My dear Huxley

On reading over your excellent review with the sentence quoted from Sir W. Thomson, it seemed to me adviseable, considering the nature of the publication, to notice “extreme variation” & another point.—¹ Now will you read the enclosed, & if you approve, post it soon. If you disapprove, throw it in the fire, & thus add one more to the 1000 kindnesses which you have done me.— Do not write; I shall see result in next week’s Nature.—² Please observe that in the foul copy I had added a final sentence which I did not at first copy, as it seemed to me inferentially too contemptuous; but I have now pinned it to back, & you can send it or not,—as you think best,—that is if you think any part worth sending.³ My request will not cost you much trouble, i.e to read two pages, for I know that you can decide at once.—

I heartily enjoyed my talk with you on Sunday Morning⁴

Ever yours | Ch. Darwin

If my M.S. appears too flat, too contemptuous, too spiteful, or too anything, I earnestly beseech you to throw it into the fire