My dear Darwin

Dyer has kept me informed of the steps he took regarding Frank’s appointment to the Examinership at Cambridge; from the conversation he had with Horace onwards: & I must plead guilty of having given him every encouragement, in the belief that Horace’s wishes were Frank’s & your’s too.¹

I now write to back his suggestion, that Frank should reconsider the matter of his non-acceptance; & at the risk of appearing intrusive I would urge it for his own sake, primarily—for I cannot but think that a little public duty is an excellent thing for any man who has health energy & acquirements enough to perform it—& I think I am not wrong in surmising that in Frank’s case such a duty would be eminently beneficial. I well remember my own extreme aversion to undertake public duties, & your affectionate encouragement on very many occasions, when I would fain have held back.² I now know how good it has been for me—& how grateful I am to you for your encouragement I only know.

Then again Frank’s holding back will be a great disappointment to Cambridge; not only on account of his being the best man, & a Cambridge man,³ & your son; but because I do not know where they are to get another fit man at all!

I need not add that of Frank’s entire competency there cannot be a question— were it to conduct a hack examination of medical students in the shape of system, morphology, pharmacy, & physiology, that they had picked up in the course of the so called “Botany class”—it would be a different matter, but the functions of the Cambridge Examiners are of another order altogether—& the amount of Morphology & system required from the Examiner & candidate are what the ordinary text books supply.⁴

No doubt there may be cogent reasons for Frank’s reluctance—& of which I know nothing— if there are such pray forgive me for going so far as I have; & believe my dear old friend that I think only (& as much) of Frank as of Cambridge in this matter; & nothing at all of the disappointment to Dyer & myself.

We are all well—&, as usual, it seems an age since we have had any communication.

Shall you be coming to Town soon? Smith’s illness keeps me pretty close here.⁵

Ever affy Y^rs | Jos. D. Hooker.