Dear Bobby.

If you come at y^e time you propose To Wit y^e 17^th., you will not be able to see anything, for every body will be gone down except a few reading men. The best plan I think will be for me to come down (30^th.) & then we will come up for a couple of days or so by y^e 1^st. of July when the Commencement will take place, that is to say when y^e Noblemen & such like take their degrees & every thing is very gay. The difference of expense in staying up till y^e 17^th. & going down & up, will be rather in my favour, not to mention y^e ride. If this plan is not approved of, you must bring up a good supply of money, for by that time I shall not have so much as a brass farthing to buy some broth with when you come starving off y^e coach. If it is approved of, you must in your answer to this letter in close a ten pound note to frank me down.¹ N.B. both case are y^e same to me so suit your own fancy. I have got a few Devils toe nail’s² for you which are common enough here abouts. P.S. If you come up in July you will fall in with y^e Newmarket meeting which inter nos is not half such good amusement as y^e Shrewsbury Races. Hensleigh & I went over y^e other day in a tilbury & we found it rather stupid, but I have been since on a good horse & found four miles of beautiful turf no mean galloping. It was also some amusement listening to the legs (i.e. black)³ who are upon y^e course in swarms, willing to ease y^e Cantabs of as much money as they please.—

I have Witherings Botany⁴ in 4 vol. apropos, I wish you would ask my Father if I shall bring him a copy of “Donns Catalogue of Plants,”⁵ as there is a new Edition by Linly⁶ & I have some idea he told me to get him one, th⁠⟨⁠ou⁠⟩⁠gh I am not at all sure.

Vale⁠⟨⁠as⁠⟩⁠. E. Darwin

P.S. Write soon or I will smak your b— —m.

2^nd PS. Dont come up in y^e boots you had last Christmas.

Tell me what day y^e speeches are.⁷