My dear Sir
I am going to beg a favour of you, which I know it is a mere chance whether you can grant.— Ernst Häckel is working zealously on Calcareous Sponges, & is now starting for Norway solely to carry out his investigations.2 He says he is in great want of British specimens; & I know not to whom to apply, nor does Huxley, from whom I heard this morning.3 Can you spare him any out of your collection? Do not trouble yourself to write unless you can aid us.— I shall be at home “Down, Beckenham Kent” last day of this month
Forgive me for asking this favour & believe me with the most sincere respect.
My dear Sir | Yours very faithfully | Ch. Darwin
Please cite as “DCP-LETT-6834A,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on