From R. H. Blair   16 March 1871

Dear Sir,

It will give me much pleasure to answer the questions referred to me, but it will not be possible for me to do so at once.¹ Indeed I must ask for just so much time as may serve to convince me that my conclusions are just.

The number of Born-Blind is small in comparison to that of the subsequently Blind. Out of about 20 that will enter an Institution, I should say no more than 4 are of this class. We have, so far, only had 4 actually bornblind. In the College at present we have two Born Blind, a⁠⟨⁠nd⁠⟩⁠ one Blind from the fourteenth day. This latter case is virtually as good as the others. I had two sons of Sir Henry Durand (lately killed in the Punjab) who were born Blind, but they were, also, imbecile.²

I will collect information carefully & write again when able to ⁠⟨⁠sp⁠⟩⁠eak with something like certainty.

I am | Dear Sir, | yrs faithfully | Robert H Blair.

Charles Darwin Esqre F.R.S.