My dear D^r. Lankester

I hope that you will be so good as to thank the authoress for her kind present & yourself accept my thanks. It is a grief to me that some part of my brain has undergone a new form of degeneration, for though in old days I much enjoyed the higher kinds of poetry, now for several years I have not been able to read a line! Perhaps the ‘key-notes’ may revive my taste, & I will make the trial, but greatly fear that all the ganglia in my skull have become too prosy.—¹

I am delighted to hear that you will be able to give up more time for original investigations; for I have always thought, if you will allow me to say so, that you could do splendid work.²

Believe me | Yours sincerely | Charles Darwin

We are going to the Lakes for a Holiday soon & I will take the Poem— the place will be propitious.—³