My dear Darwin

The sight of your hand writing did me much good. It would have greatly rejoiced me to have been able to run down to Down for a day, as M^rs Darwin kindly asked me to do, but I am obliged to be careful at this time of year, for fear of being laid up, and I felt I ought not to delay getting to Winter Quarters.² As you ask me how I am, I am glad to say much better than I have been for some months, & quite hope to be able to get about thro the winter. I was very ill a few months ago, and hardly thought I should get over it.

I get very stiff and old in my feelings of body, and childish in my mind I think. I do not think I was ever more young in mind— in fact I have a very enjoyable existence, & I know few I w^d exchange with. There now.

I wish you could give yourself a little rest, but I know you cannot. In cælo quies, in terra nulla.³ I hear sad tales about your Book about to come forth.⁴ I suppose you are about to prove man is a descendant from Monkeys &c &c Well, Well!— I shall much enjoy reading it. I have given up that point now. The three main points of difference to my mind—were that Men drink, smoke & thrash their wives—& Beasts do not.

But alas my faith is overthrown entirely. The Lady Monkey from the Andamans—drinks & smokes like a Christian; & evidently the Gentleman w^d thrash, if not kill the Lady, if he had an opportunity.⁵

I always look at Books as I do Newspapers. I am not bound to tye my mind to that of the writer. There are points in your unrivaled Book “The Origin of Species”—which I do not come up to— but with these few expressions omitted, I go with it completely. I do not think even you will persuade me that my ancestors ever were Apes— but we shall see.

I have no religious scruples about any of these matters. I see my own way clearly thro them— —but I see many points I cannot get over, which prevent my going “the whole Hog” with you.

In a few years—if not sooner—we shall know a great deal more than we do now.— We are sadly cribbed here, and ones mind feels the impossibility of grasping what one longs to do. Well, well! (as a friend of mine always says in a difficulty) let us do our best, & hope for better things. I must run over & see you some day. Why not you & M^rs Darwin run over here, when you have finished your Book— you can study my little Apes & Apesses—

Kindest regards to M^rs Darwin & thanks for her note—

Always yours Affec^ly | W D Fox