My dear Sir

I am sorry to have to inform you that the Royal Soc^y has returned your paper on Nepenthes &c to me & the Sec^y has written to me that the Soc declines to have it read.¹ I send it to you by this post registered as a book parcel. I have enquired the reason why it has not been read, & am informed that the referee on the morphological part of your paper reports that all the essential points have been fully described & figured by Kortahl & Griffith long ago & by some Germans. The Council declines to hear a paper read which gives as new what has already been published, although no doubt without your knowledge. The referee likewise objects in very strong terms to new names being given to well known structures.² I am likewise informed that the Referee on the physiological parts of your paper, reports unfavourably; but I have not heard the exact nature of his objections.³ Nor do I know positively that I shall hear. Therefore I have thought that I ought not to delay any longer to return your paper.

I am sorry to be compelled to send so unpleasant a communication, & remain | My dear Sir | Yours very faithfully | Ch Darwin

Lawson Tait Esq