My dear Hooker

It was very good of you to write to me from Stockholm, telling me all the things about which I liked to hear.—² I had heard nothing of your doings, except, as stated in Gard. Chronicle, that the announcement of your being President of the next Congress, was received with loud & general applause; & this applause made me applaud the meeting.—³

I suppose the Emperor could have given you nothing which you would have liked better than the Vases, which even I sh^d. like to see: he must have heard of your Crockery madness!—⁴

We have been here for 10 days: how I wish it was possible for you to pay us a visit here: we have a beautiful House, with a terraced garden, & a really magnificent view of Cader, right opposite.⁵ Old Cader is a grand fellow & shows himself off superbly with every changing light. We remain here till end of July, when the H. Wedgwoods have the house.—⁶ I have been as yet in a very poor way: it seems as soon as the stimulus of mental work stops, my whole strength gives way: as yet I have hardly crawled half a mile from the House, & then been fearfully fatigued.— It is enough to make one wish oneself quiet in a comfortable tomb.

I suppose that you have read Bentham’s address: it has interested me greatly, as I particularly wished to hear how Botanists agreed with Zoologists about Distribution.⁷ Everything Bentham says, always seems to me remarkably wise; & I have an instinctive feeling that every hint from him is well worth pondering over.— Nevertheless I must still think more of the importance of isolation in preserving old Forms, than he seems inclined to do.—⁸ Does not this address make you wish to write another essay like your former splendid ones?⁹

I am glad to hear about Andersson & Galapagos: I w^d. gladly subscribe, & if necessary w^d go as far as 50£.— He surely ought to visit Cocos Isl^d.—¹⁰

Has anyone ever examined the Revillagagos or some such name Arch. off Mexico? I remember looking in old days with longing eyes at this group on the Chart.—¹¹

I fear that you forgot all about the colour of the Beards of the Sclavonic races relating to the colour of the Hair.—¹²

Give our very kind remembrances to M^rs. Hooker,¹³ & I am very glad to hear that she enjoyed your trip, which seems to have been in every way a most successful affair—

Yours most affect. | C. Darwin