To W. E. Darwin   25 March [1868]¹

My dear William.

I hardly feel able to express any opinion on so purely a business a point, & which I presume would be much governed by custom between Partners.—² If I understand rightly, you propose that all extra profits from the union of the two Banks sh^d go to A.³ until his income is increased to ^£500 per annum,—that is until death or retirement of senior partner, when you will share all the profits (& this will include the guaranteed £500) according to some fair scale, relatively to your present position. This does not strike me as unfair on your part, for it w^d be rather hard if A were always to have the giant’s share of the gain from the union; but he might maintain that it w^d not otherwise be worth his while. I sh^d. have thought that even in pure business affairs one partner w^d regard in some degree the interest of his partner.—

You speak of coming to clear understanding; I hope you mean all to be reduced to writing between you & A & new partners; as in so peculiar an arrangement doubt w^d be sure to occur. If possible I w^d certainly have some experienced Barrister consider well any agreement, as one so constantly sees that various interpretations may be placed on a set of words.— I agree that it w^d be worth your while to join for sake of additional partner & future greater profits & a more active concern.— I hope to God it may succeed.—

Could you delicately hint to A to bear your interest as well as his own in mind.

My dear old Fellow | Yours affect | C. Darwin

I am working like a slave to get corrections for an American Edit of the new Book which is printing in hottest haste.—⁴