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292 DARWIN (CHARLES, 1809-1882, naturalist)

A.L.s., 7 pages, 8vo, Down, Bromley, Kent, watermark of 1845 to "My dear Holland", expressing great excitement at the discovery of some important FOSSIL BONES IN AUSTRALIA ("I know of no quarter of the world so likely to afford important discoveries in this line . . ."); suggesting that they are sent to Professor Owen for examination; giving advice ("Caution him [Mr. Isaac] against concluding that the shells are living species: no one can off hand say so, & even if so, they wd not be the less valuable . . .") and cautiously estimating their significance (". . . for instance some single bone or skeleton might throw a surprising light on the relation of the ornithortyuctus with the rest of the creation . . ."), last page lightly mounted on album leaf.

*** The recipient referred to as "Holland" by Darwin is possibly identifiable with John Holland, author of "The History and Description of Fossil Fuel" (1835).

343 DARWIN (CHARLES)

DARWIN (CHARLES) A.L.S., 8vo, Down, 19 September 1876, to his friend Marshall, informing him that he plans to build at Down "a billiard room (25ft. by 21ft.) attached to my house with a bedroom & dressing room above" asking to come to Down and to give professional assistance, and emphasising that it is urgent to begin the work, as winter is approaching and he wants the building to be "dry by early next summer".

*** Darwin's correspondent is presumably P. P. Marshall, partner of William Morris in the firm of Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co.