Ɛpsilon

From W. K. Parker   18 January 1878

36 Claverton St SW

Jany. 18/78

Dear Sir

I was indeed disappointed to find that you had just called when I returned home today— I had been out (unexpectedly) on Will-Probate business.

Would you, most kindly, if you come up to Town again, & can call here, drop me a post card over-night: I would ‘compass sea & land’1 to have a talk with you.

It is with me, as it is with other loving disciples, I am always thinking & saying as fact after fact turns up, Oh, shouldn’t I like to shew this to Mr. Darwin!.2

My pupilship under you is of about 30 years standing, so I feel bold to speak out & say what I, & my fellow-pupils feel.

I am, Dear Sir | Yours most truly | W. K. Parker

Chas. Darwin Esq | FRS

1
Matthew 23:15.
2
No previous correspondence with Parker has been found, but he may have met CD at the Linnean Society on 17 January, when Francis Darwin’s paper on Drosera rotundifolia (F. Darwin 1878a) was read; Parker was a fellow of the society (ODNB). On the relationship between Parker’s strong religious beliefs and his science, see A. Desmond 1982, pp. 51–2.

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-10077,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-10077