My dear Hooker

I have just received your letter. I have been very poorly with almost continuous bad headach for 48 hours, & I was low enough & thinking what a useless burthen I was to myself & all others, when your letter came & it has so cheered me. Your kindness & affection brought tears into my eyes. Talk of fame, honour, pleasure, wealth, all are dirt compared with affection; & this is a doctrine with which, I know from your letter, that you will agree from the bottom of your heart. It is indeed most true there is nothing in this world at all like a good wife.—² How I sh^d. have liked to have wandered about Oxford with you, if I had been well enough; & how still more I sh^d have liked to have heard you triumphing over the Bishop.—   I am astounded at your success & audacity. It is something unintelligible to me how anyone can argue in public like orators do. I had no idea you had this power.

I have read lately so many hostile reviews, that I was beginning to think that perhaps I was wholly in wrong & that Owen was right when he said whole subject would be forgotten in ten years;³ but now that I hear that you & Huxley will fight publicly (which I am sure I never could do) I fully believe that our cause will in the long run prevail. I am glad I was not in Oxford, for I sh^d. have been overwhelmed, with my stomach in its present state.—

Poor Etty has had one little return of Fever since I left home: but it has not pulled her much back, & I think we shall move her soon.—⁴

I leave this place on Thursday;⁵ & would come for one hour between 10 & 11 if that would suit you, but I almost fear from your letter that Thursday will not suit—   If not I would drive over on Wednesday afternoon;⁶ this would not be quite so good, as I sh^d lose $\frac{1}{2}$ a day of idleness & baths.—   Let me have one line to say whether you will be at home on Thursday morning. I do not think it would be worth your coming here, for unless I improve much, I am up to very little talking. After seeing you on Thursday I sh^d. go on by Rail to London & Home.—

God Bless you my dear & most kind friend.—   | Your affect, | C. Darwin

P.S | If you cannot have me on Thursday morning, I think my strongest time for Wednesday will be soon after breakfast, so that I would be with you for about an hour between 10 & eleven; ie if I can receive an answer in time.—   I sh^d. be very sorry to miss seeing you, but you must not think of altering any arrangement on Thursday for my pleasure.—   You cannot tell how your letter has warmed my soul.—