From P. G. King   16 September 1862

My dear M^r. Darwin

My brother John¹ is now on a visit to England & I have asked him if he has time to call on you. I am sure he would not regret making your acquaintance & I should rejoice on his return to the Colony to know that he had seen you. His address is

care of Mess^rs. Stillwell & Co.²

22 Arundel Street

Strand.

I should so much like him to see you that he might bring me a description of, as Jonathan says, your “location”³ and of yourself and doings. Your work the Origin of Species has a prominent place in my Library & was read with much interest. I think you are thought by many to be right who will hardly allow it. I feel in the small scope of my Experience that there is much truth in y^r. deductions, but the question is where do they lead us to—or what is their limit. I have recently joined in a Newspaper correspondence relative to breeding Sheep in the Colony, upholding the idea that we can breed as good sheep as can be imported

I remember a very old letter you once wrote me asking why it was necessary to go on importing.⁴ I was too green then to know much about y^r. queries, but I now ask the same question—. One of our most eminent breeders a M^r. Bayly⁵ had written that Australia is the finest country for producing Sheep (ie wool and Mutton especially wool.) yet he continued unless occasional importations are made, a degeneracy ensues.— with these assertions he coupled another that he had sheep without a fault. I thought his logic so bad that I pressed him for a cause for the degeneracy—but he could not explain at all what it proceeded from. I believe it is caused (for that there is degeneracy no one can doubt) by carelessness feeding sheep in large flocks, hunting them with dogs, obliging them to travel every day 4 or 5 miles for food & keeping them 14 hours out of the 24 without it— If we could afford with cheaper labor to keep Sheep as they are kept in Germany we might soon export Rams there

If you ever publish your promised large work on y^r. favorite Subject I shall look out for it eagarly—.⁶ We have now grown up families— I think we should never recognize each other   I wish you would send me your carde de Visite if you ever indulge in such matters

With kindest remembrances Ever My dear M^r Darwin | Y^r very sincere old friend | Philip Gidley King

If you ever see Admiral FitzRoy will you remember me to him—⁷

Charles Darwin Esq.