To John Murray   21 October [1861]

My dear Sir

M^r G. B. Sowerby has been here for 10 days making drawings of Orchids. We found it impossible to draw on wood; & it was absolutely necessary first to make perfectly shaded drawings on paper, which are now completed & of course I have paid for them.¹ But I have not paid for the drawings being transferred to wood but am quite ready to do so, when the cost can be proportioned. I should like M^r Sowerby to do this, as he will do it best, & further I think it would be a great advantage if he were to certain extent to superintend the cutting, as he says he will.

But I particularly want to call your attention to the fact that a first-rate cutter must be employed. I fear that the expence will be considerable.— I have asked M^r Sowerby to call on you tomorrow (Tuesday) with the drawings for you to settle how the job is to effected. If not done excellently well, the whole thing will be a failure.— The best woodcuts I have ever seen are in Prof. Owen’s British Fossils, (Van Voorst) done by M^r W. Bagg of 63 Gower St;² but M^r Sowerby has never heard of him.—

I am very anxious that the cutting sh^d. be done quickly at once; for immediately that I have proofs of the cuts, I am ready for press.—

My dear Sir | Yours very sincerely | Charles Darwin