From W. S. Dallas   29 July 1879

My dear M^r. Darwin

I had hoped to have finished your work some days ago, but the difficulties of it are so great that I have been able to make but slow progress— It is not only the wretched small writing, which I can only read by daylight, that makes delay, but in many cases the author has referred to wrong pages for his quotations from Buffon & Erasmus Darwin, & in others has given no references at all, making it necessary to seek out the passages required by means of the context.—¹

I am at home today hard at work upon it but do not expect to get done until Thursday, for which I am sorry, as it throws me too late for you to get the translation at home.— It will not, however, be long after you in reaching the Lakes, & I hope it will prove satisfactory—² Shall I make up the books into a parcel & send them also to Coniston? I fancy you will want them if you are going to work upon the memoir while you are away.— I will send my address as soon as I know what it will be,³

Meanwhile, | Believe me | Yours truly | W. S. Dallas