To Chauncey Wright   12 September 1871

My dear Mr. Wright,

The printers have been abominably slow, but they have at last sent me proofs of the whole, and I hope will print off in a week or fortnight.¹ I will then send you some copies, and distribute others largely to all whom I can think of as likely to care for the subject. Of course, I have made no corrections or alterations; but the printer suggested the addition of one word to make sense clear.² I did not add note about camel’s neck, as it did not seem to me important enough.³ I have lent your article to some friends, and all have been much struck with it; but they say, and I agree, that several passages are rather obscure.⁴ Even if only a few scientific men will read it, I shall think myself well repaid for printing it; and I thank you very sincerely for your permission.

I am much obliged for your remarks on phyllotaxy, which is a subject which has always had a strange interest for me, but has of late gone out of my head.⁵ I do not think I could make your views clear in a few sentences for the ‘Origin’.⁶ I am glad to hear that you intend publishing a popular article. I earnestly advise you to publish it in America; it is so necessary for the author to correct the press; it is impossible for one, like me, who does not thoroughly understand the subject.⁷

I am glad to hear that you are thinking of coming to England, and I shall be delighted to see you at Down; but I am a miserable host, as my head absolutely prevents me from talking for more than a short time, or indulging in any excitement.⁸

Believe me | Yours very sincerely, | Ch. Darwin.