To J. M. Herbert   7 May [1867]¹

My dear Herbert

It has given me great pleasure to receive a letter from you after the interval of so many years.² I saw a good deal of poor Dawes when I was an undergraduate & was charmed with him, but I have never seen him excepting once since that period.³ His subsequent career every one must honour & I will send by this post a subscription of 2 guineas to the treasurer for his memorial.⁴ It has often amused me to reflect how little a man sometimes knows himself, or his friends know him, for I well remember Ramsay of Jesus⁵ chaffing Dawes that he was a man who w^d go through life laughing & doing nothing else, & Dawes himself & all of us quite agreed that this was true.

Thank you for your kind enquiries about my health; I had two or three bad years but am now much better, & am able to work; but Tyndall gave too flourishing an account, for I am never well for the whole day; this prevents me going any where, & we cannot accept your cordial invitation, which I sh^d in every way have much enjoyed.⁶ Whenever you & M^rs Herbert⁷ (to whom we both send our very kind remembrances) happen to be in London & have a little spare time, we should be extremely glad if you would pay us a visit.

Believe me my dear old friend | yours very sincerely | Ch. Darwin