My dear Sir

I very truly grieve to hear that your continued labours and anxiety have at last injured your health seriously.² I know from long-tried experience what misery continued ill-health causes, but my health affects only comfort, and is not otherwise serious, which I fear from what you say is far from your case. Your MS. is most useful and interesting to me, and though I would not wish one single word omitted, and shall consider the whole very carefully, I regret that I have caused you to write at such length.³ A few sentences will suffice for my object, but as your trouble in writing it is now over, I must say that I rejoice (though regretting) at its length, as it makes me understand the cases much better. I did not make enough or any allowance for mere senseless laughter and weeping.⁴ I have, however, not yet sufficiently considered your MS. with respect to the hairy ears (is it of idiot or insane—I suppose congenital?).⁵ I should much like to see a photograph out of curiosity, and I can return it, when I return the others. After I have seen all that you can send, I will then ask, whether I could have some (supposing any suit my purpose which is of course a chance) copied:⁶ there would however be risk of the copyiers dirtying any photograph. I go to London for a week on Thursday, and intend to enquire about the new plans of engraving direct from photographs.⁷ Please address Photographs to C. Darwin, Orpington Station, Kent, S.E. Railway. With respect to bronzed colour from renal disease, I do not think the facts (Mr. Paget formerly gave me some) would be of service: the case seems so hopelessly obscure.⁸ You most kindly tell me that I may ask more questions: Gratiolet (who though so good an observer, I think sometimes runs away with facts) asserts that the pupils of the eyes contract in violent rage, and “dilate enormously” under extreme terror.⁹ Have you ever observed this, or can you observe it,—allowance being made for any brain disease? My little essay on Expression does not deserve to rank above a Hobby-horse; now some thirty years old: I feel bound to publish, as I have received from various correspondents much information in regard to savages; and to these observations I have now to add your to me very valuable notes.¹⁰ You will, ere this have received I hope my book: I fear there will be too much natural History for you; but it would delight me if I should succeed in interesting you for an hour or two by the first and last parts.¹¹

My dear Sir, with cordial thanks Yours very sincerely | Ch. Darwin

P.S. Since writing this I have been working in your remarks on weeping and they come in splendidly for me.¹²