Ɛpsilon

To Maria   [1871–82]1

Dear Madam—

I am sorry to say that I can not spare the time to discuss the many abstruse points touched on in your letter.— Nor do I understand fully on what subject you require information.— I may add that my belief is not nearly so [sure], as you suppose2

Madam | your obed sert | Ch. Darwin

ADraftS

1
The date is established by the relationship between this letter and the letter from Maria, [1871–82].
2
On CD’s religious beliefs, see ‘Recollections’, pp. 391–7.

Manuscript Alterations and Comments

1.1 can] interl above del ‘have’
1.1 spare the] interl
1.2 fully on] ‘on’ interl
1.2 subject] after del ‘you’
1.3 my] above del ‘I do not’
1.3 belief] altered from ‘believe’
1.3 is not] interl
1.3 [sure]] after del illeg

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-12386,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-12386