My dear Fox.

Your affecting account of the loss of your poor wife¹ was forwarded to me yesterday by Susan.— The cessation of her sufferings, which she seems to have borne with such noble, & devoted patience, must be a great relief to all.— I truly sympathise with you, though never in my life, having lost one near relation,² I daresay I cannot imagine, how severe grief, such as yours, must be, & how little the longest expectation can resign one to the blow, when it falls. Few, I am sure will bear it better than you, although from your most affectionate disposition I cannot fancy anyone feeling it more deeply.— How fortunate Miss Fletcher’s arrival was.³

Your children must be now an infinite comfort to you; I trust they are well & again cheerful, for it is their peculiar blessing to love sweetly & yet not to mourn long.—

—Do write to me, my dear old friend, as soon as you have leisure & some degree of inclination & tell me how you are in health & how your children are— believe me my dear Fox | Your sincere friend | Charles Darwin