Dear M^r Darwin

I have much pleasure in sending you by this post a copy of my paper on corals reefs present & past.¹ to so great a master on this subject as yourself I can offer little that is new. For the more I peruse your valued work on Coral islands² the more deeply do I become impressed with the most profound respect for its accomplished author. Still I thought the observations I had made on ancient reefs especially those in the Oolitic rocks might interest you and the inference I have drawn from your theory of subsidence may hold true of the bed of the Jurassic ocean.³ at all events it is a new explanation of the formation of the Oolitic strata and when we reflect on the enormous lapse of time that must have taken place to allow so many different forms of polyp life to appear and depart, as shewn by our tables, we have no difficulty in understanding how a slow subsidence of the bed of the Jurassic ocean would have allowed all those tropical forms which the Oolites contain to come in and go out ere the Jurassic drop scene fell. I should like to have your thoughts on this point. I was very sorry to learn some time since that you were far from well   I hope this fine genial season has restored you to health and with my very best wishes for your health & happiness

believe me always | Yours most truly | Thomas Wright

C. Darwin Esq FR.S | &c. &c &c.