My dear Lubbock

I am puzzled what to think about the Review.—¹ Good periodicals undoubtedly do very good service in cause of Science.—   Unless good men will devote some time to them, they will never be good; yet I cannot avoid regretting that men like Huxley & yourself sh^d give up much of your precious time to such work. If you had not the Bank work, I sh^d. be strong for your assisting.— ² I suppose you could not do such work in Banking hours? If not I must say I doubt about wisdom.—   Do not quote me to Huxley, as it would be so ungracious.—   I have heard from Huxley himself today & I shall tell him that I doubt much the wisdom of his undertaking the work.³

On other hand it is wonderful the amount of work which you hard-working men continue to do.—   In fact, the more I think the more puzzled I feel.—   On one point I am clear, that if it would stop your doing original work you ought not, even pro bono publico, undertake this new work.—   If it would not stop you, I feel sure your name & help would be highly serviceable in a good cause.— This note is a collection of platitudes, but I can say nothing else.— I feel that the subject is of importance; for I am convinced that you are one of the very few philosophical naturalists which this country contains; & therefore you are bound to do the best service which you can in the good cause of Natural Science.—

Poor dear Etty does mend a little, but it is fearfully little, only just perceptibly— The Doctors fear some Mesenteric mischief; but they hope not permanent. Her pulse still keeps high.—   It is wretched work—

GoodBye, my dear friend | Yours affect^ly | C. Darwin

Have you seen Quarterly R.? Very clever & amusing, & quizzes me so capitally, that I chuckled again, & read it with thorough enjoyment.—⁴