Yoursaffectionately，CH。DARWIN。
[Inthespringofthisyear（1874）hereadabookwhichgavehimgreatpleasureandofwhichheoftenspokewithadmiration:——’TheNaturalistinNicaragua，’bythelateThomasBelt。Mr。Belt，whoseuntimelydeathmaywellbedeploredbynaturalists，wasbyprofessionanEngineer，sothatallhisadmirableobservationsinNaturalHistoryinNicaraguaandelsewherewerethefruitofhisleisure。Thebookisdirectandvividinstyleandisfullofdescriptionandsuggestivediscussions。WithreferencetoitmyfatherwrotetoSirJ。D。Hooker:——
\"BeltIhaveread，andIamdelightedthatyoulikeitsomuch，itappearstomethebestofallnaturalhistoryjournalswhichhaveeverbeenpublished。\"]
CHARLESDARWINTOTHEMARQUISDESAPORTA。
Down，May30，1874。