My dear M^r. Moggridge

I heard of your illness but fear that you were much worse than I had supposed.¹ It is extremely kind of you to have taken so much trouble in sending me a copy of your observations with such beautiful illustrations.² I have read them with much interest, and as I went on I wished that you would draw up a paper on the subject, so that I was glad when I saw that this is your intention.³ I do not know when I shall come to this subject, nor how to treat it when I do. You have made a good point in drawing attention to the difference between the variability of distinct individuals and between parts of the same plant.

These latter cases feebly come in fact under what I have called bud-variation.⁴ Your observations on the Arbutus when much pruned will I think prove very interesting. Pray attend to how far there is any correlation in the variations of the leaves, flowers and fruit. Could you get specimens growing at the utmost verge of height, or in unusually damp places &c. &c., so as to ascertian how far altered conditions add to the variability of the plant. H. Müller of Lippstadt has examined epipactus and platanthera, and Meehan of the U. States has examined Mitchella as well as epigæa, and some Germans have examined mosses, under the same point of view as you are examining arbutus &c.⁵

Some time ago my horse fell and partly rolled over me, and I have in consequence not been quite so well as usual.⁶ On the 10^th we all start for N. Wales where we shall stay for nearly 2 months, and I hope to return refreshed for my work.⁷

I sincerely hope that your health may greatly improve during the summer, and with M^rs. Darwin’s very kind regards, I remain, with many thanks

Yours very sincerely | Charles Darwin