My dear Sir

I now send, for your approval, a draft of your intended new will.¹ And I hope you will not have much trouble in seeing that it is such as will carry out your wishes. To each of your five sons $\frac{12}{74}$^ths of your residuary estate are given; and to each of your two daughters $\frac{7}{74}$^ths.² Your married daughters share is given to the trustees of her marriage-settlement: and it will practically be retained by the executors & trustees of the will;—as they are also the trustees of the settlement.³ The retention will be upon the trusts of the settlement as to after-acquired property, which differ slightly from the trusts of the £5000 debenture stock which you put into the settlement, in respect of your daughter having power by will to dispose of the after-acquired property in default of issue of the marriage.⁴ The trusts as to this property have this peculiarity that your daughter has an absolute disposal of £3000 only as if she were single—when i.e. after £10000 (inclusive of the £5000 debenture stock) shall have come into settlement.

Your other daughters⁵ share is given upon the same trusts as those contained in the old will.

If any of your children should die before you, the Will Act would make the gift of the will in his or her favour operate as if he or she had survived you.⁶ And as your children are now all of age I think that the provisions of the will act are preferable to those of your old will which made the gifts to your children operate in their childrens favour if your children should die in your lifetime leaving issue.

The reference of the present will to your own married settlement is taken verbatim from the old will. And I think I need not trouble you to give me information as to the power of appointment executed by the will. In effect the will appoints a sum of £10000 in the same shares amongst your children as your general estate is bequeathed.

I shall be glad to give any further explanations respecting the draft: and to make any alterations you may desire.

And I am | My dear Sir | Yours very truly | W^m. M Hacon

Charles R. Darwin Es^q. | Down | Beckenham | Kent