WCP5350

[1]

Monday [19 September 1864]¹ Night²

Dear old Darwin

I have just returned from Bath quite delighted with my stay there, I laid myself out to see all my friends & enjoyed it most thoroughly. Every-body was asking about you — I had my old friend Campbell³of Darjeeling staying with me. I had a long walk with Mrs Lubbock⁴ on Saturday — Lubbock⁵ having gone to Wokey's hole⁶ with Evans⁷, ^{where he} picked up some flints-imp[lement]s. The sections I eschewed, as usual, prowling about the doors. & chatting with [2] heaps of friends — The Geographical section was the favored one, the Geological having gone down in popularity greatly, but poor Speke[']s⁸ death cast a gloom over Murchison⁹, & Burton[']s¹⁰ conduct on the occasion disgusted every one. Crawfurd¹¹, Wallace, Bates¹², a young Lord Milton¹³ (a mere boy) & Livingstone¹⁴ were the great guns.

The Lyells¹⁵ are fairly intoxicated with their popularity & success, & will ^can talk of nothing else The scientificos criticize his speech sharply — the plebs applaud it throughout. Lyell can think & talk of nothing else — except the cordial [3] welcome that Colenso¹⁶ has had. Some clergy actually shook hands with him, & the Dean of Hereford¹⁷ [one illeg. word struck through] ^{was seen} escorting Miss Colenso about to day.— in the sections he was greeted with hearty applause on entering the rooms. One parson however preached yesterday against Lyell, Colenso & the British Association¹⁸! The Bath people showed no attention or hospitality at all, & ^so we had delightful little breakfasts & dinners at one another[']s lodgings. So my days sped swiftly, & my nights were no worse than I expected.

I [one illeg. word struck through] ^made several pleasant acquaintances in primis [Latin: in the first place] Mr Symonds¹⁹ (or Simmons?) of whom the Lyells talk so much & with whose daughter my wi<fe> [MS torn] both fell desperately in <love> [MS torn]. [4] John Evans, who I had just seen before— & who came up with me in the train — he seems a very sharp fellow, & spoke so well & discriminatingly of Lyell's "Antiquity²⁰", & the unworthyness²¹ of taking offence at its demerits — & of attributing sordid motives to its author.

The only drawback to my happiness is that I have got let into 2 visits, first on ^next Thursday to Lord Ducie²², a friend of Henslows²³, who has asked me several times to his place, I went down with him & Lady D.²⁴ on Friday — & he made such a point of our going to visit him, that we could not get off — they were on their way home ^{(near Bristol)} from Italy & I left them at Bath. — today he came [MS torn] to Bath to clinch us — and [MS torn] accepted him we could [MS torn] Dean Dawes²⁵ who has [5] been asking us ever since I can remember, & who visits us at Kew every year. I suppose I shall have a week of it between them.

My wife is supremely well & as happy as the day is long. The Lubbocks [are] the same.

I have this night heard from Anderson²⁶ of Calcutta that he wants a good gardener at £150 a year ^{& house} to superintend a Botanic Garden at Darjeeling, & that he will appoint any one I recommend. — here is a splendid chance for Scott²⁷! about whom I am writing — the salary will soon be largely increased if the Curator gives satisfaction, for the garden is not established yet; I shall be very pleased if Scott gets it;— & proud too. The last gardener I sent out (Mann²⁸ of Cameroons [6] memory) only this time last year, is already advanced to £240 a year & this also in the cool climate of Sikkim.

What a poor affair Herschell[']s²⁹ answer to the declaration is; & after a weeks notice it seems a "mons parturiens" [Latin: mountains in labour] Bowrings³⁰ is far better.

Well there is mighty little in this letter, & I begin to fear that my hand-writing is falling off, & not so legible as usual. I could not get Beppo³¹, but Mrs Lubbock lent me Romola³², which is ponderous.

Ever y[ou]rs affec[tionately] | J D Hooker [signature]

Huxley³³ Owen³⁴ & Tyndall³⁵ are greatly desiderated.