My dear Fox

Many thanks for your kind note of enquiry.¹ I cannot say much for myself. We have lately been staying at Hartfield & Leith Hill Place (& I gave to Caroline your kind messages) for a fortnight;² but the change did me no good & I have been mostly in bed for the last week from my old enemy sickness. We gave up Malvern on account of my Eczema;³ but it is all gone & perhaps after the holidays we may go there, unless I improve. Gully will be a great loss & I hardly know whom to consult there. I must be under some experienced man, for I could not stand much hard treatment. All this everlasting illness has stopped my work much.— I am glad you told me about Gully, for I had heard only a rumour.—⁴

Thanks about Illustrated Times, but I have seen it.⁵ There has been a much better squib, on Owen & Huxley about the Brain; part of which appeared in Public Opinion.—⁶

I hope the world goes pretty well with you my old friend. I cannot say it does with me. Our youngest Boy is a regular invalid with severe indigestion, clearly inherited from me.⁷

Farewell | Yours ever truly | C. Darwin