My Dear Darwin

Enclosed came this morning from Gray without address, inside cover to me, & I read on till I found myself alluded to in the second page before discovering that it was not for me.²

There is a deal of gossip afloat about on many matters, you have no doubt seen the squib of “A hard case”, also published in part, in “Public opinion”—³ no one seems to know whose it is—certainly not Sir P. Egerton)⁴   no copy came to me.

Falconer has his hands full & goes to Paris tomorrow to confront Quatrefage, Bouchet, & the chemists & anatomists who to a man say F. is wrong that both Flints & Jaw are ancient & perfide Albion at its old tricks of traduction.⁵

I met F. last night, he is beating up for allies to take over with him— I tell him he should go alone—it is his only chance of getting fair play— the more go the more opposition the more misunderstanding   the more all that is bad.⁶ I cannot abide this lugging of Science before the public in Times & Athenæum, & implore you my dear fellow not to do so again.⁷ Owens answer to you is so triumphant in the eyes of the public⁸ (who you wish to enlighten) as Manchesters is over Natal.⁹ The only party that gains by these discussions is the proprietor of the paper, the only one that loses every way, is the maintainer of truth.

Science will be much more perfected if it keeps its discussions within its own circle.

I have not had time to look at Bates’ book, which both Father & Mother pronounce capital.¹⁰

I am deep in Cameroons’ cases which I shall discuss as best I can, the results are in many respects bamboozling, & I am as dissatisfied with migration by former cold, as by former elevation or by present agencies.¹¹

I see from an allusion in the Athenæum that Herschell has a theory of Earth passing through cold periods—¹²

I am out almost every evening to my ennui & disgust & wish I were ill like you!

We are all uncomonly well | Ever Yours affec | Jos D Hooker