MydearFox，Itwasverygoodofyoutowritetomeinthemidstofallyourtroubles，thoughyouseemtohavegotoversomeofthem，intherecoveryofyourwife’sandyourownhealth。Ihadnotheardlatelyofyourmother’shealth，andamsorrytohearsopooranaccount。Butasshedoesnotsuffermuch，thatisthegreatthing;formerelifeIdonotthinkismuchvaluedbytheold。Whatatimeyoumusthavehadofit，whenyouhadtogobackwardsandforwards。
Weareallprettywell，andoureldestdaughterisimproving。Icanseedaylightthroughmywork，andamnowfinallycorrectingmychaptersforthepress;andIhopeinamonthorsixweekstohaveproof—sheets。Iamwearyofmywork。ItisaveryoddthingthatIhavenosensationthatI
overworkmybrain;butfactscompelmetoconcludethatmybrainwasneverformedformuchthinking。Weareresolvedtogofortwoorthreemonths，whenIhavefinished，toIlkley，orsomesuchplace，toseeifIcananyhowgivemyhealthagoodstart，foritcertainlyhasbeenwretchedoflate，andhasincapacitatedmeforeverything。YoudomeinjusticewhenyouthinkthatIworkforfame;Ivalueittoacertainextent;but，ifIknowmyself，Iworkfromasortofinstincttotrytomakeouttruth。HowgladIshouldbeifyoucouldsometimecometoDown;especiallywhenIgetalittlebetter，asIstillhopetobe。Wehavesetupabilliardtable，andIfinditdoesmeadealofgood，anddrivesthehorridspeciesoutofmyhead。Farewell，mydearoldfriend。
Yoursaffectionately，C。DARWIN。
CHARLESDARWINTOC。LYELL。