280 THE SPREAD OF EVOLUTION. [Oh. XIV. 



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 Wood- 

 house. 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, ray 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 grati- 

 tude and affection for all bearing the name of Owen, I venture 

 to sign myself, 



Yours affectionately. 



Cha.bles Darwin. 



