My dear Hooker.

I c^d. not answer your note by return of Post, as on Sunday our Post-man leaves directly.—²

As far as I can judge M^r M^c.Lachlan has a stronger claim than any other entomologist in England to be elected a fellow of R. Soc^y., on the grounds that he has undertaken the study, which he has carried out thoroughily well, of certain large groups of insects, which from their difficulty & other causes have been generally neglected.³

I do not know how long M^r Garrod & M^cLachlan have been trying to be elected, but I must say that the work of the former seems to me of much higher quality.⁴

You are the very best of men to propose coming here this day week or rather next Saturday the 15^th. & we shall be heartily glad to see you. If Harriet can come with you, my wife desires me to say that we shall be very glad to see her. It is a real good job that she has come back so much better.⁵

Farewell till we meet | Ever yours | Ch. Darwin

I am so glad about Swinhoe:⁶ I think if rejected he w^d. have gone half mad.—