My dear Hooker

I have received enclosed this morning.² I am very unwell & must write briefly, for I am & have been suffering from an immense Boil or almost abscess.—

I never cease begging favours. Will you lend me the copy, which I had before, of A. Gray’s Manual, (if, as I suppose, that was the last edition).³ Asa Gray sends me some references & I do not think it worth buying for that alone. I see by his letter it is all right about the marked sheets; they have not & will not be sent, for he sends me M.S. instead.—⁴

You could render me one very great service if you go to Erfurt in Prussia or know any Botanist there: I have had seeds of Stocks, Larkspur, China Aster, & Hollyock from there: & it is really marvellous how true they come to even slightest shades of colour. The best grower is M^ss C. Platz & Son; the 2^d best, Fred. Adolp. Haagr (?) Jun^r. & 3^d best, Charles Appelius.⁵ Now if you could get any Botanist there to enquire for me (stating that it is scientific & not mercantile enquiry) whether they take much pains, (& what pains) to separate the plants whence they get the seeds of these sub-varieties? and secondly whether they find that the trueness of any new shade of colour increases in any marked degree after a few generations of selection, or whether they come true at first?— I know it is a bare chance whether you can help me, but if you can without much trouble I know you will.—

I have almost finished Flora Indica, & am astonished at labour bestowed on Berberis,⁶ Aquilegia⁷ &c &c. (it is like going over some of my own Barnacle work).⁸ I have picked out some very valuable facts for me⁹

Will you send A. Gray by Post & I will repay postage.

Goodbye my dear Hooker I am full of pain & hate almost everybody, except you & a very few. May your tour prosper adios.— I have had a good deal of grief at having missed Lindley’s:¹⁰ & I sh^d. very much have liked to have met Miss Henslow.¹¹

Adios | C. Darwin