My dear Sir

I have to thank you for your kind promise to interest yourself in my behalf in case of a vacancy occurring in the Assistant Secretaryship of the Geological Society, & also for the very flattering opinion you express as to my qualifications for the Office.—¹ As regards Geological knowledge, of course I can make no pretence to be an original investigator, but I have been so long in charge of the Geological Collections in this Museum, & am so far familiar with Geological literature in various languages, that I hope I should not be found deficient in this respect in the event of my being appointed.—²

I am working at F. Müller & will write to M^r. Murray in a day or two.— A week or ten days ought to suffice for the printers to get the work set up when the copy is once in their hands, so that I see no reason why the book should not be published before the middle of November.— Perhaps it will be best for me to put rough tracings of the woodcuts in their proper places, instead of merely leaving blank spaces—³

M^r Jenkins, the present Assistant Secretary of the Geol. Soc. has very pertinently indicated to me that if I wish to step into his shoes I had better help him to vacate them, & he has sent me some printed copies of his testimonials &c with a request that I would do what I could for him.—⁴ He mentioned to me when in London that he was not acquainted with you & I have therefore sent you a copy of his testimonials with a list of the Council of the Agric. Society in case it may be in your power to speak a word in his favour to some of them.—⁵ If you can do so it will be a great obligation to me, & I am quite sure that you may with a good conscience recommend him for the Office he seeks,—from what I myself know & from what I hear of him he is exceedingly well fitted for it, being a good man of business & accountant, & a first rate Editor.—

I have written you a long letter, & I fear you will think it a bothering one, but my desire to get back to London from my banishment is so great that I do not like to leave any stone unturned.—

Hoping that you are now enjoying good health, | I remain, | My dear Sir | Your’s always truly | W. S. Dallas

C. Darwin Esq. F.R.S. | &c &c &c