My dear Sir

Will you be so kind as to lay the following request before the Council: Eight Plates were granted me, of which two were to be coloured; I now find my materials (in part owing to new specimens received since my former communication) require rather more illustration; on the other hand, I think I can do very well with only three figures all three in Tab. I. coloured; now would not the saving of the colouring of one whole Plate & the greater part of another pay for one other Plate; if so, I should esteem it a great favour & assistance if the Council would on these terms allow me nine Plates.—²

I now address myself to you privately to know whether there could be any objection to my having (if I find it requisite) a 10^th additional Plate at my entire cost; & can you give me an idea what the printing off & Paper for an octavo Plate comes to.— If you cannot, will you tell me how many copies are printed off, & then probably Sowerby³ can tell me rudely what the total cost w^d. be.—

Lastly, some weeks since I wrote to Sowerby to ask whether his estimate had been finally agreed to by the Ray Soc. & he answered me that he had not heard from you: I want in a very few weeks to begin engraving, so will you please arrange with him: Be so good as to observe that in accordance with your instructions, I have made the Plates rather fuller than were the skeletons lent to you; & I presume M^r Sowerby ought to be informed of this.—

An early answer as I am now daily at work with M.S. & arranging the Plates to my query about the 10^th Plate at my own cost, & whether you think the Council w^d. grant me the 9^th, & lastly about M^r. Sowerby’s contract, would very much oblige me.—⁴

My dear Sir | Yours sincerely | C. Darwin