My dear Sir

By recollecting the events of the past year on its last day there is no sweeter remembrance for Mrs Cohn and myself but the few hours we had the happiness to pass under your hospitable roof. It was one of my heart’s desires to become personally acquainted with the great philosopher who more than any living man has contributed to the advancement of science, and we shall never forget how kindly you did receive us in your house.¹

You have forwarded to me a new token of your kindness by sending your new book on cross- and selffertilisation of plants, by which you have added a new link to the great chain of your researches concerning the origin of species and varieties.² The more I admire the inexhaustible treasure of your observations and experiments, and the strictly logic proceedings of your speculation, the more I want time and room to enter explicitely on the many thoughts your expositions have suggested to me, and I beg leave to come back to your book after having studied it thoroughly.

In the mean time I beg to express my best thanks for the kind presents I am owing to you and to your son to whom I mind to write directly about his highly interesting researches on aggregation etc.³

I have taken the liberty to enclose to this letter a photogramme of mine which I beg to receive with your wont kindness; because I value too much to be rememberd by you, not to take some pains to get a place for my likeness in your collection.⁴

Now on the treshold of the coming year I am eager to send to you, to Mrs Darwin and to your family the sincerest congratulations in the name of Mrs Cohn and myself, and to wish to you | many happy returns of this day! | With the highest respects | truly yours | Ferdinand Cohn