J5T.60.] TO CHARLES DARWIN. 615 



thousand dollars ; and I am authorized to get plans 

 and estimates complete, and I suppose it will be done, 

 though I have no positive assurance of it yet. I 

 thought you would like to know it, without waiting 

 till all is absolutely settled. 



Here is a second sheet filled : thick paper, too, and 

 I must cut all short. How I wish we could be with 

 you in Switzerland next summer ! 



Ever yours affectionately, ASA GRAY. 



TO CHARLES DARWIN. 



March 10, 1871. 



MY DEAR DARWIN, It is very good of you to 

 send me, and so kindly address, a copy of your new 

 book, 1 which safely reached me two days ago. I have 

 not yet had time to read any of it, except the preface 

 and the ending ; and I do not like to dip into it and 

 so blunt the edge of curiosity. . So I keep it well out 

 of sight, not caring to look just yet at any of the 

 pages which you think likely to " aggravate " me, 

 until some day I can get a good pull at it. ... 



April 14, 1871. 



You have such a way of putting things, and you 

 write in such a captivating way. One can only 

 say: 



Almost thou persuadest me to have been " a hairy 

 quadruped, of arboreal habits, furnished with a tail 

 and pointed ears," etc. 



But I have read only the first part of the book 

 and the closing chapters ; have left all the Sexual 

 Selection till I can read it leisurely next summer, and 



1 The Descent of Man. 



