Darwin Correspondence Project

Down Farnborough Kent

Aug. 12th

Dear Sir

I hope that you will forgive the liberty I take in addressing you, but having been in correspondence with Dr A. Gould, he has advised me to write to you, on my present occupation, in order to beg, if it lies in your power, assistance. I have been for many months & shall for a year or two longer (for my poor health allows me to work but an hour or two daily) be employed on an anatomical & systematic monograph on the Cirripedia.— I have the use of Mr Cuming's, Mr Stutchbury, the Sowerbys, British Museum, & Jardin des Plantes collections all placed at my disposal & many other private collections.— It is my earnest wish to make my monograph as perfect as I can.—

Can you lend me any species collected during yr great Expedition; they wd be most valuable to me, whether named or not; for I describe the animal of every species, & disarticulate the shells. If you would pay me so great a compliment as to entrust any specimens to my care, I would pledge myself to return them carefully to you. Even well-known species are very interesting to me, if localities are given accurately.— I am bound to state that I require to separate the valves of one specimen of every species, but I preseve them pasted on board: characters, I find, drawn solely from the outside are quite valueless & the systematic condition of the Cirripedia is one of Chaos.— I find that by soaking I can examine the animal pretty well in dryed specimens.

I believe it is generally admitted that the Cirripedia have been much neglected, & I hope that my work may be of some small service: if you can & are willing to assist me, I shall feel truly grateful.— I trust that our common pursuits & attachment to the good Cause of Natural History will excuse my thus writing to you, & believe me with much respect for all your labours,

Yours faithfully | C. Darwin
To | James D. Dana Esqe | &c &c &c