My dear Sir

I am much obliged by your note of the 21^st, which I consider as a great compliment.¹ I am more than doubtful whether I could at all succeed in so very difficult a task as that proposed, but I am sorry to say that my powers of work, owing to my health are so slight, and having much materials in Nat. Hist. half worked out, that I am unwilling to undertake anything fresh.² If I had the time & felt that I could do justice to your proposal, the doubt of my work being accepted, should not prevent a trial, for I fully appreciate the great importance of such works: it has often been a castle in the air with me, how much useful information, supposing that the proper man could be caught, might be given to the poor in early life, on subjects most useful to them, & yet about which they are profoundly ignorant.³

My wife begs to join me in our kind remembrances to M^rs. Allen⁴ & to yourself & pray believe me, My dear Sir | Yours very sincerely | C. Darwin

Rev. J. Allen.

I see that I have written this note the wrong way first—⁵