My dear Fox

It is long since we have had any communication, so I am tempted to send you a scrap to extract a scrap from you, with news about yourself.— I have been extra bad of late, with the old severe vomiting rather often & much distressing swimming of the head; I have been here a week & shall stay another & it has already done me good.² I am taking Pepsine, ie the chief element of the gastric juice, & I think it does me good & at first was charmed with it. My abstract is the cause, I believe of the main part of the ills to which my flesh is heir to; but I have only two more chapters & to correct all, & then I shall be a comparatively free man.— I have had the great satisfaction of converting Hooker & I believe Huxley & I think Lyell is much staggered.

We are a very pleasant party here & are very comfortable & I am glad to say that not one of D^r Lane’s patients has given him up & he gets a few fresh ones pretty regularly.³ He is most eager to build an Establishment near the Crystal Palace; but I fear will fail for want of Funds.—⁴ All my home party are with the Langtons & they went there on account of Etty, who has lately fallen back grievously owing to a very slight attack of fever.—⁵

William is very happy at Cambridge & he has changed into my old rooms & has taken my old engravings & with old Impey,⁶ it must be a sort of resurrection.

Let me some time have a note telling me about yourself & belongings

My dear Fox | Ever yours most truly | C. Darwin