326 BOTANY [CHAP. X 



Letter 650 To J. D. Hooker. 



Down, [Jan. 24th, 1864]. 



Darwin's interest in Scott's Primula work is shown by the following 

 extracts from a letter to Hooker of Jan. 24th, 1864, written, therefore, 

 before the paper was read, and also by the subsequent correspondence 

 with Hooker and Asa Gray. The first part of this letter illustrates 

 Darwin's condition during a period of especially bad health. 



As I do nothing all day I often get fidgety, and I now 

 fancy that Charlie or some of your family [are] ill. When you 

 have time let me have a short note to say how you all are. 

 I have had some fearful sickness ; but what a strange 

 mechanism one's body is ; yesterday, suddenly, I had a slight 

 attack of rheumatism in my back, and I instantly became 

 almost well, and so wonderfully strong that I walked to the 

 hot-houses, which must be more than a hundred yards. I 

 have sent Scott's paper to the Linnean Society ; I feel sure 

 it is really valuable, but I fear few will care about it. Re- 

 member my urgent wish to be able to send the poor fellow a 

 word of praise from any one. I have had work to get him 

 to allow me to send the paper to the Linnean Society, even 

 after it was written out. 



Letter 651 To J. Scott. 



Down, Feb. 9th, 1864. 



Scott's paper on Primulaceae was read at the Linnean Society on 

 Feb. 4th, 1864. 



The President, Mr. Bentham, I presume, was so much 

 struck by your paper that he sent me a message to know 

 whether you would like to be elected an associate. As only 

 one is elected annually, this is a decided honour. The 

 enclosed list shows what respectable men are associates. I 

 enclose the rules of admission. I feel sure that the rule 

 that if no communication is received within three years the 

 associate is considered to have voluntarily withdrawn, is by 

 no means rigorously adhered to. Therefore, I advise you 

 to accept ; but of course the choice is quite free. You will 

 see there is no payment. You had better write to me on 

 this subject, as Dr. Hooker or I will propose you. 



