Dear Sir,

I have recently purchased & read with intense interest your recent Work on “The formation of Vegetable Mould through the Action of Worms”.—¹

For the very great pleasure your Book has afforded me I beg to offer you a fine Slab of Sandstone from the Coal Measures of this District literally covered with fossil Annelide tracts, and Casts.² The Slab is about 4ft 6 in Square and about 2 inches thick, and if you will do me the favor of its acceptance I will forward it carriage paid to any address you are pleased to give me. I have smaller slabs down to 2 ft square but should like you to have the largest.—

While I am writing you upon this subject may I ask you if you know of any Geologist in London who would come down to Dudley on the 20^th. of this month and give the members of the Dudley Institute of Mining Engineers a Popular Lecture upon the Life found in the Rocks from the Cambrian Slates up to the London Clay?³ Simply confining himself to a short description of all the series of deposits with the progressively developed life found in them without further comment than those facts.

We would give him £10.10.0 (he paying his own travelling expences) for the one evening.

I shall be glad to hear from you at your convenience.| & remain Yours faithfully. | Hy Johnson