Down. | Beckenham | Kent. S.E.
Ap. 24. 1869
My dear King
Although you tell me not to write I must send a line for auld lang syne & to thank you for yr note.1
Living the quiet life which I do I often think of old days, & I remember the friendship of no one on board the Beagle with more pleasure than yours.2
The cases of the parrot seem very curious, but at present I do not know what species the rosella is; I will however when next in London, shew the paragraph to Mr Gould & find it out.3 Many thanks for your kind wish to aid me about expression.
I can give you no news about any other of our old shipmates as I have heard of none of them for some months. As for myself my health continues & will ever be weak, but I am better than I was a few years ago. Should you come to England it would be a real pleasure to me to see you.
Believe me my dear King | Yours very sincerely | Charles Darwin
Please cite as “DCP-LETT-6712A,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on