My Dear Sir

I have come across an excellent East-End-of-London Clergyman, who has devoted his life (besides his other work) to watching the progress of modern Science. I believe that he is better read in it than any other man in his profession, & being,—as is natural, a huge admirer of the Hebrew Scriptures, he is attempting, impartially, to give to Scripture the things that belong to Scripture, & to Science the things that belong to Science—

I do not expect that you will go very far with him; but his work (as it seems to me) is a very healthy & a very pleasing one; & if not useful as an apology for the Science of Moses, it is yet a capital defence—clergy-ward—of your work in bold research.

My friend is anxious that you should have a copy, & knowing me to be an old-fashioned, scripture-loving, orthodox kind of fellow, & yet a most out-spoken Darwinian, he asked me to introduce the book to you.¹

I know & am assured that you are too kindly & courteous to take his present in any other than a kindly manner—

With the most loving esteem, | I am My Dear Sir | Yours most truly | W. K. Parker

C. Darwin Esq, FRS