Dear Sir

I hope that you will forgive the liberty I take in addressing you, but having been in correspondence with D^r. A. Gould,¹ he has advised me to write to you, on my present occupation, in order to beg, if it lies in your power, assistance. I have been for many months & shall for a year or two longer (for my poor health allows me to work but an hour or two daily) be employed on an anatomical & systematic monograph on the Cirripedia.— I have the use of M^r Cuming’s, M^r Stutchbury, the Sowerbys, British Museum, & Jardin des Plantes² collections all placed at my disposal & many other private collections.— It is my earnest wish to make my monograph as perfect as I can.—

Can you lend me any species collected during y^r. great Expedition;³ they w^d be most valuable to me, whether named or not; for I describe the animal of every species, & disarticulate the shells. If you would pay me so great a compliment as to entrust any specimens to my care, I would pledge myself to return them carefully to you. Even well-known species are very interesting to me, if localities are given accurately.— I am bound to state that I require to separate the valves of one specimen of every species, but I preseve them pasted on board: characters, I find, drawn solely from the outside are quite valueless & the systematic condition of the Cirripedia is one of Chaos.— I find that by soaking I can examine the animal pretty well in dryed specimens.

I believe it is generally admitted that the Cirripedia have been much neglected, & I hope that my work may be of some small service: if you can & are willing to assist me, I shall feel truly grateful.— I trust that our common pursuits & attachment to the good Cause of Natural History will excuse my thus writing to you, & believe me with much respect for all your labours,

Yours faithfully | C. Darwin To | James D. Dana Esq^e | &c &c &c