My dear Hooker.

Will you ask M^r. Smith for exact numbers of seeds, which he said he had recorded, of the crossed & self-fertilised Victoria-Water-lily. He said that the crossed seedlings were at first finest, but afterwards, when repotted inferior to the selfs.—²

He said, I think, no difference in number of seeds or in growth of seedlings with Euryale.—³

I much enjoyed my walk with you, & now I have resumed my old routine, but have been overwhelmed by getting all my notes in order & letters answered.—⁴

I have been thinking over your Presidential address.⁵ I declare I made myself quite uncomfortable by fancying I had to do it, & feeling myself, utterly dumb-founded. But I do not believe that you will find it so difficult.— When you come to Down, I shall be very curious to hear what your ideas are on the subject.—⁶ Could you make anything out of a History of the great steps in the progress of Botany, as representing the whole of Natural History. Heaven protect you. I suppose there are men, to whom such a job would not be so awful as it appears to me.—

Farewell | Ever Yours | C. Darwin

P.S. If you had time, you ought to read an article by W. Baghyot in April no^r of Fortnightly, applying Natural selection to early or prehistoric politics & indeed to later politics— this, you know, is your view.—⁷