From Joseph Prestwich   23 January 1855

My dear Sir,

Do not suppose but that I feel a great interest & much pleasure in the thorough investigation you are giving of the Salisbury beds. The only point I differ with you is that I hardly think a separate communication could well be made to the Society of the fact you name. Still if you wish it I shall be most happy that it should be so & I will be present to point out its bearing. In a geological point of view however the presence of Foraminifera is of no importance as they belong to the chalk, of which we have sufficient debris in the flint pebbles. The other points it will be desirable to note & we can do this in a note. If the paper were printed it would be a different thing, & a separate communication might be made. I have now another paper going thro’ press & since it was read I have examined & laid down 35 new sections bearing upon the subject— I do not however communicate these to the Society as they only illustrate my previous paper, but I work them all up in the sections & descriptions of sections inserted in the paper as it passes thro’ press.

I remain, my dear Sir | yours ever truly | J. Prestwich J. ^r

Don’t forget that I saw to a depth of about 1 foot below the shell bed, tho’ not to the full depth to the chalk which I should like to see—