My dear Hooker

Hearty thanks for your invitation for Willy, who would have deeply enjoyed it & longs for the wonderful good it would have done him;¹ but his time draws near to go to Southampton; if that ever takes place, for there are 2 or 3 sudden hitches in our negotiations.—²

I was really ashamed to bother you about Catasetum; I have now written to Parker & Williams for chance.³

I sh^d be very glad of a Catleya or Epidendron,⁴ & specially (from what A. Gray writes) for an Arethusa or one of that section.—⁵ Have you Mormodes; [HAND] with some buds that would complete my desiderata for comparison.⁶ If the racemes were cut off & packed in tin-cannister with little slightly damp moss, they might be sent by Post, & I would pay postage: possibly Arethusa might come in pot, as that seems most important for me.— We shall be nearly 5 weeks more   I really think that my paper will be a curious one, though not of much importance.—

I am sorry to hear that Henslow did not leave more property: in old days he spoke to me, as if he expected in after days to be well off.—⁷

What a bad job this loss of your Examination fees, now that your family increasing in expence, & expences will increase.—⁸

I hope you will not work too hard, for you have very much on your shoulders.— Farewell. Did you read Asa Gray’s letter to me.—⁹ The P.S. (need not be returned) is worth reading—

Yours affect | C. Darwin

Etty is going on well & continues to absorb Cod-liver oil— we think this best advice of yours of any we have had.¹⁰