Ɛpsilon

To W. E. Darwin   [9 May 1880]1

Down

Sunday

My dear W.—

Read this note & observe that it is private.2 If you can find out these 2 mean & can anyhow by direct or indirect means, influence them, I hope that you will for the sake of Science & on public grounds.3 Could you venture to call on them if strangers to you.

We have a tremendous party here, which has gone off very pleasantly & St. Andrew has been extremely agreeable, but I am pretty well tired, though less than usual.4

your affect Father | C. Darwin

Postmark: 10 MY 80

1
The Sunday before 10 May 1880, the date of the postmark, was 9 May. This letter was written on the blank pages of the letter from John Lubbock, 9 May 1880.
3
John Lubbock was standing for election as MP for the University of London, and, evidently to drum up support for his campaign, had asked whether William Erasmus Darwin would contact Edwin Hearne and Henry Hermann Carlisle, two graduates of the university, who lived in Southampton (see letter from John Lubbock, 9 May 1880). ‘2 mean’ is a mistake for ‘2 men’.

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-12601,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-12601