Dear Mr. Darwin,

I was greatly gratified and not a little flattered by your very kind letter, received last night, with reference to my little book, “The Evolutionist at Large.”¹ It is extremely good of you to think of me, and to have taken the trouble of writing to me, in the midst of so many subjects which occupy your attention. I was quite aware that the papers were a little bold; but of course in writing for a daily paper one is obliged to adapt oneself to a very different audience from that which one addresses in a scientific book.² However, I am amply satisfied if you can speak so well of my little volume and overlook its short-comings for the sake of the good it may contain.

Thank you very much, too, for your kind enquiries about my health. I am happy to say it is so far better that we have been able to winter in England this year without bad effects; and I can write my ordinary amount of work in comfort. I think the winter in the south has set me in a ⁠⟨⁠fair⁠⟩⁠ way of recovery: and as I believe you are one of the kind friends whom I have to thank for the opportunity ⁠⟨⁠of⁠⟩⁠ ⁠⟨⁠re⁠⟩⁠cruiting, I may add that I am now both well enough and ⁠⟨⁠in⁠⟩⁠ receipt of sufficient work to keep me well employed, and to enable me to go abroad if again necessary ⁠⟨⁠on⁠⟩⁠ my own resources.³ But I bel⁠⟨⁠iev⁠⟩⁠e another summer will quite restore me, and that I shall look back upon the winter I spent abroad as the turning point of a life which I shall try to make not quite useless.

With renewed thanks for your very kind interest, which I appreciate at its true value, | Believe me, Yours most sincerely, | Grant Allen.