To Anton Dohrn   13 February 1874

My dear D^r Dohrn

I was astonished yesterday by receiving your very kind congratulations on my 65^th birthday.¹ I thank you heartily for your remembrance of so old a man who has nearly run his course. I was very glad to hear, a few weeks ago, from Huxley, that the affairs of the Zoolog. station are in a somewhat better condition; & most sincerely do I wish, for the sake of science & yourself, that they may flourish.²

Last Sunday F. Balfour³ was here, & he will start immediately for Naples; you will find him a most amiable young man, with much ability. I have a great wish that my third son, who intends devoting himself to Nat. history, should stay for a few months at Naples to learn the art of observing marine animals; but I do not at present see how it is to be managed; as he is going to be married this summer;⁴ I shall, however, endeavour to arrange it. As for myself I have little to say; my health is very indifferent, as it always will be, & I have been doing nothing of late except the tedious work of preparing corrected editions of 2 of my books—⁵

With good wishes for your success & happiness, I remain my dear D^r Dohrn— | yours sincerely | Charles Darwin