My dear George.

I think your historical sketch will do very well & has interested me.² I return it by this post   But there are some sentences at p. 1 & 2 which do not run well. ie I had to reread them & then their meaning was obvious   p. 3. what do you mean by “acquired” insanity— you use it more than once—³ Do you mean non-congenital insanity; but I never heard of congenital insanity— I daresay you have authority for expression.—

The penultimate sentence of the whole is (to quote a marginal criticism by Etty on one of my books) “too hideous”.—⁴

I congratulate you on this paper being finished. I have always thought that you undervalue it— For Heaven sake put sentence in in some conspicious place that your results seem to indicate that consanguineous marriage as far as insanity is concerned, cannot be injurious in any very high degree.—⁵

There is no danger of subjects failing you!!!⁶ Poor dear mother is very bad,—in bed for 2 days with usual headaches.— Uncles Ras⁷ wonderful, talking splendidly— I am off to Huxley & am in great force.⁸

Yours affec | C. Darwin

P.S. I have had the satisfaction of telling Huxley all about the Q. R. & you, of which he had never heard; & he was very indignant & said he w^d. look to the article.—⁹ He looked quite savage & pitched into the hypocrite in right good style.—