Ɛpsilon

To W. E. Darwin   [27 February 1881]1

4 Bryanston St

Sunday

My dear William.

Eras gave me the enclosed yesterday.—2 I suppose that it is worth accepting or selling.— Please to decide which.— What will you do about the Co-Trustee signature? Eras thought that if you sent Probate to Ry Coy they would accept your signature as executor of Jos.; but you will know best. If you accept the shares, I will send as soon as you like cheque for 149.10.0.3 It will be necessary to remember about next January.—

Eras is, I think, steadily, though very slowly improving & now sits up in bed-room in afternoon for some hours— —4 We have seen a multitude of people & I am soon off for the Huxleys5

Ever yours | C. Darwin

1
The date is established by CD’s visit to London between 24 February and 3 March 1881, and the reference to Erasmus Alvey Darwin’s ill health (see also letter to G. H. Darwin, 27–8 February [1881]). The Sunday between 24 February and 3 March was 27 February.
2
The enclosure has not been found. It possibly related to Emma Darwin’s trust, of which E. A. Darwin was a trustee. The other trustee had been Emma’s recently deceased brother Josiah Wedgwood III, for whom William was executor.
3
Probably the cost of railway shares, since CD mentions the Railway Company.
4
Emma Darwin had first reported that E. A. Darwin was very unwell in her letter to G. H. Darwin of 16 February 1881 (DAR 210.3: 4).

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-13035,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-13035