i873] 'DESCENT'— SECOND EDITION. 353 



that several of my children have inherited from me feeble 

 health. I hope with all my heart that you retain, at least to 

 a large extent, the famous " Owen constitution." With sin- 

 cere feelings of gratitude and affection for all bearing the name 

 of Owen, I venture to sign myself,* 



Yours affectionately, 



Charles Darwin. 



C. JDarwift to Mrs. Haliburton. 



Down, November 6 [1872]. 



My dear Sarah, — I have been very much pleased by 

 your letter, which I must call charming. I hardly ventured 

 to think that you would have retained a friendly recollection 

 of me for so many years. Yet I ought to have felt assured 

 that you would remain as warm-hearted and as true-hearted 

 as you have ever been from my earliest recollection. I know 

 well how many grievous sorrows you have gone through ; but 

 I am very sorry to hear that your health is not good. In the 

 spring or summer, when the weather is better, if you can 

 summon up courage to pay us a visit here, both my wife, as 

 she desires me to say, and myself, would be truly glad to see 

 you, and I know that you would not care about being rather 

 dull here. It would be a real pleasure to me to see you. 

 — Thank you much for telling about your family, — much of 

 which was new to me. How kind you all were to me as 

 a boy, and you especially, and how much happiness I owe to 

 you. Believe me your affectionate and obliged friend, 



Charles Darwin. 



P.S. — Perhaps you would like to see a photograph of me 

 now that I am old. 



1873. 



[The only work (other than botanical) of this year was the 

 preparation of a second edition of the ' Descent of Man,' the 

 publication of which is referred to in the following chapter. 

 This work was undertaken much against the grain, as he was 



