To Reeve Brothers   [August 1846]¹

Sir

The section² will do very well: there are a few trifling corrections. The writing is very bad; I do not allude to the mistakes which my bad-writing may excuse, though I never before had half so many made; but to the size of the lettering varying in every third & fourth name. Please just to look in No^r 2. at “Valley of Horcones” & at lower right hand corner at “Feldspathic Clay-slate”— Would you be so good as to look at No^r. 2. & consider what plan is best to separate the letters of reference from the names below.— In No 3^d. I sh^d. think brackets would keep the names together best.

The paper must be cut close (as close as I have done on left side) to your border, otherwise it will not go into my volume.—

With respect to quality of Paper it must be thin for folding & yet take colour: I enclose a scrap, wh. answered well for copper in a former volume, but I must leave it to you to settle for stone.—

500 to be printed only 250 to be coloured.—

Please to observe to send me in second proof, before you print off, as I dare not trust the writer; & I must see one copy coloured on the paper which you propose to use.—

Gentlemen | Your obliged & obed^t svt | C. Darwin To | M^rs Reeve, Brothers