My dear Sir

I intend being in town this day week,² & with your permission should be very glad on Thursday the 20^th to come to your house as early as convenient to yourself & begin our work of going through the shells, it will probably take two or three or more mornings.³ If you can possibly so arrange it, would you oblige me by agreeing & send me note soon & please inform me at which hour; (the earlier the better for my health, after 9 oclock) it will suit you to receive me.— I will bring the specimens & M.S. with me.— You will remember, that you were so good as to acquiesce in my proposal (for in no other way could I permit myself to trespass on your valuable time) of keeping a memorandum of the number of hours I consume & allowing me to in some degree remunerate you for the loss.—

Pray believe me with apologies for troubling you. Yours very faithfully | C. Darwin

Supposing it impossible for you to receive me on Thursday morning the 20^th, would you kindly inform me, what three or four first consecutive mornings you could spare; as I am pressed to get on & cannot proceed, till my species are ultimately worked out.