<span>A letter to John Brodie Innes to request any recollections of Charles Darwin. Also asks Innes for any letters that Charles Darwin might have written to Innes. Francis wants to have copies made. Francis goes on to mention that he is collecting material to write a life of his father. Transcription: "Down Beckenham May 25-'82 My dear Mr Innes, It has occurred to me that you might be able to give me some valuable recollection of my father as you knew him here. I need not say how much we should value it if you would (at your leisure) do so. We should in the first [filter] place any sketch you might give us in the family "archives", and it is uncertain whether we should ever have to ask you leave to publish it . I hope therefore that you would </span><span>not mind writing freely, and would not think anything too small to be told. I take this opportunity of saying that I should think it a great priviledge to be allowed to see any letters of my fathers you may have I am collecting material for a Life, though it is not yet certain who will undertake the work of writing + editing. I should like to make copies of his letters to you; there would be no need to go into the question of what to publish just yet. I should like you to think of them as going with anything you may let us have about my father unto the archives- yrs sincerely Francis Darwin" Letter, signed by sender. Sent from Down House, near Beckenham, Kent, England.The Robert M. Stecher Collection of Charles Darwin Books and Manuscripts</span>
