Dear Mr. Darwin
I must write just a few lines tonight to thank you for the copy of the Origin of Species which has been duly forwarded m⟨e⟩ from ⟨Murr⟩ay’s. It is very good of you to send it to ⟨ ⟩ and I shall ⟨ ⟩ with pride and ⟨pleasur⟩e as ⟨lon⟩g ⟨as⟩ I live. I ⟨several words⟩ ⟨ ⟩t I had ⟨ ⟩ ⟨several words⟩ ⟨ ⟩g begged a ⟨several words⟩ ⟨ ⟩dly pro-⟨ ⟩ ⟨several words⟩ the ⟨several words⟩ and which I ⟨several words⟩ as a much valued memento.2 The flattering inscription you have placed in it almost puts me to the blush; for I feel how little I deserve such words from you. I hope, however, that in time I may be able to do something in the way of original research which may justify your kindness. So far, I have been mainly occupied in popularizing ⟨t⟩he ideas of others; but my work is now beginning to pay me so much better that I hope in future I may have leisure to devote to some special subject, and so contribute my mite to the progress of science.
A⟨g⟩ain thanking you most heartily f⟨or⟩ ⟨ ⟩ gift | I am | Yours very sincerel⟨y⟩ | G⟨rant Allen⟩
Please cite as “DCP-LETT-13545,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on