Dear M^r Darwin,

one “S. M. Hersfeld, Doctor (Bonn & Berlin) &c”, having been ineffectually to Mundella, comes to me begging help.¹ He says he has a quantity of apparatus & books which he has not funds to get out of the carriers’ hands.² I wd. help if the man be deserving, & if I could see my way to doing him any good; but the case seems to be as hopeless as can be. The only thing which (as it appears to me) remains for him to do is to return to his home, & look to any relatives that he may have to help him. He showed me a note from you giving him some assistance, but telling him not to expect more.³ This is my apology for asking if you have any suggestion to make about him. 

vy sincerely yrs | W Spottiswoode