From James Torbitt   5 March 1880

J. Torbitt, | Wine Merchant. | 58, North Street, | Belfast,

5 Mar 1880.

Ch Darwin Esqr. | 6 Queen Anne Street | Cavendish Square.

My dear Sir,

Letter of yesterday received— I have been thinking of Lord Derby myself. If he could be induced to advance the money I think he would not lose it.1

May I consider that if nothing else is done you will advance the £502—it would grow perhaps 500 varieties— The new potatoes to repay the £150 if they are worth that amt

I think that in a few years, if not lost, they will be worth some millions per annum to England.

For myself—my honor is pleged not to lay out more money on this matter.

Most respectfully | my dear Sir | James Torbitt

1
In his letter to James Torbitt, 4 March 1880, CD said he could possibly influence Edward Henry Stanley to support Torbitt’s scheme to breed blight-resistant potatoes.
2
CD said he would subscribe £50 in his letter to Torbitt of 4 March 1880.

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-12516,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-12516