From W. M. Hacon   28 August 1879

18, Fenchurch Street, | London. | E. C.

28th August 1879

My dear Sir

My eldest son is about to commence his University education at Balliol college, Oxford, in October and I am told that it may be an advantage to him if I can get for him a personal introduction to Dr Jowett.1 I take the liberty of asking whether you can give me one for my son. I think I may say that the youth is of some promise. He has been brought up entirely by private tuition & is entering his college by having passed the public school examination in Latin (with distinction) Greek, preliminary mathematics, history & French. His physique is sound. He is good tempered & easily managed: and has hitherto occasioned me but little anxiety. I hope you will excuse my request if you cannot comply with it.

& I am | My dear Sir | Yours very truly | Wm. M Hacon

Charles R. Darwin Esqre. | Down | Beckenham | Kent

Hacon’s eldest son was William Llewellyn Hacon; Benjamin Jowett was master of Balliol College, Oxford. There is no evidence that CD was personally acquainted with Jowett.

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-12203,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-12203