My dear Sir

You are aware that I have been employed for a considerable time on a Monograph on the Cirripedia.— There is a species in the Museum of the College, which I am particularly anxious to describe namely the Balanus glacialis: to do this it is indispensable to disarticulate one small specimen;— Could you oblige me by laying this request before the governing Body?

I would of course return the valves of the one specimen disarticulated, if I gain permission.

Pray believe me | Yours sincerely | C. Darwin To | Professor Owen | &c &c &c