My dear Huxley,

I am going to ask you to me a great kindness. M^r Butler has attacked me bitterly, in fact accusing me of lying, duplicity, & God knows what, because I unintentionally omitted to state that Krause had enlarged his Kosmos article before sending it for translation.¹ I have written the enclosed letter to the Athenæum in reply; but Litchfield is strongly opposed to my making any answer, and I enclose his letter if you can find time to read it.² Of the other members of my family some are for & some against answering. I should rather like to show that I had intended to state that Krause had enlarged his article. On the other hand a clever & unscrupulous man like M^r Butler would be sure to twist whatever I may say against me; & the longer the controversy lasts the more degrading it is to me. If my letter is printed both the Litchfields want me to omit the two sentences now marked by pencil brackets; but I see no reason for their omission.³

Now will you do me the lasting kindness to read carefully the attack & my answer; & as I have unbounded confidence in your judgement, whatever you advise that I will do: whether you advise me to make no answer, or to send the enclosed letter as it stands or to strike out the sentences between brackets

Ever yours sincerely | Charles Darwin

P.S. Since writing the above I have received another letter from Litchfield, with a splendid imaginary letter from Butler, showing how he would probably travestie my answer. He tells me that he took the Athenæum to M^r Pollock, & asked him, (without giving any hint of his own opinion) whether Butler’s attack ought to be answered & he said “no”.⁴ But I wait in anxiety for your answer as this will decide me.