From Frederick Pollock to Francis? Darwin 8 April [1876?]

My dear Mr Darwin

I should have written in this behalf to your brother George but am not sure of his present whereabouts: and the matter is this, that Clifford is touched in the lungs—threatened in fact with organic disease if he does not take rest & care betimes. Andrew Clark has ordered great care &c. and also says the really best thing would be to get away at once for a good long time: and a fund is being raised accordingly to enable him to do the best thing without hesitation. It is estimated that we want about £400 and we are pretty well sure of £300 already. We shall be very thankful for any help that you or any of you may be disposed to give, we have have at present Tyndall, Huxley, Galton, Spottiswoode & Sylvester on our list, among others. I send a note on the other page, valeat quantum, of traces of conscience observed in my cat.

Yours truly | F. Pollock

My cat has been brought up by us from a kitten & has received a good deal of personal attention. We think he has affection: he runs after me about the house and sometimes begs to be played with. When he is naughty (as by walking on the mantelpiece, where he is not allowed) we look at him seriously hold up a finger and say No! to which he answers by a subdued squeak or gasping noise, which he makes on no other occasion, and appears dejected for a few minutes after. Sometimes we have fancied he expected a scolding beforehand, and kept away in corners to avoid it. Generally one must catch his eye first, but not always: I have known him squeak on being scolded with a door between.