Dear M^r. Darwin,

You will hardly be surprised to hear that my dear Father’s sufferings are ended.¹ He died this morning, apparently in no pain, and conscious almost to the very last. I had only returned home last night; and during the night he suffered twice from a sort of spasm of the heart— then the breathing became somewhat laboured, and after a while it simply ceased. Those who were present scarcely knew when the last moment came— It is a great comfort to us all to think that he suffered less in the latter part of his illness, and that his death was so mercifully painless and free from conscious discomfort.

I can frame no better wish for myself, or for any one that loved him, than that they and I may be like him in life and in death. My poor Mother² still bears up wonderfully—and was with my dear Father to the last. Almost his last words were expressions of affection and gratitude to her— I believe the very last words he uttered were “I am sorry to give you all so much trouble”—words which are so characteristic of him that I do not hesitate to quote them to you.

I must thank you sincerely for the kind letter which you sent in reply to my former letter.³ Your name has always been an honoured one in my Father’s house; and we shall always associate you with his memory— You will pardon a somewhat incoherent letter, I trust; the pressure of details today is very great.

Believe me to remain | Yours most sincerely, | Charles W. Fox