My dear Sir

I now send you a draft of the proposed conveyance from M^r Sydney Sales to your Father. It includes the 3^r.16^p of land, describing it as part of property left to M^r S. Sales by his Fathers will and by reference to a plan to be drawn on the deed.¹ I have obtained an office copy of the will.

I presume that you will hand the draft to M^r S. Sales. And enquiry may then be made of him whether he is married,— and, if so, whether he was married prior or subsequently to 1834. His answers may affect the question whether his widow (if any) will be entitled to “dower”.²

He should also be asked whether, on the occasion of her marriage, or at any time he has executed any settlement, which includes the property now sold.—

In a less degree, it may be desirable to learn whether M^r W. Sales, the vendors father, bought this land or acquired it by devise or descent. In the latter alternative I should wish to alter the covenants in the intended conveyance, so as to make them extend to acts of the testator or ancestor from whom the property came.—

I should also be glad, if it were practicable to get M^r S. Sales to enter into an engagement (covenant) for the production of the title deeds, relating to the purchased property, & probably in his possession.

Your Father’s having the means of compelling the production of the title deeds might affect the selling value of the pieces of land, as part of his property.

But I can conceive that it may not be practicable to induce M^r S Sales to enter into a covenant for the production,— or to furnish or enable us to make the necessary detailed list of the deeds which must be appended to any such covenant.

I have assumed that there is no chance of these pieces of land being comprized in any mortgage. But if there is any doubt as to this, it should be somehow removed.

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

L. Darwin Esq^r | care of | Charles R Darwin Esq^r | Down | Beckenham | Kent