From J. M. Herbert   13 January [1839]

My dear Darwin,

In sending you the accompanying species of the Genus Forficula,¹ (Do I betray my ignorance of Natural History by the Expression?), I hope I have hit upon a useful domestic article, & at the same time one that will not clash with the Forget-me-nots of other Friends.

When under ordinary circumstances a man marries, it imposes upon his friends the serious burden of saying all the civil things they can think of— In obedience to to this custom I must say something on the occasion of y^r. signing & sealing the surrender of your independence; but, thank God, it is unnecessary for me to measure either my esteem for you, or my wishes for y^r. future happiness, by the set forms of compliment, or I might find them untranslateable into the language of the Polite Letter Writer—

I shall content myself therefore with praying God’s blessing on you & yours, & with wishing you all the happiness, that I think you deserve— a cup of joy full to overflowing—

Y^rs. ever | J. M. Herbert