HOOKER.
(332/1.

The "verdict" referred to in the following letter was Sir J.D.
Hooker's opinion on Darwin's MS.

on geographical distribution.

The first paragraph has been already published in "Life and Letters," II., page 86.) Down, November 4th [1856].
I thank you more cordially than you will think probable for your note.
Your verdict has been a great relief.

On my honour I had no idea whether or not you would say it was (and I knew you would say it very kindly) so bad, that you would have begged me to have burnt the whole.