Ɛpsilon

To J. D. Hooker   5 October [1879]1

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

Oct 5th

My dear Hooker

I write one line to thank you very much about the gardener. I despatched a letter this morning telling the young man about the place, terms &c.— I will keep all the documents & return them to you if the man does not wish to come here.—2

Ever yours | C. Darwin

It is very good of you remember about heliotropism of insectivorous plants.—3

1
The year is established by the relationship between this letter and the letter from J. D. Hooker, 2 October 1879.
2
Hooker was helping CD find a new gardener; see letter to J. D. Hooker, 1 October [1879], and letter from J. D. Hooker, 2 October 1879. The prospective gardener was probably William Duguid, CD’s head gardener from 1879 to 1880 (CD’s Classed accounts (Down House MS), letter from Emma Darwin to H. E. Litchfield, [4 November 1879], DAR 219.9: 214). The letter to him, and the documents concerning him, have not been found.

Manuscript Alterations and Comments

1.3 man] interl

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-12249F,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-12249F