Herbert Spencer an Ernst Haeckel, London, 6. November 1867
37 Queen’s Gardens
Bayswater,
London. W.
6th Nov. 1867
My dear Sir,
Though I have heard both from Huxley and Darwin of your „Generelle Morphologie der Organismen” I have not seen it. Being totally ignorant of German, I have of course had no motive to obtain a sight of it. Had your kind offer had been made a short time ago, I should have stated || this fact as a reason why a copy of your work would be thrown away upon me. But within these few weeks, a gentleman who understands German has joined me in the capacity of literary assistant; and by his aid I hope to make myself acquainted with the contents of the chapters you point out.
I therefore accept with pleasure your obliging offer, and thank you in advance for the expected copy of your work. || I presume that the channel of transmission which you name, will be the proper one through which to send the copy of First Principles.
I am
very truly yours
Herbert Spencer