My dear Sir

I have taken a very long time in thanking you for your extremely kind note of Jan.^y. 13^th,² but I have been waiting in hopes of being able to tell you that the French Translation of the Origin was published.³ There has been great delay in the printing, but at last more than half is actually printed so that I suppose that in a month or two, it will appear. The Translator will have a copy sent to your Publishers, & is delighted to hear that you intend noticing it. If in your power to give it, I sh^d. very much like to have a copy of your Review, for I am sure that it will be very valuable to me.—⁴

You say in your note, “that few men are so near agreeing with me as I am”.— I cannot tell you how this has pleased me; for I look with profound interest for the judgment of such men as yourself. I have not the least doubt that I have erred most seriously on many points; but now so many (yet few) really good judges concur in the main with me, that I do not fear that some such view will ultimately prevail, notwithstanding all the abuse & ridicule so freely poured on me.— On the Continent the Reviewers have treated me more fairly than in this country; & an excellent, but too favourable, Review has lately been published by Claparéde in the Revue Germanique.—⁵

Pray excuse me scribbling so long a note & believe me, my dear Sir | With sincere respect | Yours very faithfully | Ch. Darwin