My dear Sir

I am sorry to hear that you have been unwell, and a failure of energy must be a new and distressing sensation to you.¹ Upon the whole I hope that you are contented with your results, but it was a most unfortunate chance your having used the pollen of the weakly varieties. My gardener reported to me that these varieties were not attacked by the disease or only slightly, but that the yield was not good and the potatoes poor.² I have not strength sufficient to attend to the deseased varieties which you are so kind as to offer me. Those which you say that you will send shall be planted. It is very noble conduct of you to return the subscription, if trade continues to improve. As far as I am concerned, I am quite content to remain unpaid, as I gave the money for what I considered to be an excellent object.³

I will forward your letter to Mr. Farrer and ask him if he thinks fit to forward it to Mr. Caird.⁴

With all good wishes, I remain, my dear Sir | Yours very faithfully Ch. Darwin.

You can use my name or not, just as you think fit, in any application to Government; but the Government seems very slow even in moving in such affairs.⁵