My Dear Sir.—

I received two days ago your article, which has gratified me in a very high degree.¹ Every word which you say is dictated in the kindest possible spirit; but your estimation of the value of my work would be considered, I fear, by most persons as very much too high. Nothing so full or, as far as facts are concerned, so true has hitherto been published about me. There are one or two very trifling inaccuracies, i.e, about my shooting and hunting in the Highlands. You give also too bad a character to our roads or rather lanes; they are very narrow and rather bad; but when you come to England, I hope that you will prove by visiting me here that they are not impassable. When you have any communication with D^r. Peschel, pray give him my sincere thanks for his present.² I can see that the subject is extremely interesting; but the great difficulty with which I read German is a never-ending grief to me.

You ask about my next book; it is partly on the Descent of Man, but chiefly on Sexual Selection, which latter I have found a very large subject. I suppose I shall go to press late in the autumn; but I make very slow progress.³

With cordial thanks for all the honours which you have piled on my head, believe me, my Dear Sir | Yours sincerely | Charles Darwin.

P.S.— Please to give my very kind remembrances to my good friend E. Häckel⁴