My Dear Sir,

My Father wished me to acknowledge with sincere thanks your letter, and the most kind expression of your feelings as regards his labours contained in it.²

He feels that there can be no higher tribute than the heartfelt appreciation of his work coming from one whose life he feels like his own to have been devoted to the search for truth.

I wished at the same time to express to you my very deep regret to learn that the Index is losing your superintendence; the paper has been a source of pleasure & instruction to me for years, and the high fearless tone of all your essays has always impressed deeply. When I had the pleasure of seeing you in the autumn of 1878 I feared that your connection with the paper was coming to an end.³

My Father desired me to say that it would be a considerable satisfaction to him, if you would kindly put a stop to the weekly advertizement of his appreciation of the Index tracts. He had no intention that his words should be used for this purpose, and he wishes now that they should be omitted.⁴

With sincere respect, I am dear Sir | Yours very faithfully | W. E. Darwin

F. E. Abbot Eq^re5