Dear Sir

You will easily believe that your letter has astonished & most deeply gratified me.¹ I may say with truth that I have worked at science my whole life, as hard as my health wd permit, & that I have earnestly endeavoured to discover the truth. My work has been my greatest happiness, & I never even dreamt that I shd be rewarded in any other way. Your proposed generosity has therefore surprised & pleased me in an equally high degree.

I feel, however, bound in honour to tell you that I am what may be called a rich man, as this fact may make a difference in your intentions. On the other hand I have 5 sons & 2 daughters, & two of my sons suffer from ill-health & will never earn any income, though one of the 2 will do excellent work in astronomy & mathematics; a third son is devoted to natural science & aids me in my work; a 4^th son is in the R. Engineers & is getting on well; but it is almost nothing of a profession. My 5^th son is the junior partner in a bank at Southampton.²

Your reversionary bequest will be therefore to me, on account of my children, a constant source of the deepest satisfaction.

I shall be much obliged for any details which you may think fit to communicate, as they may alter the arrangements of my will.

I beg leave to remain | dear Sir | yours gratefully | Charles Robert Darwin

To Anthony Rich Esq

P.S. As I cannot bear to think of the possibility of this letter being lost by the post & the consequent appearance of ingratitude, I have had it registered.

To Anthony Rich Esq | Chappell Croft | Heene | Worthing