To T. H. Huxley   22 October [1861]1

Down. | Bromley. | Kent. S.E.

Oct. 22d

My dear & good Agent.

If Mr Campbell will really work, he would be a treasure beyond price.2 But I have no faith in anyone having patience enough to experiment on another’s man’s suggestion. I have written to him to enquire.— When you see H. Spencer, pray thank him.—3

I have got my drawings done & can now breathe freely.4 By the way you audacious agent to doubt about Catasetum: I will turn you off without a character, for do not think I am such a fool as to be grateful for a thousand good acts

Ever yours | C. Darwin

1
The year is provided by CD’s reference to having completed the illustrations for Orchids (see n. 4, below).
2
Mr Campbell has not been identified.
3
Herbert Spencer and Huxley were close friends.
4
George Brettingham Sowerby Jr had been at Down House preparing the illustrations for Orchids (see letters to W. E. Darwin, 12 October [1861], and to John Murray, [21 October 1861]).

Manuscript Alterations and Comments

2.1 freely.] before omitted point
2.3 as] interl

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-3293,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-3293