My dear Sir

I am really much obliged by your kind letter, but am sorry that I should have given you the trouble of writing it.

From what I had occasionally heard & seen in Print, & more especially from what I had heard from a distant connection, having considerable estates in Worscesterhire,¹ I had thought that perhaps I could get some increase of Rent by lease. But what you say shows that leases are very unusual in lands under your care, & I confess I somehow quite forgot the very obvious (when recalled to one’s mind) importance of the probable effect on the currency by the wonderful Australian discoveries.² This, I conceive, would be reason enough by itself against a long lease.

Again I beg to say that I am sorry that you sh^d. have had the trouble of writing & I remain My dear Sir | Your’s sincerely | C. Darwin