My dear Sir Henry

I thank you cordially for your most kind note & for your congratulations on the honour which the Royal Society has done me.²

I have just read H. Spencer’s work: it strikes me as extremely clever, & yet, I cannot tell why, I never feel much wiser, when I have finished reading him.—³

I am, I hope, decidedly getting better, but fear that I shall never reach my former modicum of strength: I am, however, able to do a little work in Natural History every day. I was very ill for about ten months with incessant vomiting, which became bad when you were in America last year. How wonderful your strength & vigour of interest are: I had heard of your Gibraltar expedition.—⁴

With most sincere thanks for your never-failing kindness, I remain | My dear Sir Henry | Yours most sincerely | and obliged | Charles Darwin