To T. H. Huxley   3 July [1863]¹

My dear Huxley

Very sincere thanks for your long letter.² I grieve that you are so fearfully hard worked. If M^r Flower will look at specimen, I shall be particularly obliged; pray tell him so.—³ I send by this post the specimen in a Box.— Please tell M^r F. that the cleaned rudiment is in separate parcel of tin-foil within the larger: he must be careful in opening, as it is not bigger than pin’s head. Just call his attention to points on which I am utterly ignorant.— viz whether this transparent (it was transparent before spirits) cartilage has character of embryonic bone?—what are little irregular embedded objects?—& whether the transverse dark lines can represent articulation? I rather fancy whole case will break down.—

With hearty thanks & hopes that you may get the thick of your work over | Ever yours | C. Darwin