am right proud of that.!⁸

And now to more congenial subjects.

I have just come up from Brodie’s pretty place on the top of Box hill—& left my wife & Brian till tomorrow—⁹ I like B,—exceedingly; only Odling was there; we talked much of P.R.S. supposing Sabine was to retire or “slip his wind”—& we agreed upon Lyell.¹⁰ I have seen Huxley since who tells me that the subject was mooted at the last X club (I was absent) & Lyell, all agreed, was the man—¹¹ I know that this is the Botanists opinions too, & the only difficulty is, is he able (physically) to take it for a year even?— I am to make out & shall write to Lady Lyell¹² enquiring—

I am greatly disappointed with “Nature”, & so is every one I have talked to about it— I had a long talk with the publisher MacMillan about it today—¹³ I would recommend that they drop the articles of the style of the “Academy”, which they cannot compete with—& give 1. a Summary of week’s Scientific news like the Spectator.,¹⁴ 2 Correspondence— 3 good plain descriptive reviews of books— 4 abstracts of Society’s meetings—try in fact to make it more simple & useful. There is plenty of room for a good journal of the kind— none for an inferior one.— What did you think of Huxleys rhapsody on Goethe’s ditto—¹⁵ I must say I could not share in his admiration, & the General public could not make head or tail of it.—

I saw Sylvester today who is raving about you¹⁶—also Huxley who is full of lecturing & Reptilian bones.

No news from Willy by last mail, but Hector writes that he is well, getting fatt, & that he will look out for a ship for sending him home.¹⁷

I am so glad that you liked my review of Schimper.¹⁸ I was very glad to write it, I could praise so heartily.—

I am working hard at my British Flora,¹⁹ the number of little points wanting attention is wonderful. I find that to do the descriptive part well, is all enough for one effort; & I count on doing the other for a companion volume.

Ever Yr affectionate | Jos D Hooker