Ɛpsilon

To T. H. Huxley   23 October [1875]1

Down, | Beckenham, Kent. | Railway Station | Orpington. S.E.R.

Oct 23d

My dear Huxley

Your essay on species seems to me excellent—the whole subject in a nut.— I do not know whether I may keep it— If I may, please tell me title of book in which it in.—2 But, though I shd. like to keep it, do not hesitate to have it returned, as it a mere chance whether I shall ever again write on large & general questions. I think it will be wiser to keep to easier & special subjects, such as Insectivorous plants or Climbing Plants.— By the way I hope you got the former book.— I told Murray to send a copy to you to make the series of my books, complete; though I do not suppose you wd. care about it. & so it shall be with my Climbing Plants.3

Ever yours | C. Darwin

1
The year is established by the relationship between this letter and the letter from T. H. Huxley, 30 October 1875.
2
Huxley’s essay has not been found in the Darwin Library, but was the entry on species in the American cyclopædia 15: 233–6, which was published in 1876.
3
Huxley’s name appears on CD’s presentation list for Insectivorous plants in the section of copies to be sent by his publisher John Murray (see Appendix IV). Huxley evidently also received a copy of Climbing plants 2d ed., but there is no mark next to his name on the list that would indicate that this was the case.

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-10214,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-10214