[71]

Petersham, Mass.

July 27, 1882

My dear Mr. Darwin,

It is too bad that you should have had to wait so long for an answer to your letter of 25th May, but Mrs Fiske & I have both been away from home, and so my correspondence has fallen into arrears.

So to make amends, so far as possible, Mrs Fiske has herself made a copy of all your father's letters in my possession; hoping that this may save any further delay for you, should you find anything in the letters which you would like to use.

[…]

It is needless to say that I shall always take the greatest pride & pleasure your father (I feel, too generously) set upon my work.

To have had him, with all his time so fully occupied, merely read through my two bulky volumes of "Cosmic Philosophy" was, I have always thought, the highest compliment the book could receive.

On one point possibly you can enlighten me. I do not now understand the reference (on page 4 of this MS copy) "mem. case of Baboons," &c. I never heard from your father again on this point.

[…]

Very sincerely yours,

John Fiske.