My dear George

We grieve to hear so poor an account of your healths. Give my affectionate love to Horace. Your mother, who has been unwell in bed with a cold & bad headache for several days, was much affected by your letters.—² We both think that you are too ill to go to Carlsbad. So do come home, as soon as you have tried D^r F.’ prescriptions & advice long enough.—³ I write now to say that if you resolve for water-cure, & would feel more comfortable with us than in an establishment, we would gladly take a large house at Malvern or elsewhere, so that you might be with us. But we can talk over this on your return.

Tell Horace to talk with D^r Frank, who seems a very sensible man, what he thinks about water-cure for his case. We go up to London on the 14^th or 15^th for a month; but we w^d. cut our visit there short, if desirable.—⁴ We know there is one spare bed-room for Horace, & we hope there is another (but are not at all sure) for you, in case you w^d. prefer to be with us in place of your Lodgings.

My Father, who was so sagacious, used to declare positively, that there was always hope for such cases as yours & mine; as he had seen several surprising instances of spontaneous recovery.⁵

You both my dear Sons suffer from almost the greatest evil which can afflict anyone—nearly as bad, & in some ways worse, than complete blindness; but even if your healths should keep bad, it is possible to have some little happiness & enjoyment in life. Farewell my dear boys, how I wish I could hear somewhat better account.

Your affectionate Father | Ch Darwin

We were both pleased to hear about Strachey & your article on dress.—⁶

I have sent “Nature” regularly— I sh^d. like the last returned.