Dear Darwin

Have you seen the pamphlets I send herewith   I fear that they are hardly worth your attention—¹

I have for a fortnight past been on the eve of another official row. Lord Henry Lennox has burked my official application for assistance.—after encouraging me to send it in!— and Galton or I must go— I have told the Treasury that I would prefer retirement to another row, & that I can stand it no longer.²

Mr W. R. Smith, the financial Secretary of the T., who I saw on the subject—told me* that L. S. Northcote, & indeed all the Lords of the T., wished me to know, that they had only indirectly heard from other quarters (of course Farrer) of my great need of an assistant, & that I had officially applied for one.— that my application had never been forwarded from the office of Works,— that if it had it would have been instantly attended to, & that it would have received the most favorable consideration—& he proceeded to talk of Dyer’s appt. & so forth—³ In fact, in so far as the T. is concerned, that matter is as good as granted; & no doubt the T. will send to Lord H., & insist on his forwarding my official application. He spoke in Sir S. Northcote’s & Mr Disraeli’s⁴ names.

Then I proceeded to open my grievance about Galton & he said that if I would write to him privately a brief account of his conduct, he would lay it before Sir S. Northcote & Mr D’Israeli—⁵ this he hinted might “help them much”—for that “the O. of W. was a public scandal that could not be tolerated”.

I cannot doubt but that some action is determined on, & that I am not to be the sufferer: & I feel satisfied that I have to thank Farrer for this.

I must ask you not to breathe a syllable of it to any one. I shall hear more soon & let you know. Meanwhile I ask myself “Why shoulds’t thou be disquieted Oh my soul”—⁶ but I am very weary, & begin to look forward to a holiday at Easter as a necessity, with Harriet⁷ if possible.

We have put Reginald to a very nice school at Wimbledon (Miss Palmer’s.)— Charlie will live at home for 6 months, preparing for Prel^y. Scientific Examination of L.U.—⁸

I have 15 Committees of the R.S. to attend to—⁹ I cannot tell you what a relief they are to me—matters are so quietly & ably conducted by Stokes Huxley & Spottiswoode—that to me they are the same sort of relaxation that Metaphysics are to Huxley.—¹⁰ I have no sense of wearyness after them— of course I must expect some rows & difficulties in the Society, & they will come when least expected you will say—but meanwhile let me enjoy my illusions.—

Ever yr affec^te growler | J D Hooker

*On entering his room,—he did not know that I was come upon these matters   it was a volunteered statement.