From Alfred Wrigley   12 March 1868

My dear Sir

The letter sent to you in my last, was the most recent of those I had the pleasure of receiving from you.¹ I was under the impression that the intention of removing Horace was in abeyance—and that it would be abandoned or deferred. In struggling against certain educational defects, I refer especially to writing, spelling⁠⟨⁠,⁠⟩⁠ style &c, &c, I may occasionally have hurt his feelings. In other respects, he has ever shewn himself gentle and docile—with good intelligence but lacking activity. This I attribute to his taking but little exercise.

The intimations made at Christmas respecting Horace, although I hoped that subsequent events might prevent their being carried out, were quite sufficient ‘notice’;² and this view entirely precluded from my mind any other.

I shall part from Horace with much regret, and with my best wishes for his future success in life.

The enquiries of M^r Rouse I will answer this evening.³

I remain | My dear Sir | Yours very sincerely | Alfred Wrigley

Charles Darwin Esq^re.