Ɛpsilon

To Ernst Haeckel   25 June 1881

Glenrhydding House | Patterdale, Penrith

June 25th 1881

My dear Häckel

I received a letter 2 days ago from Mr. Rothenburg of Glasgow, telling me of your scheme, which seems to me an excellent one & I most heartily hope may be carried out.1 You will see that I am away from home, but shall return home on July 3d.— As soon as I heard of your scheme, I wrote to Huxley, who as Secy. of R. Socy. would have much influence about the Grant.2 Some year or two ago I expressed to several persons my opinion that a part of the Grant could not be better used than in aiding Biologists with some special purpose to visit any distant country; so you may believe that I would aid you in any way in my power.— I fear (but do not know) that all the Grants have been distributed for the current year.—3 I do not know anything about the funds of the British Assoc; but fear that they are not large. If these sources of supply fail, will you forgive me for proposing to subscribe 100£, in aid of your undertaking for the sake of Science? If you would accept my offer, it would give me very great pleasure.—

I wanted rest & a change, for I feel very old, so we have been staying in this most beautiful county for 3 weeks. I have done nothing all this time but admire the scenery & read the newspapers!

With all good wishes believe me, | My dear Häckel | Yours very sincerely | Charles Darwin

1
The letter from Paul Rottenburg has not been found. In the introduction to his book, A visit to Ceylon (Haeckel 1883b, pp. 9–11), Haeckel described his difficulties in getting funding and thanked several supporters by name, including CD and Rottenburg. See also letter from Ernst Haeckel, 21 June 1881.
2
The Darwins were on holiday at Patterdale in the Lake District from 3 June to 4 July 1881 (Emma Darwin’s diary (DAR 242)). Huxley was a secretary of the Royal Society of London (see letter to T. H. Huxley, 22 June 1881 and n. 2). For details on the management of the fund, see Hooker 1877, pp. 432–3.
3
The funds would have been distributed for the year by the end of March (see Hooker 1877, pp. 432–3).

Manuscript Alterations and Comments

0.1 Penrith] above del ‘Down, | Beckenham, Kent. | Railway Station | Orpington. S.E.R.’
1.5 about] above del ‘in’

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-13218,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-13218