Dear Sir

I have just been reading your book on Earthworms. I do not know whether the following fact is of any value or importance as however everything has a significance for you which other people cannot apprehend I trust I may be pardoned the liberty I take in addressing you

Some three years since the Church Road in this suburb was covered as to the Footpath with Asphalt. The Road has several houses in it fronted by carriage drives & gardens

Walking to Town one damp morning a few weeks or so after the Asphalt had been finished ⁠⟨⁠I⁠⟩⁠ count⁠⟨⁠ed⁠⟩⁠ ⁠⟨⁠      ⁠⟩⁠ three or four hundred eart⁠⟨⁠hworms lying⁠⟩⁠ dead upon it the ⁠⟨⁠Road⁠⟩⁠ ⁠⟨⁠      ⁠⟩⁠ ⁠⟨⁠ab⁠⟩⁠out half a mile long.¹

Since that time being I occasionally ⁠⟨⁠se⁠⟩⁠e two or three worms dead, as the others were but never any quantity.

I am dear Sir | Yours faithfully | Alfred N Hopkins

Charles Darwin Esq LLD FRS &c.