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Aug. 20. 1882

Dear Sir

I do not know whether I may venture to hope that you recollect our meeting at the Saville, or our lunching in company with our common friend Mr. Dew-Smith? At all events, I shield myself under that slight introduction in taking the liberty of writing to you. I am the London representative of the "Century Magazine" (which used to call itself "Scribners")

Mr. Alfred Wallace is writing for us a sketch on your father's

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system of work, a sort of historical sketch (as I take it to be) of Mr. Darwin's intellectual processes in the evolution of his great discovery. It is a great part of the plan of the magazine to illustrate its articles in the best and most refined style possible, and in this connection I have to ask you two favours.

1. In the first plan, our desire to engrave as a frontispiece to the number in which Mr. Wallace's article appears, the very best likeness of Mr. Darwin

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which can be secured. I have heard Mr Dew-Smith speak of one which you or your brother took at Down, and my intimate friend Miss Arabella Buckley speaks with much enthusiasm of one which I take to be the same. Is it possible that you will favour us so far as to lend us this to be engraved?

2. I have further to ask you if you will allow the distinguished water-colour painter, Mr. Alfred Parsons, who will call on you with a formal

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introduction from me, to make a sketch of your house for the same purpose?

I hope you will pardon me for intruding on you in this way, and that my requests may not prove to be very troublesome.

Believe me then

Dear Sir

Yours very faithfully

Edmund W. Gosse

Francis Darwin Esq, F.R. S.

etc. etc.