My dear Sir

I send one line to beg you to keep my M.S. as long as ever you like.² I guessed why you did not write; it was wholly unimportant. I am sorry for the smash; & sorrier the species do not turn out more interesting: it is, however, as you say curious about the Ranges.—³ The Balanus sent (for which many thanks) is the common B. cranchii⁴ of Brit. Authors; I have never seen it from north of Tenby in S. Wales— I will return it hereafter, if required.— I sh^d be very glad to see the Greenland Balanus;⁵ please state when sent whether to be returned; you know I must disarticulate a specimen for examination.

Have you several specimens of the Madeira little pedunc: cirripede (which I named Machairis & have now changed into Oxynaspis)⁶ & if so, & w^d lend or give me one for disarticulation, I sh^d be very glad, as my specimens are all in utter state of decay & several points of dryed animal remain unexamined by me.— (I have this genus fossil from Chalk.) I mean now to continue at Systematic Part till I have finished,—a period which will arrive, Heaven only knows when.—

Many thanks for your letter In Haste | Yours truly | C. Darwin