340 LIFE AT DOWN. ALTAT. 33-45- [1849. 



own notions in my Cirripedia book, I should rot like to do 

 so without I found others approved, and in some public 

 way nor, indeed, is it well adapted, as I can never recog- 

 nise a species without I have the original specimen, which, 

 fortunately, I have in many cases in the British Museum. 

 Thus far I mean to adopt my notion, as never putting mihi 

 or " Darwin " after my own species, and in the anatomical 

 text giving no authors' names at all, as the systematic Part 

 will serve for those who want to know the History of a 

 species as far as I can imperfectly work it out. . . . 



C. Darwin to J. D. Hooker. 



[The Lodge, Malvern, 



March 28th, 1849.] 



MY DEAR HOOKER, Your letter of the i3th of October 

 has remained unanswered till this day ! What an ungrateful 

 return for a letter which interested me so much, and which 

 contained so much and curious information. But I have 

 had a bad winter. 



On the 1 3th of November, my poor dear father died, and 

 no one who did not know him would believe that a man 

 above eighty-three years old could have retained so tender 

 and affectionate a disposition, with all his sagacity unclouded 

 to the last. I was at the time so unwell, that I was unable to 

 travel, which added to my misery. Indeed, all this winter I 

 have been bad enough . . . and my nervous system began to 

 be affected, so that my hands trembled, and head was often 

 swimming. I was not able to do anything one day out of 

 three, and was altogether too dispirited to write to you, or to 

 do anything but what I was compelled. I thought I was 

 rapidly going the way of all flesh. Having heard, accident- 

 ally, of two persons who had received much benefit from the 

 water-cure, I got Dr. Gully's book, and made further en- 

 quiries, and at last started here, with wife, children, and all 

 our servants. We have taken a house for two months, and 

 have been here a fortnight. I am already a little stronger. 



