My dear Sir

There is not the least hurry; for I should be very unwilling to begin writing the preface for the next 5 or 6 weeks. Indeed I could hardly do so until I have got all my materials together, & I have written to many members of the family for letters from D^r D. &c   I am somewhat afraid of my preface & your work interfering with each other; but I shall not say one word about evolution & pure science—nor about D^r D’s poetry.¹ I shall almost confine myself to his character, anecdotes about him, & letters from him.

But I have begun to make some enquiries as to how far he influenced medical practice in this country. Would it not be a good plan for you to wait until my preface is written, of which I would send you a copy in good hand-writing, & you could then better determine what to add? In the meantime I could have the translation of your present essay begun by M^r Dallas, & passages could easily be added afterwards to it—²

We have not yet decided which of three pictures of D^r D. to have photographed.³ If you bring out a German edition, my brother & myself w^d be very glad to supply you with as many copies of the photograph as you require without any expense—

If I do not hear to the contrary I will send your essay in a week or two to Mr Dallas for translation.

My dear Sir | yours sincerely | Charles Darwin