Down, | Beckenham, Kent. | Railway Station | Orpington. S.E.R.
Jan 5. 1880
Dear Sir,
Your kindness has been extreme in having taken so much trouble in searching through the letters and copying the extracts.1 I value them much, and they interest me strangely by bringing before my eyes old passed scenes. I never knew how my father (Dr R. Darwin of Shrewsbury)2 became so intimate with all the Clives. I dimly remember staying when a child at Stych & seeing a very old Mrs Clive, no doubt the widow of the Archdeacon.3 The extract about the eagerness of the two learned divines to see a pig’s body opened is very amusing; & that about my grandfather’s character is of much value to me.4 I now hope that there may be a second edition of the Life, that I may use a few extracts from the materials which you have so kindly given me.5 The information about Mr Gifford & the Archdeacon is now quite sufficient. I was glad to read the P.S. about my father & about the outline made by my mother.6
With the most cordial thanks, I remain, | dear Sir, | Yours faithfully | Charles Darwin
Please cite as “DCP-LETT-12405F,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on