Dear Sir

I thank you sincerely for another very valuable letter.¹ You put everything so clearly that I have nothing to ask about. No doubt I shall receive in a few days (for parcels take some time in getting here) the specimens which you have so kindly sent me.² I am at present & shall be for some time, hard at work on some points in vegetable physiology; & my work is such that it would be bad to interrupt it. I shall not therefore at once examine your specimens, but they will be very useful to me, whenever I have time to take up the subject of worms, & arrange my copious notes.³ I am particularly obliged for your P. S.; for M. d’Archiac formerly attacked me & maintained, without, I suppose, even having looked, that there were no worm-castings in woods and forests!!⁴

With cordial thanks, & my wishes that your health may be good in India and your scientific work prosperous, I remain | Dear Sir | Yours truly obliged | Charles Darwin