My dear Huxley

I have been much amused at the Witness.— Such abuse is as good as praise. What fools these Bigots are.—²

I have been much pleased at what you say about Sterility & Hybridity. I did not suppose that you would enter on the general question of modification in your published Lectures, but am pleased to hear that you will touch on it.³ It will be a good joke if ever I come to cry “hold hard”— I well know that you will go as far, but no further, than your reason tells you.— It is really odd how most of the objectors, (as Sir D. Brewster)⁴ never allude to the arguments, which alone have much weight in favour of such views, as affinities rudimentary organs &c &c—

Your whole letter has interested me, & many thanks for it.

We are all better; but we have had 16 ill in the House!

I cannot think how on earth you will find time to write out your Lectures with all your work. I wish to God you had more spare time.

Ever yours very sincerely | C. Darwin

I have read about $\frac{1}{3}$ of the N. Hist. R.   it is a capital number;⁵ how well Lubbock writes, not that I have finished his article.—⁶