My dear Huxley

Very many thanks for your Photograph, which is excellent, but it makes you look too black & solemn as if facing the bench of Bishops.—²

We were all charmed with M^rs. Huxley “too sincere” note.³ Oh that I should live to be called “Owen-like”! I was indeed innocent of concealing the context, for I did not read one line beyond the charming lines which I quoted, & they were enough for me!⁴

How hard you are worked & I do wish that you had more leisure or at least not so many lectures. It is an absolute marvel to me how much you do.— I knew there was very little chance of your having time to write a popular treatise on Zoology;⁵ but you are about the one man that could do it. At the time I felt it would be almost a sin for you to do it, as it would of course destroy some original work. On the other hand, I sometimes think that general & popular Treatises are almost as important for the progress of science as original work.— As for writing being a great labour to you, I can hardly swallow that. Your words on paper seem always to come out spontaneously. I have heard it hinted that you wrote the slashing leading article in the last Reader.⁶ It is a capital article whether or no you wrote it. That is splendid about the pump & shoes—⁷

I am no great thing in health, but manage most days to do a little work.—

Our kindest remembrances to M^rs Huxley | Ever yours | C. Darwin