My dear Sir

I will write to the Heliotype Co^y. if M^r Koch desires it, but I do not believe it w^d. do the least good, Has not M^r K. an agent in London, whom he c^d. instruct to look over the copies before paying for them? I got M^r. Murray to act thus for his copies.²

There is another plan: the publisher of the Dutch Translation, M. Ijkema of Delft made same complaint as M^r. K., & for his 2^d. Edit, he got fresh plates prepared somehow in Holland & declared to me that the copies were very good, & much cheaper than those from London.³

Now w^d it be worth while for M^r. K. to write M^r Ijkema, & enquire at what cost he w^d supply copies; but in this case it w^d. be necessary for you to see specimen copies & judge for yourself; as very bad copies w^d. spoil the book.—

My son has got as far as Hanover, but I fear from his last letter, instead of going on to Leipzig, he will be forced to return, & we much wish that he was safely back.⁴

I am sorry to hear that your health is not so well; but is not surprising after all your great fatigue.— Now here is a bad job, if you could have come here on Aug^t. the 4^th, we could not receive you for on the 25^th of July we leave home to pay visits for a month, as I much need some rest.⁵ The Fates seem to have ordained that we sh^d. never meet.⁶

Yours most sincerely | Ch. Darwin