My dear Sir,

Your letter of the 22nd has been forwarded to me here (from Down) where I have been staying since the 10th of March, under the cold water cure, which has benefitted my health to a very considerable extent.

Dr. King² from all that you say, from his testimonials and his writings, has, I am sure, my best good wishes, but it is really impossible that I can canvass for a man not personally known to me.³ I fully appreciate the kindness of your feelings and your gratitude to Dr. King for his attentions to you, but, I think, a moment’s reflexion will show you how a strange it would appear to any third person for me to canvass with only second hand information. I return the documents to save the trouble of copies. I return home by beginning of next month, and shd. I see Owen,⁴ I will mention what you say of Dr. King, but his name must be pretty well known to everyone. I can only repeat with sincerity that he has my good wishes.

I hope that your Father is well. In Haste, | Yours sincerely, C. Darwin. Sunday morning.