Ɛpsilon

To R. B. Sharpe   21 February [1879]1

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

Feb. 21st

My dear Sir

The enclosed testimonial is very short, & I do not know whether it will be of any use,2 As I have told Mr. Butler I can offer no opinion about the fitness of anyone for the desired office, as I know nothing of its duties.3

Pray either use or destroy the Testimonial. It seems rather absurd to give two for the same office.

Believe me | My dear Sir | Yours very faithfully | Ch. Darwin

1
The year is established by the relationship between this letter and the letter to the British Museum, 21 February 1879
2
See letter to British Museum, 21 February 1879. The testimonial was for the post of assistant keeper of zoology at the British Museum, which had become vacant following the death of Frederick Smith. No letter from Sharpe on the subject has been found.

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-11892,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-11892