To J. D. Hooker   2 January 1872

My dear Hooker

I am heartily glad of yr news, & now I hope that you will be able to work with an undisturbed mind.¹ I feel yr news quite as a relief, & you must do so in a much greater degree.

There are a good many hazels in the sand walk & you are perfectly welcome to have them all; but what appear like suckers seem to me more like branches from old underground cut down stems, & I do not think they w^d be easily removed.² I fully believe you c^d buy 100s at a less cost than the journey of yr messenger to & fro; but as I said you are perfectly welcome to send if you think fit.

I saw Huxley when I was in town & thought he looked very unwell. I quite agree with what you say about his doing too much miscellaneous work.³ I have often preached to him & will do so again; but I believe he partly does this work for money for his family & then what can one say.

If your scheme could be organized of making him a sort of Director General for the transference of the British Museum & for other Scientific work, this w^d be splendid; but how can it possibly be effected?⁴

Yours affectionately | Ch. Darwin