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From W. E. Darwin   24 June [1880]1

Basset, | Southampton.

June 24

My dear Father,

Should you have any objection to forwarding the enclosed to Lord Derby, perhaps also the enclosed letter to Sara, would explain the case more fully.2 It seems to me that Ld Derby can quite decline to ask any question not withstanding his note if he thinks it better. If you do send it, it might be well to say that in case he did not receive the copy of the New York state survey mentioned by Mr Olmstead a copy can be sent him; I have one sent me by Mr. O. which I would send if necessary.3

I have taken a memorandum about Beaulieu & will go there in the early autumn and get you a good parcel of castings.4

An acquaintance of mine told that he hatched 7 gallenes under a hen and two days ago when running about with about 100 little chickens the little gallenes being about a month old were attacked by a male & female gallene   3 were killed and 4 were saved by the son who was attacked by the gallenes. The female gallene had no chickens, why on earth should she & her husband hate the ones brought up by a hen.5

Please tell Bessy I will send a cheque book & that there is no need to settle about Buxton.6

Your affect son | W. E. Darwin

1
The year is established by the relationship between this letter and the letter to W. E. Darwin, 18 June 1880.
2
Edward Henry Stanley and Sara Darwin. For the enclosures, see the enclosures to the letter to E. H. Stanley, 25 June 1880.
3
Frederick Law Olmsted had sent copies of Special report of New York state survey of the preservation of the scenery of Niagara Falls (Gardiner ed. 1880).
4
CD had asked William to visit Beaulieu Abbey, Hampshire, to collect worm-castings; see letter to W. E. Darwin, 18 June 1880 and n. 1.
5
Gallene: a variant spelling of galeeny, guinea fowl (OED).

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-12642G,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-12642G