^T. 49.] TO J. D. HOOKER. 455 



TO J. D. HOOKER. 



Cambkidge, January 5, 1860. 



Mt dear Hooker, — Your last letter, which 

 reached me just before Christinas, has got mislaid 

 during the upturnings in my study which take place 

 at that season, and has not yet been discovered. I 

 should be very sorry to lose it, for there were in it 

 some botanical mems. which I had not secured. . . . 



The principal part of your letter was high lauda- 

 tion of Darwin's book. 



Well, the book has reached me, and I finished its 

 careful perusal four days ago ; and I freely say that 

 your laudation is not out of place. 



It is done in a masterly manner. It might well 

 have taken twenty years to produce it. It is crammed 

 full of most interesting matter, thoroughly digested, 

 well expressed, close, cogent ; and taken as a system 

 it makes out a better case than I had supposed possi- 

 ble. . . . 



I wUl write to Darwin when I get a chance. As 

 I have promised, he and you shall have fair play 

 here. ... I must myself write a review of Darwin's 

 book for " Silliman's Journal " (the more so that I 

 suspect Agassiz means to come out upon it) for the 

 next (March) number, and I am now setting about 

 it when I ought to be every moment working the 

 Exploring Expedition Compositse, which I know far 

 more about. And reaUy it is no easy job, as you may 

 well imagine. 



I doubt if I shall please you altogether. I know 

 I shall not please Agassiz at all. I hear another 

 reprint is in the press, and the book will excite much 

 attention here, and some controversy. . . . 



