Ɛpsilon

To W. E. Darwin   9 [June 1880]1

Down—

9th

My dear W.—

I send by this post Asa Gray’s Lectures on Nat. Science & Religion.—2

I have heard from Baxter of Bromley that he can supply me (at whole-sale price) with Permanganate of Potash at 3s per lb—; the best kind is advertised at 4s per lb, whole sale price.—3

We enjoyed our visit greatly with you, & it has done me a world of good. Give my best of loves to my dear Sara: it makes me happy to think how happy you seem at Bassett my two dear children.4

Ever yours affect. | C. Darwin

Your mother did not feel up to go to concert this morning.—5

Apples arrived, very good, you good Boy— mind that I repay you.—

P.S. | By an odd chance I came across this morning a list of all the property or shares which my Father made over to me as my share of my mothers property, & which I suppose wd. be the same as was made over to Caroline, & which must have included a share from Uncle Thomas Wedgwood.— I daresay Caroline may have her own list.—6

1
The month and year are established by the reference to CD’s visit to Bassett, Southampton; see n. 4, below.
2
A lightly scored copy of Asa Gray’s Natural science and religion (A. Gray 1880) is in the Darwin Library–CUL.
3
William Walmisley Baxter owned a chemist shop at 40 High Street, Bromley, Kent. CD was using permanganate of potash (potassium permanganate, KMnO4) in his experiments for Movement in plants; see letter to Asa Gray, 17 February 1880.
4
CD and Emma Darwin visited William and Sara Darwin at Bassett, Southampton, from 25 May to 8 June 1880 (CD’s ‘Journal’ (Appendix II)).
5
In her letter to Sara Darwin, 9 June [1880] (DAR 219.1: 136), Emma Darwin wrote ‘all my courage gave way about my early concert’.
6
The list of property and shares is in DAR 227.5: 100; a similar list for Caroline Sarah Wedgwood (CD’s sister) is in DAR 227.5: 96. CD’s father was Robert Waring Darwin and his mother, Susannah Darwin. Thomas Wedgwood was CD’s mother’s brother.

Manuscript Alterations and Comments

2.1 me … with 2.2] interl
7.1 all] interl
7.1 or shares 7.2] interl

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-12624,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-12624