Volume I Part 47 (2/2)

You ask about Lyell's fraive in, and speaks with horror, often toit would be, and what a job it would be for the next edition of 'The Principles,' if he were ”PERverted” But he isPERverted Dr Hooker has become almost as heterodox as you or I, and I look at Hooker as BY FAR the e in Europe

Most cordially do I wish you health and entire success in all your pursuits, and, God knows, if ady deserve success, most amply do you deserve it I look at my own career as nearly run out

If I can publish reater work on the same subject, I shall look at my course as done

Believe me, my dear sir, yours very sincerely, C DARWIN

CHARLES DARWIN TO JD HOOKER Down, March 2nd [1859]

My dear Hooker,

Here is an odd, though very little, fact I think it would be hardly possible to name a bird which apparently could have less to do with distribution than a Petrel Sir W Milner, at St Kilda, cut open soe, curious nuts in their crops; I suspect picked up by parent birds from the Gulf stream He seems to value these nuts excessively I have asked him (but I doubt whether he will) to send a nut to Sir Williarandeur sake) to see if any of you can name it and its native country

Will you PLEASE MENTION this to Sir Williaeit to ”Sir W Milner, Bart, Nunappleton, Tadcaster,” in a registered letter, and I will repay you postage Enclose slip of paper with the naiveyou to take this much trouble; for it is a funny little fact after my own heart

Now for another subject I have finished raphical Distribution, as bearing on my subject I should like youthat you will not do so, if, as I believe to be the case, you are extra busy Onyou not to do it, if it will bother you I want it, because I here feel especially unsafe, and errors may have crept in Also, I should much like to knohat parts you will MOST VEHEMENTLY object to I knoe do, and must, differ widely on several heads Lastly, I should like particularly to knohether I have taken anything from you, which you would like to retain for first publication; but I think I have chiefly taken froh I have several tied your assistance, I am aware that it is not possible for me in the Abstract to do it sufficiently (”I never did pick any one's pocket, but whilst writingfros and conversation, so ain let me say that you --about ninety pages, I expect, when fully copied out

I hope you are all well Moor Park has done ood

Yours affectionately, C DARWIN

PS--Heaven forgivethat with plants, the ical? The seed itself cannot be considered as such, I suppose, nor the albumens, etc But I suppose the Cotyledons and their position, and the position of the plumule and the radicle, and the position and forical, and how far are these very ih iical characters in classification In the Anidom there is, of course, no doubt of this

CHARLES DARWIN TO JD HOOKER Down, March 5th [1859]

My dear Hooker,

Many thanks about the seedit is curious Petrels at St Kilda apparently being fed by seeds raised in the West Indies It should be noted whether it is a nut ever iraphical MS; it is now copying, and it will (I presu finished; it shall be sent as soon as done

I shall be very glad to see your eical ideas on plants; by the sentence which I sent you, you will see that I only want one sentence; if facts are at all, as I suppose, and I shall see this fro which very many thanks

I have been so poorly, the last three days, that I soet h so nearly completed

CHARLES DARWIN TO JD HOOKER Down, March 15th [1859]

My dear Hooker,

I am PLEASED at what you say of my chapter You have not attacked it nearly so much as I feared you would You do not seem to have detected MANY errors It was nearly all written from memory, and hence I was particularly fearful; it would have been better if the whole had first been carefully written out, and abstracted afterwards I look at it as morally certain that it eneral views I will just run over a few points in your note, but do not trouble yourself to reply without you have so important to say

I should like to knohether the case of Endemic bats in islands struck you; it has ly

With hearty thanks, ever yours, C DARWIN

PS You cannot tell what a relief it has been toover this chapter, as I felt very shaky on it