Dear Darwin

My boys wish me to send you enclosed scrap which I think delightful, for humour.— The face, the outstretched arm & hand, & the raised leg, are worthy of a place in “Expression”¹

I have never yet thanked you for that book; & must own with sorrow that I have not half read it,—though the boys & girls have & like it extremely—:² My only reason is, as you will I hope believe, want of time— Gregs “Enigmas” get the start of you; in my reading.— & I want to finish it before I take up “Expression”— I have been a fortnight over this & find it fascinating; it is one of the most eloquent books I ever read & some passages are of astonishing beauty.—³

I hope to goodness that Owen will drop his communications— He is doing incalculable mischief to Science in the eyes of Govt: officials & the department generally. The direct attacks on myself I can well afford; but no establishment can afford to be directly libelled without suffering in the opinion of this ignorant careless & unobservant Government.⁴

I see Ayrton has allowed his Organ, the Echo, to state that I have satisfied him with an apology!— I suppose this is to save his sinking credit— I thought of contradicting it, but my friends say no— except the Standard, no paper took any notice of it, & in the present unsettled state of matters I had best not raise any superfluous questions.—⁵ I long for peace, meanwhile I expect a fine row is breeding between the Editor & Subeditor of Nature, Lockyer & Bennett, each owning that a letter with such personalities as Owens should not have been inserted; & each blaming the other for it—⁶ I am throwing it upon the troubled waters—having spent my rage on the unlucky publisher! who asked me for my name to help to advertize with that of the other Naturalists.

I had a long talk with Huxley, who is in great spirits in regard to his classes &c, but who looks wretchedly— No one can compare him with the picture or photograph of 18 months ago, without being struck with the change. I do not quite like the Aberdeen Rectorship for him; yet why should he not culminate?⁷ it is so fitting an honor for him

Ever yours affec | J D Hooker

Harriett begs that Punch cutting may be returned—

Have you seen Lord Lytton’s splendid article on Ayrton? in the “Conservative.”⁸