My dear Sir

I have your letter of yesterday.¹ It may not be easy, but I am not sure that it is impracticable, to meet the objection stated in your letter, to the proposed scheme of settlement. Indeed, I can conceive that M^r W^m. Farrer may presently suggest that in the possible event of the early death of your son Horace, and of his widow marrying a second time she should have power to withdraw from her first settlement a part of the fund comprized in it and to put such part into a new settlement, on the second marriage,—the part to be determined by a ratio varying inversely with the number of the children of the first marriage,—or at all events depending upon such number.²

If this suggestion should be made on the part of the lady—perhaps if it be not made—I may be able to make a somewhat analogous suggestion in reference to the settlement on the part of your son: I am however bound to say that although I have seen a good many cases, in which an arrangement, such as I have indicated, has been made respecting the fortune settled on the part of the Lady, I am at present unable to recall an instance of such an arrangement respecting the Gentleman’s fortune.—

The scheme of the settlement is such as stated in your letter: with slight qualifications. You will not settle the £5000 on the Lady at once.— You will give the Trustees the £5000 at once: but your son will have the first life-interest thereon: the Lady taking the income for her life, only if & when she survives your son. So also on the death of the survivor of yourself and M^rs Darwin the £5000 which is to be secured by your covenant, will be paid to the trustees: your son will have the first life interest on that sum: the Lady taking the income for her life if & when she survives your son.—

The Lady will similarly have the first life interest on what her father settles viz £10,000.

The interest derivable from the £5000 which it is proposed you should at once make over to the trustees will be received by them and paid to your son at first and then to the Lady. And your covenant will secure that until the second £5000 is received by the trustees you will pay them the difference between the income derived from the first £5000, and an amount which you put at £400 per annum, but which, according to the principle of an equal provision on each side, should be just what M^r Farrer engaged to give his daughter— i.e £300 per annum. Perhaps he may make it £400.

It is certainly understood by me that your settling £5000 immediately and £5000 on the demise of the survivor of yourself and M^rs Darwin is consequent upon M^r Farrer settling £10,000. and M^r William Farrer is certainly prepared that his brother should settle £10,000.

Both the securities mentioned in your letter are of the very first class.³ Have you any objection to my proposing that you should transfer to the trustees £2500 of each kind of security,

I am | My dear Sir | Yours very truly | W^m M Hacon

Charles R. Darwin Esq^re | Down | Beckenham | Kent