To F. T. Buckland   15 December [1864]¹

My dear M^r Buckland

It would give me very great pleasure to see you here on your return from Galway; but I much fear when you hear what I am bound to say, that it will not be worth your while.² We are six miles from Bromley Station. My health is so uncertain that I never know how I shall be & some few days I cannot speak to any one. On my best days I dare not talk for more than 10 or 15 minutes, though I can repeat the dose two or three times. As you are medical I may tell you that I have suffered from almost incessant vomiting for nine months, & that has so weakened my brain, that any excitement brings on whizzing & fainting feelings, when I cannot speak; & much of this makes me for days afterwards very unwell; so I find by experience I must be very cautious.

All I can say is that I sh^d be delighted to see you for a few minutes, but it would not be worth all the trouble of coming here.

I am so glad & cordially thank you about the otter-hound.—³

Believe me | Yours very sincerely | Ch. Darwin