To Charles Kingsley   30 November [1859]1

Ilkley Wells House | Otley Yorkshire

Nov. 30

Dear Sir

I thank you sincerely for allowing me to insert your admirable sentence.2 I am much gratified by your kindness.— At any future time I shall be delighted to answer any objections as far as lies in my power, or to receive any suggestions.—

I shall stay here at furthest only seven or eight days, & it is not improbable that I may be called home sooner, so that, though I should have had much pleasure in making Mr Foster’s acquaintance, it would not be at all worth his while coming here.3 Indeed during great part of day I am wandering on the hills, & trying to inhale health.—

Pray give my thanks to Mr Parker & say that I will remember his obliging offer should circumstances require me to make any remarks, which I hope may not be the case.—4

With my renewed thanks | pray believe me | Dear Sir | Yours sincerely & obliged | Charles Darwin

1
Dated by the relationship to the letter from Charles Kingsley, 18 November 1859.
3
William Edward Forster, a Quaker politician and statesman, lived in Wharfedale in Yorkshire. Kingsley had visited Forster in 1858 (Colloms 1975, p. 231).
4
John William Parker was the publisher and printer of Fraser’s Magazine , to which Kingsley contributed articles. He was also the publisher of Kingsley’s books.

Manuscript Alterations and Comments

2.1 is] interl
2.3 acquaintance,] comma over ‘—’

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-2561,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-2561