My dear Sir

— — — — — — — — I also had a letter from D^r. Ernst Krause by this post, telling me of the dreadful risk from a flood which your admirable brother, Fritz, has barely escaped from with his life.¹ I rejoice that none of his family were lost. Has he lost many of his books, microscope, apparatus or other property? If he has suffered in this way, nothing would give me so much pleasure as to be allowed to send him £50 or £100. Do you think he would permit me to do so? The money would be sent solely for the sake of science, so that science should not suffer from his loss of property. Pray have the great kindness to advise me. Nothing would grieve me so much as to offend your brother, and nothing would please me so much as to be able slightly to assist him in any way.

My dear Sir, Yours very sincerely | Charles Darwin

Pray let me hear soon.