174 ' DESCENT OF MAN ' — EXPRESSION. [1872. 



say that I have just published a book on the ' Expression of 

 the Emotions in Man and Animals ;' and it has occurred to 

 me that you might possibly like to read some parts of it ; and 

 I can hardly think that this would have been the case with 

 any of the books which I have already published. So I send 

 by this post my present book. Although I have had no 

 communication with you or the other members of your family 

 for so long a time, no scenes in my whole life pass so 

 frequently or so vividly before my mind as those which relate 

 to happy old days spent at Woodhouse. I should very much 

 like to hear a little news about yourself and the other 

 members of your family, if you will take the trouble to write 

 to me. Formerly I used to glean some news about you from 

 my sisters. 



I have had many years of bad health and have not been 

 able to visit anywhere ; and now I feel very old. As long as 

 I pass a perfectly uniform life, I am able to do some daily 

 work in Natural History, which is still my passion, as it was 

 in old days, when you used to laugh at me for collecting 

 beetles with such zeal at Woodhouse. Excepting from my 

 continued ill-health, which has excluded me from society, my 

 life has been a very happy one ; the greatest drawback being 

 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 

 sincere feelings of gratitude and affection for all bearing the 

 name of Owen, I venture to sign myself, 



Yours affectionately, 



Charles Darwin. 



C. Darwin 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 



