Dear M^r Darwin

You really must let me send you something in return for your valued aid—which I hope I shall never require again.¹ A death in our family deeply regretted, has had this effect, that it just clears me from vexing liabilities & enables me to work with quiet mind.

I did apply to the Royal Soc^y. some time ago—and they gave me £50, a princely sum for me then. I hope to be a subs^r to that fund some day—soon.²

Let me send you the Supp^t. Eng. Bot^y. You may not care for British plants, but few men have taught us so much of their true meaning—& the causes of the local distribution of species. I believe in you heartily, half way.

It will cost me nothing—so I shall send it. I believe few works on Botany can boast better plates—and if I can only get the means I will finish it, please God, before another two years are out.³

I am obliged to write: for we never see you at the Geol. Soc^y. and tomorrow, Wednesday, is our last meeting for the season. Can you not come. We have few philosophers among us. Even Huxley has cut us, and Phillips seldom comes. We have only raw material except Lyell & one or two others. Think of it, & dont let it go down.⁴

There is a glut of papers on Wednesday & I shall exhibit the oldest certain fossil known—a Lingula from the red Cambrian rocks.⁵

Eozoon is very mythical indeed. Rupert Jones says it will pass next into the superstitious stage, & then the positive— But I am all but positive it is mineral only, & have held that from the first—no proof you will say that the opinion is just.⁶

Yours ever truly, & obliged | J. W. Salter

C. Darwin Esq^re