Ɛpsilon

To W. T. Thiselton-Dyer   18 January [1880]1

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

Jan 18th

My dear Dyer

The sight of the seeds of Trichosanthes delighted me.—2

In last Nature there is a Review of Erasmus Darwin, which I think much the best which has appeared & has pleased me greatly.—3

I can give no sort of reason, but whilst reading it, I kept on thinking that you were the author. If you are not, which is of course the most probable view, pray forgive me for writing; but if you are I am sure that you will not grudge me the pleasure of thanking you heartily for so appreciative & good a review. If you are the author do please tell me; if you are not I shall so understand by your silence.

Yours very sincerley | Ch. Darwin

1
The year is established by the relationship between this letter and the letter to W. T. Thiselton-Dyer, 15 January 1880.
2
CD had requested seeds of Trichosanthes anguina (a synonym of T. cucumerina subsp. anguina, snake gourd), or any Trichosanthes, in his letter to W. T. Thiselton-Dyer, 15 January 1880.
3
The anonymous review of Erasmus Darwin was published in Nature, 15 January 1880, pp. 245–7.

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-12431,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-12431