My dear Sir,

I think Herr Alberts has treated me very unfairly. I informed either you or him of the price of the photographs. M^r Murray was unwilling to give the order without prepayment, & I therefore took the responsibility on myself.¹ Herr Alberts now writes without any apology that he does not want the copies.² M^r Murray has written to the Photograph Company to stop the printing, but fears it is too late.³ If by good fortune the English edition should sell well we may perhaps be able to use any copies that have been struck off by having them cut down to the size of my volume. I am quite sure that you have taken no part in this proceeding, & that you will think it fair that I should deduct the cost of the useless photographs from the profit of the book which is to be transmitted to you.

I decline to hold any future communication with Herr Alberts, & if he wants cliches of the two wood cuts M^r Murray will certainly require prepayment.⁴

My dear Sir | Yours sincerely | Charles Darwin