Ɛpsilon

From B. J. Sulivan   10 May 1878

Bournemouth

May 10/78

My dear Darwin

After all the trouble I have given you and others, and after getting a cordial consent from all I had written to—including Mrs. FitzRoy—I find that unknown to me and to some others the daughter of one of the Committee with some lady friends had already adopted Jemmy’s younger grandson—& sent out names they wished him to be called. So both are provided for though not in the way I had hoped for.1

I therefore return you the cheque you so kindly sent— I am very glad to hear you keep so well and can do so much of your interesting work2

With our kind regards to Mrs. Darwin and all your circle

Believe me Dear Darwin | Your sincere friend | B. J. Sulivan

1
See letter from B. J. Sulivan, [14–20] April [1878], and letter to B. J. Sulivan, 22 April 1878. Jemmy Button, whose Yahgan name was Orundellico, had been returned to his native Tierra del Fuego in 1833 on HMS Beagle; his orphaned grandson was Cooshaipunjiz. Maria Isabella FitzRoy was the widow of Robert FitzRoy, who had been captain on the voyage and had been responsible for returning Orundellico and other Fuegians. Sulivan refers to the committee of the South American Missionary Society.
2
CD’s record of a payment of £2 to Sulivan for ‘J. Button grandson’ on 22 April 1878 has been crossed out, probably by CD on the return of his cheque (CD’s Account books–cash account (Down House MS)). See letter to B. J. Sulivan, 22 April 1878.

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-11501,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-11501