My dear Professor Sedgwick

I have been deeply gratified by your kindness in remembering me & sending your congratulations on my son’s election as a Fellow of Trinity.¹ This certainly is a very great honour to him & a source of much pleasure to me. I often think of the Geological tour in N. Wales, when you allowed me to accompany you, & which was so great a pleasure & advantage to me.² You, also, during my expedition in the Beagle sent me several encouraging messages, the actual words of some of which I still remember.³ With these recollections & feelings you will believe how deeply I have been gratified by receiving your letter.

I am very sorry to hear that you suffer from so many serious complaints; but considering how often you were formerly unwell you seem to me a wonderful instance of prolonged vigour of mind & body. As for myself I am always an invalid, & fear that I shall never see Cambridge again, though from the many happy days spent there I sh^d much like to do so.

With the most sincere respect pray believe me | your obliged friend | Charles Darwin