6, when he was eighty-nine years of age, he
writes enthusiastically to a friend in the East expressing his longing
for more Balsams, and concluding, "I do love Indian Botany." And in 1909
he hears that the Paris Herbarium had overlooked forty sheets of
Indo-Chinese specimens--and writes, "This is like a stroke of paralysis
to a man approaching his ninety-third year, but it is no use grumbling,
my eyes are as good as ever, and my fingers are as agile as ever, and I
am indeed thankful."

The _Life_ of Hooker is enriched by a striking essay from the pen of
Professor Bower. He points out (ii., p. 412) that "few, if indeed any,
have ever known plants as he did. Such knowledge comes only from growing
up with them from earliest childhood." Professor Bower adds that Hooker
"shared with Darwin that wider outlook upon the field of Science that
gave a special value to the writings of both"; and he adds, "The
_Himalayan Journals_ ranks with Darwin's _Voyage of the_ '_Beagle_'."

When _More Letters of Charles Darwin_ was in preparation, Hooker was
appealed to for assistance, and wrote a characteristically kind letter
(1st Feb. 1899) to one of the editors:--

"I will gladly help you all I can; so have no scruples. . . . You are
right to make the book uncompromisingly scientific. It will be greatly
valued. I am getting so old and oblivious that I fear I may not be of
much use."

And a few weeks later (24th Feb. 1899):--

"I had no idea that your father had kept my letters. Your account of 742
pp. of them is a revelation. I do enjoy re-reading your father's; as to
my own, I regard it as a punishment for my various sins of blindness,
perversity, and inattention to his thousand and one facts and hints that
I did not profit by as much as I should have, all as revealed by my
letters."

In 1907 he received the Order of Merit, the Insignia being conveyed to
him by Colonel Douglas Dawson from the King. I had the honour of being
the only person present on the occasion, though why Sir Joseph allowed me
this pleasure I cannot guess. I remember Colonel Dawson in vain trying
to persuade Sir Joseph not to see him to his carriage at the door. I
have, too, a picture of Sir Joseph fidgeting round the room afterwards,
unwillingly wearing the collar to please his family.

In 1908 he took the chief part in the fiftieth anniversary of the
Darwin-Wallace papers of 1858. He characteristically begged the Darwins
to tell him if they enter