My dear Mr Norton

I am very much obliged for your kind letter. I had already heard with great regret the news of Chauncey Wright’s sudden death.¹ In my answer to my informant, I am glad to think that I used almost the same words which you do in your letter, for I spoke of my admiration for his high intellectual powers & of his great kindness of heart. It is touching to me to hear that he felt so kindly towards me, & that he died with my last book before him.² I had no idea that he would have cared for it, otherwise I would assuredly have sent him a copy. I must try to see his “Darwinism in Germany” in the Nation.³ I entirely agree with you about the power shewn in many of his almost casual remarks, & I see that others have been struck with them, for Prof. Rolleston, in a recent address, alludes with admiration to one on the relation of the brain of Man to his power of acquiring language.⁴

As for myself I have nothing to say, except that I am able to go on working daily with much enjoyment, yet with many groans & sighs.

You say nothing about your own health, which I sincerely hope is better than when you were in England.

Pray give our kindest remembrances to all your party. We have a very pleasant remembrance of your stay at Keston—⁵

Leonard, to whom you & the Sedgwicks were so very kind, started about 3 weeks ago for Malta, where he will be stationed for some years.⁶

Believe me my dear M^r Norton | yours very sincerely | Charles Darwin

P.S. That is a very striking & nice article, whoever wrote it, in the Boston Advertiser, which I suppose I owe to you—⁷