Dear Old Darwin:

A thousand thanks for your letter   it is exactly, what I wanted, & more too.¹

Baby had a terrible time of it, we quite gave it up after I wrote to you but it rallied & though now far from well, is I hope out of danger.²

It did indeed make the Address repulsive, but on the other hand it drove me to it & made me work,—you know the horrid way a man who has his work at home, loafs about the house when a child is ill—³

I have just concluded the rough sketch of what I shall say (if not hissed down)—for by George I would hiss any body who would eruct such stuff as I have written under any other circumstances than a Presidential martyrdom.

You say infants do not suffer much, & I quite believe it—& I suppose our sorrow is the loss of pets—that look so pretty, are so helpless, & promise us so much future happyness (& do not perform it.?) My wife is fonder by far of this child than any previous one, as she has been progressively of each.⁴

I have got Richards (Hydrog) to take Geog. § at Norwich,⁵ a quiet man & I was so anxious to get such for that section   I have lots more to say but will keep it till we meet on 8^th.?

Ever Yr affec | J D Hooker