My dear Sir

It would give me very great pleasure, if you could spare a day & pay us a visit here. M^r & M^rs Lyell, Forbes & I hope Owen & Bell¹ will come here for a late dinner on Saturday the 12^th & stay till Monday morning. If you can so arrange it, I hope that you will join us.² The best plan of coming here is to leave London Bridge by the 4^o. 45’ Train & stop at Sydenham Station & thence take a Fly (if there are 4 of you, the roads are so hilly that it must be a two horse one) to Down.— You will arrive about $\frac{1}{4}$ before seven just in good time for dinner.

Will you be so kind as to show this to Forbes, as I promised to tell him the hour of coming here.

I have not heard yet from Bell; but I believe Owen will come. Might I trouble you for a line in answer

Yours very sincerely | C. Darwin

Will you bring your map of S. America. (if not very large) & we will have a talk over it. Perhaps you had better see first d’Orbigny’s map in Geolog. Soc, without indeed Bone³ has already used his materials.

Tell Forbes to mind that he be not too late for the Train.—