My dear Hooker.

We hear that you have returned & that they at Barlaston enjoyed your visit & that you begrimed yourself to your heart’s content with old dirty casts.¹ I am to that degree presumptuous that instead of amusing myself by scribbling to you, I most days write a few paragraphs or sentences at my Lythrum paper, which I hope to send to Linn. Soc. this session.—² Everything comes out very clearly.— As you are working, you poor wretch, at Melastomas, I suppose you will soon come to Lythraceæ; in looking at species with large flowers remember different lengths of pistils & stamens & if possible let me see.³ The Lagerstrœmia has flowered with me & by analogy is mid-styled & sh^d have 2 other forms.—⁴

I was very glad to get your last note with good news about Bates’ place; but I fear it will end his Nat. Hist. papers.⁵ By the way what a capital paper that was by Wallace.⁶

Your suggestion about Mr Bennett & Leersia has fructified & I shall get plants when they are up.—⁷

Thanks for letter from N. America forwarded to me.—⁸

Your penultimate letter told me much about yourself, which I wished much to hear.—⁹

I have now been more than a month without sickness,¹⁰ but I do not at all rapidly grow strong, & have to go to bed 2 or 3 times per day.— But it makes a wonderful difference in my life, that I can now occupy myself a little with old pursuits & read a little.

Farewell my dear old friend | C. Darwin