To J. D. Hooker   31 October [1872]1

Down, | Beckenham, Kent.

Oct 31

My dear Hooker

You have been very very good & I have been very very troublesome. Unfortunately you addressed the Dionæa to Bromley, instead of Orpington & I sent to Orpington in vain for them & heard only to day that they were at Bromley.2 I sent for them at once. They look rather pale after 3 days in darkness, but I think they will recover, if we can but get some more light.

I wish I knew anything about their treatment, but we must feel our way & try slightly different methods on different plants. I doubt whether I can do all that I wish to do with them till next Spring & they can grow stronger & fully sensitive.

Please tell me what you have paid for them that I may repay you.— I shall soon kill them by my experiments in all probability.—

I thank you particularly for sending them, as I am just ready to observe some few points in their structure.—3

Ever yours | C. Darwin

I have of course told Murray to send you my expression Book, but you will not have time to read it, & do not acknowledge it.—4

Your particulars about Ayrton Owen & Co (a nice Firm) amused me much.—5

1
The year is established by the relationship between this letter and the letter from J. D. Hooker, 29 October 1872.
2
See letter from J. D. Hooker, 26 October 1872 and n. 2. CD’s home was three miles from the railway station at Orpington, but six miles from Bromley station.
4
CD refers to John Murray. Hooker’s name is on CD’s presentation list for Expression (see Correspondence vol. 20, Appendix V).

Manuscript Alterations and Comments

1.2 instead of Orpington] interl

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-8586,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-8586