My Dear Darwin

It is very good of you to send me, and so kindly address, a copy of your new book,—which safely reached me two days ago. I have not yet had time to read any of it, except the preface and the ending; and I do not like to dip into it and so blunt the edge of curiosity, so I keep it well out of sight,—not caring to look just yet at any of the pages which you think likely to “aggravate” me; until some day I can get a good pull at it.²

Now as to your request in letter of Feb. 5.— question on expression as to Laura Bridgman.³ D^r. Howe would be the person to apply to. But he is in San Domingo, one of those commissioners to see what sort of Fellow-citizens those tropical blacks will make.⁴ So I addressed your request in a polite note to his wife, begging that she would send it on to the person—I know not who—now in charge of Laura B. at the Asylum. As yet I have no answer. And as Mrs. Howe is a remarkable person and very much occupied with the woman-question,⁵ she may have tossed my letter into her waste paper basket. Yet I think not. If nothing comes of it I will devise some other way of access,— will apply to D^r. Howe when he returns, if there still be time.

Wyman⁶ is away, in Florida, getting rid of winter and cough,—with good success, I hear.

March 14. Nothing yet from Mrs. Howe. But I hear that D^r. Howe may be back before very long.

My wife⁷ joins in best remembrances to you and yours. She is not very well and we are both over-busy.

Sincerely yours, | Asa Gray