Dear Darwin

I am horrified to find that I did not announce to Mrs Darwin or yourself the birth of my little daur:—for,—whose congratulations would be more hearty or more welcome than yours? The reason of the omission was, that I had to play “Lady of the House” & write all the announcements to my wife’s Lady friends & both our relations; & what with this, & my other Correspondence, I was fairly thrown off my balance.¹

A Lady friend of my wife’s has now come to be with her, & taken all this off my hands.

Mrs Hooker was very poorly for 10 days before, & the Doctor slept in the house, but the alarms were false & she suffered less than usual, & both she & baby are as well as I could wish.²

I wonder what you are about, it is so long since I have heard whether you have any work in hand but “Man”.—³ As for me I am in statu quo.

Ever yrs affec | J D Hooker