My dear Sir

I am really mortified to find that I have transgressed my limits again— I had in truth thought this part¹ with the index w^d have been 168 pages; I now find without the index it has run to 174. I am astonished at this & much vexed. I have had to rewrite two Chapters, & these have, I presume, been lengthened, though I have struck out many whole pages & discussions.² I now send this proof sheet to ask, whether you w^d like to strike out, my rather dull little account p. 486 of the C. of Good Hope (as explained for the Printers in the enclosed bit of paper) & this, with the closing up, will save four pages;³ & I think if the index, is in very small type, it will go in the six last pages of this last sheet.

The contents must, of course be on a separate half sheet.—

Please decide freely as you like, & send the sheets early on Monday to the Printers, requesting them to send me a revise, if possible, by the general Post on Monday night.—

I know how late it is, but I have worked like a slave & have not lost one half hour: I sent the index on last Thursday to the Printers & hope to have a proof tomorrow morning—

I will communicate with you again in a few days.

Part I has 176 pages

—— II has 160

—— III has, if index will go in & you strike out the C. of Good Hope 176 so that I have exceeded by one whole sheet, what I promised you, & very sorry I am.

Yours very faithfully | C. Darwin

I was gratifyed by seeing two most favourable notice, & an extract in the Gardeners Chronicle,⁴ evidently by Lindley, with whom I am not acquainted, except by correspondence.—