To J. D. Hooker   25 January [1872]¹

My dear Hooker

I am heartily glad to hear about your Willie.—² I know what a sharp test the matriculation exam: is; for a few years ago I made special enquiries, & came to the conclusion that Horace c^d. not have passed it, even with a year’s hard work.—³ As Willie’s intellectual powers have come to maturity rather late in life, I sh^d. fully expect that they would go on maturing to an equally later period of life than usual.—⁴ It is really a great thing for him to have got into the first division, with all the disturbance of regular work from his voyage.—⁵

I never had Zizania; but I still have Leersia, & you can take away $\frac{1}{2}$ my plant, or all if you like, for I cannot make the beast produce perfect flowers—⁶ We shall truly rejoice to see you here on the 3^d. & let us hear the train that we may send to meet you.⁷

Henrietta is here, but has had a disastrous visit, for she caught a cold or had a relapse into her former state, & has been in bed the whole week.⁸

What slow coaches the Ministers are about your affairs.—⁹

Yours affect^ly.— | C. Darwin