My dear Hooker

I was thinking of writing to you today, when your note with the Orchids came.¹ What frightful trouble you have taken about Vanilla:² you really must not take an atom more; for the orchids are more play than real work. I have been much interested by Epidendrum & have worked all morning at them (for Heaven sake do not corrupt me by any more); & as far as I can make out, in the bud the rostellum has througout nearly the same structure as the exterior & next to exterior surface of the stigma.— Can you tell me the names of 3 of the 4 sent; or at least of the first in enclosed list & specimens:³ The first alone much signifies; but even that is not worth much trouble. When at Torquay I made out well, what I never could understand, how the pollinia in early bud become permanently attached to the rostellum or so-called sticky gland.⁴ But I won’t run on.—

I wish to God you could give a better account of M^rs. Hooker; I heartily sympathise with you; it must be most depressing to you, my dear old friend.⁵

Etty has returned much stronger: I declare she did the first day’s journey to Salisbury better than I did:⁶ I was so knocked up that I gave up Manchester:⁷ I cannot stand such fatigue & am in fact a man of seventy years old.— How I should enjoy to have one more Oxford time with you.—⁸ If ever you can find time to run down here for a few days do, I beg you, propose it. Perhaps later in Autumn M^rs. Hooker would come with you. This is just the house for invalids

My dear Hooker | Ever yours | C. Darwin

P.S. | I suppose I ought to read what Lindley says on structure of orchids: so if you will send me the part with Introduction of his work;⁹ I sh^d be greatly obliged: I enclose address for safest channel.

I should like sometime to hear how Oliver is?¹⁰ What is the matter with him?