Dear Sir
I hope that you will excuse the liberty which I take in begging a favour of you. Prof. Haeckel is carefully studying calcareous sponges & is very anxious for British specimens.2
Mr. Hancock informs me that you are the most likely person to possess, & to feel inclined to give under these circumstances, some specimens.3
If this is in your power I shd be grateful if you wd send me any, however few, specimens addressed to
“C. Darwin Esqre
care of Down Postman
Bromley Kent.”
With apologies for troubling you I remain dear Sir | yours faithfully | Ch. Darwin
Please cite as “DCP-LETT-6845,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on