Darwin Correspondence Project

Edinburgh | Botanic Gardens

Sepr 25th.

Madam.

I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your notes of the 23d & 24th. ult. I deeply regret to find by them that Mr. Darwin is again labouring under such a weak state of health. I hope & trust that you may be deceived in your anticipations of a tardy recovery, and that you may soon have the satisfaction of seeing him again in the full enjoyment of health.

Please convey to Mr. Darwin my best thanks for the trouble he has given himself with my paper, and also my gratefulness for the honour he has done me in considering it at all worthy of his notice.

There is no occasion, whatever, for your returning my M.S. on account of Mr. Darwin's weak state of health. Presuming that he had been enjoying his usual state of health, I knew full well that his time was too much engaged to permit for a moment the idea that he would at once examine my paper. I merely sent it that it might await his convenience.

Please retain it there until Mr. Darwin is again well, and perhaps when he has a little time to spare, he will glance over it & see whether or not it is worthy of his study.— It is far too kind of him thinking for a moment of making my paper his first study—time will then be too precious for his wasting it on aught of mine.

And now with kindest wishes for Mr. Darwins speedy recovery, and cordial thanks for the trouble you have taken in writing me | I remain | Madam | Yours very respectfully | John Scott.