To J. D. Hooker   [6 April 1873]

16. Montague St | Portland Sqe

Sunday night.

Private

My dear Hooker

Shall you be at home on Wednesday morning, in case I shd. come down to you to discuss a question in which I am sure you will gladly give your best consideration.— It has been suggested to me that it wd be good, considering Huxley’s state of health, desirability of rest (I have seen his Doctor), loss of profitable employment from ill-health—Law expences &c. &c. &—to raise a testimonial1 for him. Now I want to discuss with you whether he would stand this. I hope to see Lubbock tomorrow, & Tyndall & perhaps Spottiswode tomorrow or Tuesday—2 They may be dead against it & then nothing can be done.— But if they approve I wd. drive down to you & stay 12 hour— I see endless difficulties. I have so little strength & know so few people.— We go home on Thursday morning—3 Turn it over in your head, in case I come down. It wd be easy I am sure to raise 1000£ & perhaps more.— 3000£ was easily raised for Mr Martineau.—4

Ever affectionately yours | Ch Darwin

Endorsement. April 6/73.

Endorsement: ‘April 6/73.’

1
Huxley had been suffering from overwork and had recently been sued by a neighbour in connection with work on his new house. Moreover, he owed the builders a large sum, due by the end of April. For more on the circumstances leading to the raising of the subscription, see A. Desmond 1994–7, 2: 44–8. Huxley’s doctor was Andrew Clark (letter to G. H. Darwin, [3 April 1873]).
2
Katharine Murray Lyell had raised the idea of a subscription in conversation with Emma Darwin (Emma Darwin’s diary (DAR 242); Emma Darwin (1904) 2: 262. CD lunched with Hooker, John Lubbock, John Tyndall, and other friends of Huxley’s on 8 April 1873, but William Spottiswoode was unable to attend (see letter to William Spottiswoode, [8 April 1873]).
3
CD returned to Down on 10 April 1873 (see ‘Journal’ (Appendix II)).
4
James Martineau received £5800 raised by friends in 1872 after he gave up preaching owing to poor health (DNB).

Manuscript Alterations and Comments

1.5 for him.] interl over full stop
1.8 drive] above del ‘come’
1.11 am] above del ‘am’

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-8843,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-8843