My dear Sir

In a separate registered cover I return M^r Rich’s two letters: and I hope that they will reach you safely.¹

I have read the drafts, in my possession, of your will and codicils. And I think that no change of your testamentary dispositions is expedient with reference to M^r Rich’s intended gift, in your favour, by his will,—or to the nature of the property which will pass by the gift. And on the whole it seems better that your will should not refer to the probability of your Estate being increased by means of the gift.²

There is an obvious risk of M^r Richs intentions failing, through your dying in his lifetime but although he could guard against this risk I do not see how you can do more, than has been already done, by way of suggesting that precaution in this respect is desirable.—

The contents of M^r Rich’s letters do not create the impression that he is a man of infirm purpose or of a disposition to be easily offended. But there is a possibility that offence might be given him, and a change of his views induced, if you were by your will or a codicil to refer to his having communicated his intention to give his property to you by will. I incline to the opinion that it will be better not to refer to his communication.

I have prepared and I enclose the draft of a codicil to your will for increasing the legacies to your daughters unconditionally.³ But I see no objection to this increase being made conditional upon the total amount of your estate either exceeding or reaching a specified sum. And this sum might be fixed by excluding the property to come from M^r Rich or by including such property or an adequate part of it or of its value. If you would like to have the codicil redrawn with reference to this suggestion will you kindly return the draft with the necessary instructions as to the amount upon which the intended increase of the legacies is to depend.

If you prefer to let the codicil stand as drawn will you please return the draft in order that it may be copied in the usual form.⁴ I do not seem to have the date of the 2^nd. codicil to your will. If you can do so without trouble will you please supply it in the draft now sent. It is not however very material.

I am | My dear Sir | Yours very truly | W^m. M Hacon

Charles R. Darwin Esq^re Down | Beckenham | Kent