My dear Stokes

I have just received to my great surprise the letters of which the enclosed are verbatim copies.¹ That with my signature was in my hand-writing. I remember enclosing it to you with one of your proof-sheets in answer to some query, whether Capt. Grey could be offended at your manner of referring to some Bay or River.—² I beg you to inform me immediately how it could possibly have been sent to Sir G. Grey. It places me in the position of wishing to make myself presumptuously impertinent to him,—a position the very opposite to my feelings regarding him.— I shall of course inform Sir G. Grey that I have written to you, & I should think it would be most agreeable to yourself to allow me to enclose your entire answer, or at least a paragraph from it; & I shall enclose a copy of this note. He will then see, the whole part which I have been made by some unknown means to play in this disagreeable affair.—

I hope M^rs. Stokes continues to be in a pretty good state of health | Believe me, my dear Stokes | Yours very truly | C. Darwin

Perhaps you will return me this note & I will enclose it.—