Letter number 20 written by Charles Darwin

Letter Signed "Charles Darwin" Three and half pages, octavo, "Down, Fairborough Street", May 15, no year. Very fine condition. To "My dear Sir". Darwin writes: "I am not a little ashamed of myself for all the trouble I have given you: I wish now to confess my sins, and I say that in despair I have given up the siphon-plan: and intend only to make an ordinary tank, of no very great diameter with pump. I called at Burgess and Keys and found that the coated hose was flat and of course it would not do for suction: and that the gutta Percha would not stand frequent moving. Hence there was nothing left but the leather and that would have cost me nearly 20 (pounds) - a sum which I grudge, especially as it's the leather hose it seems requires, care etc. The only apology I can make for all the trouble I have given is that I was bona fide in stormy earnest, when I wrote to you on the scheme. With thanks, pray believe me, my dear Sir, yours very faithfully. Charles Darwin"

This letter is published in The Darwin Correspondence as Letter 1682. Cambridge indicates that the unidentified recipient of this letter was Edward Cresy and dates the letter May 15, 1853.