My dear Sir

I am sorry to trouble you, but I have received some specimens, which I dare not name without seeing the scutum of Pollicipes rigidus;¹ will you please send it me as soon as you can, enclosed in a tin or wooden little Box by Post; on no account, please put it in paste-board box; I will return stamps for posting.—when the specimen itself is returned.

I have been disappointed in not having received anything from you.— Please remember how time slips by.— I am plagued to return specimens & only the other day I was asked by M^r Bowerbank on part of Pal. Soc. what progress I was making & I could only answer by stating that everything depended on you.— All this is very disagreeable to me & I do earnestly hope that you will endeavour to make more progress:² I know not what to say to those gentlemen, whose specimens I borrowed for only a few weeks.—

Believe me | Yours very faithfully | C. Darwin