Dear Sir
I am most sincerely obliged for your great kindness. The hostile dog does excellently; but the hairs on the neck and shoulders (and not on loins) ought to stand closer (a serried mass) and to be more erect; but I daresay that you intend to explain this to Mr. Cooper. Will you have the kindness to do so, and I will despatch the block tomorrow (Monday morning) telling him not to touch it, till he hears or sees you.2
The other drawing does not appear to me to express affection and joy. I showed it to several of my sons and other members of my family, without any explanation, and they all thought, as I had done, that the expression was that of a humble dog coming to be beaten. I believe that those are right who have said to me that it is impossible to represent a dog wagging his tail, as we associate movement with the expression. I fancy that I can see a few alterations (but whether they are possible I know not) which might improve the expression, but I doubt whether it is worth the trial.
And now I want to beg a little favour of you and to excuse me. I have been trying in vain to think of some book or other trifle which you would like to possess and keep as a mark of my obligation to you. Will you therefore be so good as to procure some trifle for yourself with the enclosed3 and believe me | Yours truly obliged | Ch. Darwin
Please cite as “DCP-LETT-8339,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on