Dear Sir John Herschel

I received your note this morning & forwarded it to M^r. Mallet,² who, I do not doubt, will undertake his task in the compressed form.—³ I enclose my M.S.—⁴ I much fear, from what you say of size of type that it will be too long; but I do not see how I could shorten it, except by rewriting it, & that is a labour which would make me groan. I do not much like it, but I have in vain thought how to make it better. I should be grateful for any corrections or erasures on your part: should you not approve of it, you have my entire concurrence to send it to any other geologist for alteration.

I have felt particular doubt about the propriety of recommending Books, but have done so after much hesitation, on the advice of others.—

I do not know whether each chapter will have any heading: I have sent one, for the chance of such being required.

If there be no objection, I should be glad, either before or after you have looked over the proofs, to be allowed to correct the press;: as my writing is often very incorrect.

If the request be not unreasonable, I should much like to have some few copies of my Chapter to send to friends, who have given me suggestions, & to keep by me to give to any voyager, having previously sometimes had applications to that effect: I should be very glad, also, to have one copy of the entire volume.

Pray believe me | dear Sir John | Yours sincerely | C. Darwin To | Sir J. W. Herschel. Bart.

P.S. You may possibly be surprised at my having expressed myself rather strongly, that the mere collecting rock-specimens is hardly of any use to Geology.⁵ I have for some years come deliberately to this opinion, in which some other geologists, with whom I have discussed the point, concur with me. I could specify several large collections lately brought home, which no one person would take the trouble even of looking at.⁶ This is very mortifying to the collector & prevents him afterwards turning his attention to some other branch of Nat. Hist, in which mere collecting would be of service.—