Sir

I hope that you will forgive the very great liberty I take in addressing you.— I have been for some time employed on a monograph on recent & fossil Cirripedia.² I applied to my friend M^r. J. Morris to know to whom I could apply for any fossil specimens from Germany, & he tells me that you of all others are most likely to be willing & able to help a stranger.—³

Owing to the kindness of Prof. Steenstrup of Copenhagen I have the loan of your Pollicipes Hausmanni (& I know your perfectly accurate drawings & descriptions) & of P. Bronnii & P. carinatus of Philippi, but I am most curious to see the species described by Roemer, viz P. uncinatus, gracilis glaber, asper &c &c &c; or any undescribed specimens.—⁴ Can you aid me with regard to Roemer’s species? I would carefully return them & pay carriage both ways as far as may be possible.— As my name will probably be unknown to you, I may mention, as a proof that I am devoted to Natural History, that I went as Naturalist on the voyage of H.M.S. Beagle round the World & collected in all branches of Nat. History.

I trust to your kindness to forgive my intruding myself on you, & beg to remain, with much respect | Sir | Your faithful servant | Charles Darwin

Any parcel ought to be directed to C. Darwin Esq., | 7 Park St., Grosvenor Sq., | London.⁵