To Edward Alfred Smith   30 June [1869]1

Caerdeon | Barmouth | N. Wales

June 30th—

Dear Sir

Absence from home has prevented me from sooner thanking you for the proofs of woodcuts, which will do very well & some seem excellently executed.2

In Fig 2a. I think the fig of the female would be a good deal improved, if made rather less dark; she now looks much more massive than the male.— Please observe that the ♂ must be removed.—

I must have these proofs or others returned to me: Be so kind as to attend to this.—

Please, also, be so good as to return the M.S. list of specimens or instructions for the wood cuts; for I have forgotten the names of some of the species figured.3

Please address the returned M.S. to address above given which will be my address for all this month.

I am much obliged for your assistance: I shall probably, but not certainly, require a few more cuts; but my work has lately been much delayed by ill-health.—

Dear Sir | Yours faithfully | Ch. Darwin

P.S. | I think I formerly returned a proof for correction, & a revise was never sent me.— When I get my M.S. list, I can look over the proofs, & ascertain whether I have copies of all.—

1
The year is established by the address. CD and his family stayed at Caerdeon in North Wales in June and July 1869 (Emma Darwin’s diary (DAR 242)).
2
The woodcuts were for Descent. See also letter to E. A. Smith, [before 30 June 1869].
3
CD’s list of woodcuts for Descent is in DAR 82: B29

Manuscript Alterations and Comments

5.1 to] after del ‘as’
6.2 lately] first ‘l’ over ‘b’

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-6807,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-6807