Sir

In consequence of the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty’s Treasury having granted me assistance towards the publication of the Natural History of the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle, I am preparing an account of the geology of the Is^d. of Ascension.— The object of the present letter is to beg the permission of the Lords of the Admiralty, that I might be allowed, to have a copy of the published Admiralty chart of that island, engraved, which will greatly add to the value of my geological observations. I hope their Lordships will excuse the liberty, I have taken, in making this request, & that they will not object to it, as my work will be purely of a scientific nature, & will form part of the results obtained during the voyage of one of Her Majesty’s vessels:—

I have the honor to remain | Sir | Your obedient servant, | Charles Darwin To | Charles Wood Esq^r

&c &c—

Admiralty