Dear old Darwin

I am back & well, all but stiff joints—better than before I was ill.²

I am up in heaps with work, & find I shall have a desperate fight to get scientific assistance, I will not give in however— I am prepared to improve the Gardens enormously & will do so, but if therein scientific character of the Establishment is to go down one iota, I shall intimate that I only hold the post with a view to retirement when able.³

My elevation brings me no increase of income but a higher scale of living;⁴ as I now feel it my duty to give up Examinerships &c that yielded upwards of £300—⁵ But I have no fear of not carrying my point, which is a properly educated assistant to be under Oliver.⁶

The Curator is in future to be my Asst. in Garden duties,⁷ Oliver’ with increased Salary, in scientific matters. an excellent arrangement, as there is no one able to be my assistant in both, nor are the functions compatible in any but one who like myself has grown with growth of the Establishment, & been educated to it. In the conversation I had with the Board they “let the cat out of the bag” in informing me, that, they abolished the Assistant Directorship because they knew of no one fitted for it,! not only an unintentional compliment to me, but an admission by implication that neither could they find another person fit to be Director!—⁸ I took no notice, but have it in hand as “one for his nob.” if needs be.⁹

You see “my Dander is up”, as the Yankees say—but pray say nothing about this, fighting battles before byestanders is only a shade better than in the dark—& one gains nothing by appearing to be in opposition.

A thousand thanks for your long kind letter,¹⁰ Why will you run your head against an “ingenious wriggler”   I can answer you on all points anent the Chatham Isld.¹¹

I have no idea who wrote trashy article on Bates &c.¹²

Carters observations are wonderful but want verification.¹³ I think I remember his once describing Amoeba or Actinophrys as products of vegetation (origin in Chlorophyll)¹⁴

Wallace has turned table turner I am told¹⁵   Travers Chatham Isld facts are too nice,—the three Edwardias all of one size along side their pod all to hand   Oh Oh Oh The Forest trees & bees sounds very post-Darwinian! The Edwardsia may have floated from S. America, Good!—¹⁶ did the Apteryx come from that Quarter too?—¹⁷ you might at least have suggested N.Z. for S. America. Why will you break your head against a Wrigglers?

I hope to call before you leave¹⁸ | J H