My dear Sir

If after seeing my proof-sheets you keep of same mind & are willing to give your consent, assuredly I shall not change my mind, but shall be grateful to bring out a translation of your article, in nearly the same state as it appeared in Kosmos.² It shall be entitled your life with Preliminary notice by me.—³ The work is wholly due to you.— It is rather unfortunate that M^r Butler sh^d. have published at the present time, but it makes no difference in my determination.⁴ I have only glanced at what he says. He is a very clever man, knows nothing about science & turns everything into ridicule. He hates scientific men.

I cannot understand his views. Even if we grant memory & the power of wishing to cells, & this is an enormous admission, I do not see how cells are to modify themselves chemically & structurally either by wishing or remembering.—⁵ I sh^d. like to hear whether he supposes that the crop (or œsophagus) of a Pouter pigeon or the leaves of a cabbage became modified by wishing & memory.— But I did not intend to scribble on this subject.

I forgot to say that you have my complete consent to do anything you like with my Preliminary Notice, to print it at beginning or at end of your article,—to cut it up or use the facts or insert parts anywhere you like.⁶

yours very sincerely | Ch. Darwin