Down, April 4th [1861].
I have been unwell, so have delayed thanking you for your admirable letter.

I hope you will not think me presumptuous in saying how much I have been struck with your varied knowledge, and with the decisive manner in which you bring it to bear on each point,--a rare and most high quality, as far as my experience goes.

I earnestly hope you will find time to publish largely: before the Linnean Society you might bring boldly out your views on species.

Have you ever thought of publishing your travels, and working in them the less abstruse parts of your Natural History?
I believe it would sell, and be a very valuable contribution to Natural History.

You must also have seen a good deal of the natives.