My dear Hooker

Thanks for your two notes.¹ I am glad that the Burial is over & sincerely sympathise & can most fully understand your feelings at your loss.² I grieve to think how little I saw of Henslow for many years. With respect to a biography of Henslow, I cannot help feeling rather doubtful, on the principle that a biography could not do him justice. His letters were generally written in a hurry & I fear he did not keep any Journal or Diary. If there were any vivid materials to describe his life as Parish-priest, & manner of managing the poor it would be very good.

I am never very sanguine on literary projects, I cannot help fearing his Life might turn out flat. There can hardly be marked incidents to describe.— I sincerely hope that I take a wrong & gloomy view; but I cannot help fearing. I would rather see no life than one that would interest very few. It will be a pleasure & duty in me to consider what I can recollect; but at present I can think of scarcely anything. The equability & perfection of Henslows whole character, I sh^d. think would make it very difficult for anyone to pourtray him.— I have been thinking about Henslow all day a good deal; but the more I think the less I can think of to write down. It is quite a new style for me to set about; but I will continue to think what I could say to give any, however imperfect, notion of him in the old Cambridge days.³

Pray give my kindest remembrances to L. Jenyns, who is often associated with my recollection of those old happy days.⁴ It is really fearful to think of Babington in that Chair.⁵

With respect to your former note, thank you for telling me about Lyell: it makes me easy about him.⁶ From what you say about London Review, it will be better to encourage Editor, & I have written to order it for myself.—⁷ Two of your Himalayan Rhododendrons have flowered; R. formosum (I think) splendid dark crimson & R. Thompsoni(?) more like an Azalea—orange shading into Reddish orange.—⁸

I have just reread your note: perhaps I am wrong to give my first impression that it would be very difficult to give a good & vivid Biography; & that a flat Biography is a doubtful good. I hope I am wholly wrong; but I thought it best to give my first impression.— I will see what I can do; but it will be miserably poor.—

My dear Hooker | Ever yours | C. Darwin

25^th— P.S. Please let me hear, as soon as you have decided anything about the Biography, as I will merely jot down (which I have begun to do) anything which occurs to me, but will not attempt to arrange till I hear. Two or three pages is the utmost which I could do; for I find that my recollections are not defined enough.