To J. D. Hooker   20 [October 1871]

My dear Hooker

I have been so agitated by your letter of—for good God what a thing it would be if you feel compelled to resign—that I forgot to mention a most important thing. About a week or 10 days ago I heard that Sir H. H. was going to Turin.¹ He flies about so, he may have returned; but you had better enquire if nothing is heard from him. Time seems so important that I ventured to tell your servant to call & leave letter for Sir H. H.—

I forwarded your, letter with my own, as incomparably the best plan.—²

Let me beseech you not to resign in a hurry,— there is, & can be, nothing disgraceful in remaining under a man appointed by the Government, as long as you are conscious that you do your duty, as far as his accursed conduct permits you to do it effectively.—³ Assuredly no one could possibly fill your place so well. You must know this, & therefore I think your duty is to hold on, & bear, as far as a gentleman can, his rule.— Think how it w^d. be in a Ship under an odious Captain.

Yours ever affectionately | Ch Darwin

My Head is very giddy, & this makes my writing worse than usual.

I send this by your servant as he is not gone.— We send him in tax-cart to Station.