Ɛpsilon

To George Warde Norman1   [1848]

Down.

Tuesday Even

My dear Sir

I am much obliged for your kind note I am sorry to have troubled you, but I had imagined it was the usual form for any one cognizant of a person’s state of health, to take an oath to that effect before a magistrate. Mr Latter2 however to whom my servant went, on your kind suggestion says that such is not the case. Once however I thus escaped, Mr Snow of this village having sworn to my state of health before Dr Scott:3 I now conjecture that Dr Scott must, himself have been going to Maidstone. I have sent my servant to Maidstone; for I am really quite incapable of the fatigue of one trial, much more of three special cases to which I am summoned4

With many thanks for your wishes to assist me. Believe me | Yours sincerely | C Darwin G. Norman Esq

1
George Warde Norman resided at Bromley Common, near Down village, and was a close friend of CD.
2
Robert Booth Latter, clerk to the Maidstone county court, Kent, and of the firm of solicitors Robert Booth Latter and Robinson Latter of Bromley (Post Office directory of the six home counties 1845).
3
Probably Thomas Scott, chaplain to Bromley College. George Snow operated a carrier service between Down and London.
4
CD was probably excused from this jury duty. There is no record of a stay in Maidstone in his Account Book (Down House MS). Maidstone was the assizes town of Kent; it held separate quarter sessions and a court of pleas every second week.

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-1143,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-1143