To George Newport   12 August [1851]

My dear Sir

Very many thanks for your extremely kind note of the 28^th.— You will perhaps have expected to have heard from me before, but I have been in London for some days to see for the first time the Exhibition, & I fully intended to have proposed a visit to you, but I had from heat & fatigue so many bad headaches, that my plans were entirely deranged & I failed in finding time to visit & thank you in person.—

I now return you your scissors;¹ but will you believe it, though I explained with the utmost care to M^rs Weiss, that your scissors were brought only as models, I see they have polished them! & I daresay tried to sharpen them!!! I sincerely hope they cannot have injured them. I found one pair which Weiss had formerly made for me was of same size &c as yours, so I did not get a new pair. I think your model has done some good, for they have reground the old pair & they appear certainly sharper, but I have not yet tried them: if blunt I will try my hand according to your instructions, with oil on the Hone.—

I will remember your wish, & send a copy of my vol: to the Linn: Soc^y. ² I am much obliged for your kind message to M^r. Lubbock, which I will not fail to give: he is a remarkably aimable pleasant young man, & has a strong taste for dissecting insects. A little conversation with you, would, I think, be of great service to him; but he is not likely just at present to be staying in London.

I hope much myself to accept your offer & pay you a visit, but I very seldom now go to London, for it always makes me unwell, & I never get half my commissions executed.

With very sincere thanks & hopes that your scissors will not be much the worse from M^rss. Weiss taking them so stupidly in hand, believe me | My dear Sir | Yours sincerely | C. Darwin