My dear Gray

I now send my short Historical Preface & one page more of corrections.² With respect to Agassiz, I have shamefully blundered but Von Baer is fully as good an authority; some would say better authority.³ Please forward enclosed to Agassiz & read if you think worth while. I wrote all latter part of volume from memory, & it is a blessing more blunders have not yet been detected: but the state of my health left me no choice: I felt on the point of quite breaking down.— If the M.S. now (& before) sent is of no use, no harm is done.—⁴ The pages all refer to the new Edition or Reprint—

I have now received your letter of the 23^d of Jan. by Hooker, in which you tell me all the trouble (& you so much overworked) which you have taken about an American Edition. I fear there is no chance of your Review now appearing at the head, which would have greatly pleased me. If there is another Reprint in America, will you send the English 2^d Edit (or Reprint) on account of several verbal corrections & likewise the M.S corrections; I would send you another copy, or make the Publishers give you one. If you notice any errors like “self-fertilise itself” pray correct.—⁵ Again & again, I thank you heartily for all your generous kindness to me.—

Now I will just run through some points in your letter. What you say about my Book gratifies me most deeply & I wish I could feel all was deserved by me.

I quite think a Review from a man, who is not an entire convert, if fair & moderately favourable, is in all respects the best kind of Review. About weak points I agree. The eye to this day gives me a cold shudder, but when I think of the fine known gradations, my reason tells me I ought to conquer the cold shudder.⁶ I agree about sterility, & especially about fertility of the strongest marked varieties, & in the M.S already sent to you, I have confessed more plainly the difficulty. But a vast number of facts show how mysteriously & easily the reproductive system is affected.

Pray kindly remember & tell Prof. Wyman, how very grateful I sh^d. be for any hints, information or criticisms: I have the highest respect for his opinion. I am so sorry about Danas health; I have already asked him to pay me a visit.—⁷

Farewell, you have laid me under a load of obligations,—not that I feel it a load. It is the highest possible gratification to me to think that you have found my Book worth reading & reflexions from you & these others I put down in my own mind as the judges whose opinions I should value most of all.—

My dear Gray | Yours most sincerely | C. Darwin

PS. I feel pretty sure from my own [experience], that if y⁠⟨⁠ou⁠⟩⁠ ⁠⟨⁠    ⁠⟩⁠ by your studies to keep the subject of Origin of Species before your mind, that you will go further & further in your belief.— It took me long years & I assure you I am astonished at the impression my Book has made on many minds— I fear 20 years ago I sh^d not have been half as candid & open to conviction.—