Dear FitzRoy.

I did not hear for more than 4 weeks after your return that you were in England, and now, though I have nothing particular to say—I cannot resist writing to congratulate you on your safe arrival after your bad passage home,¹ and to express my most sincere hope that M^rs. FitzRoy and your family are all well— I was in London yesterday—for the first time—since I heard of your return and found your address at the Admiralty & in Dover S^t. the servant told me to direct as I have done. I got your pamphlet² the other day and was very much interested by it, for I had heard comparatively little about New Zealand; I fear you must have undergone much trouble & vexation and been ill repaid except by the consciousness of your own motives, for the sacrifices which I am aware you made in accepting the Governorship.—³

I hope that your health has not suffered and that you are as strong & vigorous as formerly— I have hardly the assurance to ask you to spare time to write to me, but I should be very glad to hear about yourself M^rs. Fitzroy & the children. My life goes on like Clockwork, and I am fixed on the spot where I shall end it; we have four children, who & my wife are all well. My health, also, has rather improved, but I am a different man in strength and energy to what I was in old days, when I was your “Fly-catcher”, on board the Beagle; I have just finished the 3^rd. & last part of the Geology of the Voyage of the Beagle—viz: on S. America; I will direct a copy (in a weeks time when published) to be sent to the Carlton Club, without you prefer it being sent elsewhere.— It is purely geological & dull enough, but I hope it contains some few new facts & views— I have now with the exception of some Zoological papers on the lower marine animals completed all which I shall ever attempt on the materials collected during the voyage—⁴

I am aware how little chance there is of your having time to spare, but if ever when in Town M^rs. FitzRoy & yourself should feel inclined to spend a few days in the country—it would give my wife & myself real pleasure;—we have a tolerably comfortable house in a very quiet, retired, airy part of the country—

I think I ought to apologise for the length of this letter.— Pray give my kind & respectful regards to M^rs. FitzRoy & Believe me, dear FitzRoy | Yours truly & obliged | Charles Darwin