Darwin thanks Bates for answering his questions. The manuscript on Lepidoptera is almost finished and Darwin is glad to have Bates read his writing, a Show moreDarwin thanks Bates for answering his questions. The manuscript on Lepidoptera is almost finished and Darwin is glad to have Bates read his writing, as he is fearful of mistakes since he is not as familiar with the subject. Transcription: "Ap. 22nd c1862 1868 Down. Bromley. Kent.S.C. My dear Bates. Hearty thanks.- you are the man to answer a question fully + clearly.- I return the drawing which + to [] can [] capital for me.- I have nearly finished my [] on [] + will then have it copied by a man who writes an excellent hand.- Your most kind offer of reading it has made all the difference to me: if I had not known that I shd have been tormented to which time with []. I have tried to be cautious + to avoid blunders, but when one writes on a subject, with which one is not familiar, mistakes almost [] occur. yours vy sincerely C. Darwin Two-thirds of the M.S. relates to fact communicated by you to me. or published by you." Letter, signed by sender. Sent from Down House, near Beckenham, Kent, England. The Robert M. Stecher Collection of Charles Darwin Books and Manuscripts Show less