From Francis Darwin   [after 16 May 1871]¹

My dear Father

I would have written to you before but I have been writing to S^t Georges (to my friend there) to find out whether I could get away from London before the end of July & whether I need come back at the beginning of October—² I am afraid I couldn’t get away till end of July— but I am almost sure that I might come back about the middle of Oct   I will tell you when I hear— It is most awfully kind of you to offer to pay for me—³ I dont know what the exped wd cost but I should certainly have a great deal of my July to Oct allowance to spend on it—so I hope you wdnt have to help me much   Will you please let me have the remainder of my £100; because you have given me such an awful lot of extra money, that I very much want to do with as little as possible—⁴ If I find I cant manage to go to America & keep my London Hosp term of course I must give it up— I had quite made up my mind that I wasnt going so it wouldn’t be much disappointment—

Your affectionate son | F. Darwin

I have 5 guineas fees to pay, so will you please pay that with the remainder of the ^£100 sometime before the end of the term