Dear Sir

I write to inform you that M^r Colburn is willing to let you have the use of the copper-plate of the map & of any of the three woodcuts in my volume,¹ but I must guarantee their safe return so you must come to a distinct understanding with your publishers, if you please, that they must be carefully returned.— M^r Colburn would rather prefer to supply your publisher with copies of the map ready printed off at 10^s per hundred; but you can take your choice; the carriage of the plate to Brunswick backwards & forwards may perhaps be an item.

I have been delayed for a whole week in making my corrections, by the death of a relative,² which called me to a distant part of England; but I shall recommence my labour of love to day.—

I am quite ignorant whether the expence of postage to Berlin is great, I paying as far as I can. — Perhaps you will be so kind as to inform me, what this single letter costs, for if not very expensive, I could send my notes & corrections by Post, or by any other method you might propose.—

How soon shall you go to press?

Excuse this hurried letter & believe me | Dear Sir | Yours very faithfully | Charles Darwin