My dear Sir

I am very much obliged for your kind note. By the same Post, there came in answer to my letter of complaint to M^r Sowerby one of 5 Plates perfect, full of drawings of your specimens.— He assures me he will make as much progress as possible & that one chief cause of the delay has been that his house has been pulled down in the Botanic Gardens.—

I will again write to him & tell him that you will very soon demand back your specimens whether finished or not.— M^r. S. is by no means the only Engraver employed by the Pal. Soc.— I did not know how dreadfully dilatory he was, when I picked him out as most capable of doing the work well.—¹

I thank you much for the present of the pamphlet;² I wish that I was more worthy to receive it—

Yours sincerely | C. Darwin

I beg to thank you most particularly for your further offer of more specimens, but I really stand in no need of any others.—