My dear Hooker

I am very sorry for all your troubles, all due to the errors & crimes of others. I have long been wishing to write to you, but resolved not to do so, as adding another straw to the, camel’s back. I have seen not a soul for an age & was extremely curious about the Linn. Soc^y., so it was very good of you to write me at such length. I guessed that Carruthers was stirred up by Owen; & what an odious man he seems to be. Little as I know what is done in London, I knew enough to feel the utmost indignation with respect to the treatment of M^r Bentham.¹ Even if he had not worked as it is well known he has worked for Linn. Soc. his high services to Science ought to have prevented his being treated at any time by anyone without the highest respect.— If you can get a fitting opportunity pray tell him of my sympathy & indignation— When I received the circular about the special meeting I thought, & I have done so again today, whether I could attend & give my vote;² but my head has been bad enough of late with rocking, pricking of fingers’ ends & other nasty symptoms, & my wife & I think I ought not to make the attempt. If I could have come & given my vote & gone away at once, or as soon as I felt my head affected, I could have managed it; but there would sure to be a long & exciting discussion.—

What a dreadful thing about M^r. Russell: I remember your speaking of him in high terms. It is sounds like madness. Good God what must be his feelings now.—³

I have nothing to tell about myself. The cursed 2^d. Edit of Descent of Man & Coral Reefs, has consumed & will consume altogether months’ of time & stops me doing anything which really interests me.⁴ All the good from D^r Clarke’s diet has vanished:⁵ I fear that it was only the good of any change; but it is a great advantage to have a beneficial change to turn to.

Many thanks for A. Gray’s letter: I received an announcement to this effect the other day from Boston (I suppose from the same Soc.) & I acknowledged the honour in due form; but I now fancy it is a greater honour than I had supposed.⁶

Keep your spirits up my dear old friend— all troubles in this world end sooner & later, or anyhow are less bitter. What a demon on earth Owen is. I do hate him.⁷

Your’s affectionately & in a true Christian spirit | Ch. Darwin