388 LIFE AT DOWN. ^TAT. 33-45. [1853. 



taken it had I foreseen what a job it was. I hope to have 

 finished by the end of the year. Do write again before a very 

 long time ; it is a real pleasure to me to hear from you. 

 Farewell, with my wife's kindest remembrances to yourself 

 and Mrs. Fox. 



My dear old friend, yours affectionately, 



C. DARWIN. 



C. Danvin to W. D. Fox. 



Down, August loth [1853]. 



MY DEAR Fox, I thank you sincerely for writing to me so 

 soon after your most heavy misfortunes. Your letter affected 

 me much. We both most truly sympathise with you and 

 Mrs. Fox. We too lost, as you may remember, not so very 

 long ago, a most dear child, of whom I can hardly yet bear 

 to think tranquilly ; yet, as you must know from your own 

 most painful experience, time softens and deadens, in a 

 manner truly wonderful, one's feelings and regrets. At first 

 it is indeed bitter. I can only hope that your health and 

 that of poor Mrs. Fox may be preserved, and that time may 

 do its work softly, and bring you all together, once again, as 

 the happy family, which, as 1 can well believe, you so 

 lately formed. 



My dear Fox, your affectionate friend, 



CHARLES DARWIN. 



[The following letter refers to the Royal Society's Medal, 

 which was awarded to him in November, 1853 :] 



C. Dam' in to J. D. Hooker. 



Down, November 5th [1853]. 



MY DEAR HOOKER, Amongst my letters received this 

 morning, I opened first one from Colonel Sabine ; the contents 

 certainly surprised me very much, but, though the letter was 



