My dear Hooker

You will see by the enclosed note from Huxley & the copy of his answer to Mivart, how the matter stands.² It is a tremendous reproof to him. As Huxley desires it, I shall not write to him, unless he writes to me or George, but in this case I shall express plainly my opinion of his base conduct. Now that he is afraid of Huxley I think it is nothing his saying in a private letter that he is sorry; & the case is in some respects worse as he now owns that for some months he has thought himself wrong, & yet on Oct 15^th he published that shabby rejoinder.—³ Nor will any private apology to George in my opinion be a sufficient reparation. I have heard of one stranger who has been disgusted, (trusting in the Quarterly) that George sh^d have uttered such doctrines. Assuredly if he writes to me I shall express my opinion, nor am I contented to be ultimately silent, but I will wait & see what turns up.—

Yours affectionately | Ch. Darwin

P.S. You will see that Huxley wants the copy returned.