My dear William

You seem to have set about finding out what was best about your degree in a downright sensible manner;² & as you will have two years mathematicks, & as you fancy reading for Law, I quite agree that you had better so decide. I do not, however, think that studying mathematicks & History or Law can have at all the same training effect on the mind. The concentrated attention required for a problem is just a faculty which could hardly be got without some training in very peculiar studies.—

But I do not mean at all by this, that you have not judged wisely: no doubt a lawyer besides his law-knowledge, some oratory, good judgment, also is greatly profited by diversified knowledge (a nice little catalogue of qualities requisite for a famous Lawyer; & you know I mean you to be Lord Chancellor & buy Holwood Park!!)³ & you will, I suppose have rather more time to pick up knowledge of all kinds.— If you do not dislike it, had you not better consult Abdy about reading aloud or oratory?⁴ & likewise about entering at Lincoln’s Inn or the Temple?—⁵ So much for the Law: I think you had certainly better write to Hemmings; but it will be a difficult letter to write.—⁶

How I sh^d like to see you in your Uniform: I do not hear much about the Rifles here.⁷ M^rs. Lubbock says that except Montagu all are very idle in drilling.⁸ Mamma’s visit to London answered pretty well,—at least the latter part.⁹ As we came home we called at a Picture’s dealers & bought a view on sea-coast of S. Wales in Oil for ^£12. ^s10.¹⁰ I think it looks well in the Dining Room: I shall be curious to hear what you will think about it— I lean for more oil-paintings; as they will be sure to last.— The House to day is rather bad: Etty very poorly & Lenny with very bad cough. I have had bad cold, & all the House has been poorly more or less; & Parslow has been in bed for a week.—¹¹

I go to London tomorrow for one night to see my Doctor;¹² but I am not very hopeful of his doing me much good. On Friday the Lyells & Tollets come here.¹³ A deluge of letters still keep pouring in about my Book, till I am got weary of praise. It is making a great row in America, where it has been reprinted & sells for 5^s. A German Edition is preparing by very good Naturalist:¹⁴ & I hear of some foreign Reviews coming out.— It has been very well reviewed in N. America.—   There was rather fierce attack on it in Annals of Nat. History, by my friend Wollaston,¹⁵ & I hear it has been cut up in a paper read before Royal Soc. of Edinburgh.—¹⁶ By Jove the Book has made row enough, & I sh^d. now like to get on quietly with my work.

It will be jolly having you here at Easter; & I long for some Billiards    I have not had a game for a week or more.

My dear old Guillielmus | Your affect Father | C. Darwin