To James Torbitt   16 June 1880

My dear Sir

I have no objection to your quoting the sentences referred to; but I should like you to alter one, viz., where I wrote “if I were a minister of the crown” write “if I had the power”; for anyone might smile and say “a pretty fellow to be a minister of the crown”. If I were in your place I would endeavour to make my letter to Mr. Forster as short as possible (for I have been told he is much overworked), and copied in clearest writing. On these grounds I would shorten the extracts from my letters.¹

I am not very sanguine of success, but I most truly wish you all the success which you amply deserve in your application to Government. How would it be simply to ask for assistance and leave Mr. Forster or his assistants to suggest some plan? I am sure I do not know which would be best.

Believe me. | Yours sincerely | Ch. Darwin.

P.S. Would it not be better to say that you had been assisted by Mr. Caird, C.B., and Mr. Farrer of the Board of Trade, without saying that this was through my intervention.² Their names would thus perhaps have greater weight. I do not think that this would be dishonourable. On the other hand if Mr. F. applied to these gentlemen, no doubt he would hear that they had acted on my advice.