TO R.MELDOLA.Down, February 2nd, 1882.
I am very sorry that I can add nothing to my very brief notice, without reading again Weismann's work and getting up the whole subject by reading my own and other books, and for so much labour I have not strength.

I have now been working at other subjects for some years, and when a man grows as old as I am, it is a great wrench to his brain to go back to old and half-forgotten subjects.

You would not readily believe how often I am asked questions of all kinds, and quite lately I have had to give up much time to do a work, not at all concerning myself, but which I did not like to refuse.

I must, however, somewhere draw the line, or my life will be a misery to me.
I have read your preface, and it seems to me excellent.

(310/1.