My dear Sir

I have received your letter of yesterday with the unexecuted duplicate of the 2^nd. codicil to your will & the two letters from M^r Anthony Rich of the 7^th. & 10^th. Instant.¹ And I hope to write to you, within the next few days, as to the carrying out of your testamentary wishes, as communicated by your letter. My present opinion is that it will be better to increase the gifts to your daughters unconditionally.² It would be unsatisfactory to make the operation of the intended increased gift to your daughters depend upon your estate deriving some benefit from M^r Rich’s will or codicil

I am | My dear Sir | Yours very truly | W^m. M Hacon

Charles R. Darwin Esq^re | Down | Beckenham | Kent