Dear Sir

I send one line to assure you that it is not my fault, or that of the Palæont. Soc. that your collection (as well as of many other people) has been detained so utterly unreasonably long. I have got back several of your specimens quite safe with excellent drawings from M^r Sowerby but he has yet several in hand. He has, also, arranged the places of all on the Plates; but his progress is intolerably slow. We do all we can to urge him on. I assure you the very week on which I can get from Sowerby proof-Plates & see that the Engravings are correct your specimens shall most faithfully be all returned. Until then I trust to your kindness & liberality to be patient with me.— This obviously requires no answer

Yours faithfully obliged | C. Darwin