My dear Sir

I am in truth ashamed at the delay in returning you & Prof. Forchhammer your most valuable specimens;¹ but the fault has not been mine; till three days ago I was not able to get all my copies of my Memoir;² I have now packed up all the specimens carefully, together with 4 copies of my Memoir,—one for yourself, for Prof. Forchhammer, for M. Loven (if at any time you could send him it) & the fourth copy either for the library or M. Angelin, as you may think best.—³

The Box (Carriage Paid) will go by the Steamer on the 17^th of this month.—⁴

The specimens are all named on the back, or in an accompanying list. Should you feel inclined to present any specimens to the British Museum, they would be appreciated, & I should feel grateful.— I am now correcting the proofs of my volume on the Recent Pedunculated cirripedes, (which I hope will be somewhat better than that on the Fossil species), & when published I will send you acopy.—⁵

I shall ever feel most deeply grateful for your kind assistance. Pray give my sincere thanks & kind remembrances to Prof. Forchhammer. I hope & think that the specimens will reach you safely: I before explained the reason why I took some off the cards.—⁶

Pray believe me | Dear Sir | With entire respect | Yours truly obliged | Charles Darwin