My Dear Darwin

You see that—at length—the thing is nearly done—and—to use the expression here rebeldom is “gone up”   You have long seen, I suppose, that I was right in saying there was but one possible end to the war.— also that the continuance for a time or abolition of slavery depended simply on the rebels—that if the[y] obstinately and persistently resisted, slavery was thereby doomed.¹

It has been a long, wearing and trying work. But the country has had the needed patience and nerve.— and the thing is done—once for all, at great cost, but to immen⁠⟨⁠se⁠⟩⁠ and enduring advantage.

You are the only Britisher I ever write to on this subject, and, in fact, for whose opinions about our country I care at all.²

So I hasten to rejoice with you over the beginning of the end.

How is your health? Ever, dear Darwin, | Yours cordially A. Gray