From Frederick Ransome   7 February 1866

My dear Sir

I am duly in rec^t. of your favour of yesterdays date—¹ I had intended running over to Down to see you personally on the subject of your communication—but the death of another near relative prevented my doing so—

I am most unwilling to trespass longer upon your kind indulgence but under present circumstances I am compelled to ask you to allow the payment of the principal sum to be postponed a short time longer and allow me to pay you Interest thereon—

You will see by the enclosed circular,² the very satisfactory way in which my Invention is gaining ground with the public and we have just taken the premises alluded to and are about immediately to commence the erection of important works—for which upwards of £16.000 have already been subscribed but in order to secure this desireable result I have been compelled to accept shares and debentures to a large amount—and it would be extremely detrimental to the Interests of our Company were I at the present moment to attempt to dispose of them in the open market—³

I think you will agree with me that the names of M^r. Bessemer⁴ and so many of his personal friends—are a guarantee for the high estimate formed of the value of our property but pending the development up to a point at which I can receive dividend upon the large Stake I hold—my Income is so limited—that it is difficult for me to spare even £100 without disposing of some of my Shares—which at the present time would be extremely undesireable—

Will you kindly consent to hold the Acc^e. a little longer allowing me to pay Int^t thereon until I can more conveniently redeem it? and upon hearing from you to this effect I will immediately send you Cheque for Interest to present time.

Believe me my dear Sir | very faithfully yours | Fred^k. Ransome

C. Darwin Esq