JDH writes that he is waiting to hear whether the Royal Society has accepted the proposal that it undertake the work on Sir Wyville Thomson's specimens [from the HMS 'Challenger' expedition]. If the suggestion is approved JDH will submit a detailed plan. The plan has already been prepared, a complex procedure as a work of such scope has never been undertaken before. The plan will ask for £3500 for 1877-1878 for the publication of the work. JDH asks Smith to authorise the submission of the plan to the Navy[?].