My dear Hooker

The seeds are come all safe, many thanks for them.

I was very sorry to run away so soon & miss any part of my most pleasant evening; & I ran away like a goth & vandal without wishing M^rs. Hooker good bye; but I was only just in time, as I got on the platform the train had arrived.

I was particularly glad of our discussion after dinner; fighting a battle with you always clears my mind wonderfully. I groan to hear that A. Gray agrees with you about the condition of Botanical Geography. All I know is that if you had had to search for light in zoological geography you would by contrast respect your own subject a vast deal more than you now do.— The Hawks have behaved like gentlemen & have cast up pellets with lots of seeds of them;² & I have just had a parcel of partridges feet well caked with mud!!!³

Adios | Your insane & perverse friend | C. Darwin