Dear D^r Lauder Brunton

I saw in some papers that there would probably be a subscription to pay D^r Ferriers legal expences in the late absurd & wicked prosecution. As I live so retired I might not hear of the subscription, and I should regret beyond measure not to have the pleasure and honour of showing my sympathy and admiration of D^r Ferriers researches¹

I know that you are his friend, as I once met him at your house, so I earnestly beg you to let me hear if there is any means of subscribing as I should much like to be an early subscriber   I am sure that you will forgive me for troubling you under these circumstances and I remain

Yours very sincerely | Ch Darwin

P.S I finished reading a few days ago the several physiological and medical papers which you were so kind as to send me. I was much interested by several of them,—especially by that on night-sweating and almost more by others on digestion.² I have seldom been made to realise more vividly the wondrous complexity of our whole system. How any one of us keeps alive for a day is a marvel!