Transcription: "Dear Bates I heard from Asa Gray a week ago, & must have the pleasure of sending you a copy of part of his letter. "The copy of Bates' Show moreTranscription: "Dear Bates I heard from Asa Gray a week ago, & must have the pleasure of sending you a copy of part of his letter. "The copy of Bates's paper addressed to me by the author has come. I am by no means clear that I shall pass it on to Haldimann, certainly not just yet. I have run thro' it. It is fascinating he at least is a full believer in Nat. Selection & the illustrations he brings to your aid are the prettiest possible. I keep it in pickle along with Decandolle on oaks & some other matters to make the subject of the evening for our Scientific Society which meets with me a fortnight hence, when I hope to torment Agassiz delightfully, and then I will myself draw up an abstract of the interesting matter for Silliman, but it is too late for the March number." I have been rather extra unwell for the last ten days so write this by dictation. Don't trouble yourself to acknowledge this. I hope Book goes on well. Yours sincerely, C. Darwin About Agassiz is of course private." Letter, signed by sender. Sent from Down House, near Beckenham, Kent, England. The Robert M. Stecher Collection of Charles Darwin Books and Manuscripts Show less