My Dear Darwin

Thanks f⁠⟨⁠or your⁠⟩⁠ kind and genial note² ⁠⟨⁠If there⁠⟩⁠ is a spice of dull bante⁠⟨⁠r⁠⟩⁠ ⁠⟨⁠now⁠⟩⁠ and then in my missives to you, do not interpret them too seriously.

Quoad the Copley.—³ There is a double significance in the award. 1. as regards due appreciation of yourself. 2^d. as a determined protest against the profession of religious against scientific faith—lately put forth by Stenhouse Brewster & Co.⁴ This last was clearly a Set. aimed at two subjects of research   1^st. Your Doctrine. 2^nd. The question of the antiquity of the human race in reference to the Biblical account

Taking therefore everything into ⁠⟨⁠accoun⁠⟩⁠t, & which will strike you ⁠⟨⁠one or two words missing⁠⟩⁠ my going into detail—⁠⟨⁠one or two words missing⁠⟩⁠ be of great service—and comfort and Solace to your friends, if you could nurse yourself up so as to be able to attend the anniversary meeting of the Royal Soc^y. on the 30 Nov^r.⁵—if only for an hour—to receive the award in person.

If this would emperil your health in the slightest degree, no one would for a moment think of it.

But bear the thing in mind as the time approaches

Yours Ever Sinly | H Falconer