D^r. Hooker

Please read this, first, I want, especially to know whether Botanical facts are fairly accurate. 2^d. any general or special criticisms: please observe if you will mark margin with pencil, if your criticisms run to any length, I would gladly & gratefully come to Kew, to save you writing.

I really hope no other chapter in my book will be so bad; how atrociously bad it is, I know not; but I plainly see it is too long, & dull, & hypothetical.

Do not be too severe, yet not too indulgent: remember that it will be extra dull to you, for it will be a compilation with hardly anything new to you.—

It is only fragment of chapter, & assumes some points as true, which will require much explanation,—as to close relation of plants to plants rather than to conditions: again I am unfortunately forced not to admit continental extensions as you know.—

Glance at the notes, at back of Pages.—

In truth you are doing me a very great kindness in reading it, for I am sorely perplexed what to do & how much to strike out.—