My dear Fox

I take this opportunity of writing a few lines to you. It was by a mistake of M^r. Shaw that the beasts & birds were not sent to you before this time.— I hope you will approve of their stuffing & that they will arrive safe & sound. The one with the smaller tail is from Ireland, & the other from Wales. Which is the Pine & which is the common Marten appears to me hard to ascertain.—

I returned from Maer on Saturday evening, & was most exceedingly grieved to hear from Catherine that there is no hope of seeing you & your family this summer at Shrewsbury I want very much to hear from you as I do not quite understand your plans. You are going into Yorkshire, sometime in the end of August, & I want to know how soon you will return? for I am very sorry to say that I do not see how it is possible for me to come to Osmaston, between this time & your intended trip to Yorkshire. The reason of this is that my sister M^rs. Parker has the misfortune of having two unchristened children, & I am going after the first week in August to stand Godfather to them: I was thinking (& I hope you will excuse the coolness of my offering myself) that if you were at home: I could pay you a visit on my road to Cambridge.— When you write tell me what you think of this scheme.— I hope it will answer:

I do hope that when you are in Yorkshire, you will redeem your character in Entomology, it is a long time since you have mentioned taking any good insects.— I think you would be surprized if you were to see all my insects.—

Pray mention in your next letter how Uncle Edward¹ is, we were all very sorry to hear he had been so unwell: Catherine begs that you will give her love Julia & many thanks for her kind wish of seeing her at Osmaston, but is very sorry that it is impossible.

Believe me dear Fox | Yours most sincerely | Chas. Darwin