Ɛpsilon

From S. B. J. Skertchly   20 September 1881

Hunstanton | King’s Lynn

Sept 20. 81.

Dear Mr. Darwin—

Will you kindly allow me to use the testimonial enclosed, or grant me another, under the following circumstances?1

A year ago I met with a sad accident while at work, in which my son was killed and I so injured that I am compelled to resign my appointment, and shall certainly be unable to do any work for some years to come, even if I ever quite recover.2

The Treasury will grant me a pension, but it is so small that even if commuted would not cover the expenses I have already incurred. But if my application is backed up by testimony from independent sources they will—so Sir. H. Cole3 assures me—grant me an adequate sum. The matter is of vital importance to me as I am now quite cut off from all sources of income.

I am grieved to ask you to take this trouble, but if you will kindly accede to my request I shall be more than grateful. You need only send a post card with the word ‘yes’ or ‘no’, respecting the testimonial enclosed, unless you care to dictate another. I would indeed spare you even this trouble were the matter less pressing.

Ever Yours obediently | Sydney B. J. Skertchly

C. Darwin Esqr F.R.S.

1
Skertchly had asked CD for a testimonial, probably in support of an application for the chair of biology at the University of Otago, New Zealand (see Correspondence vol. 28, letter to [Otago University], [16 February 1880]). It is unclear whether this or a different testimonial written by CD was enclosed with Skertchly’s letter.
2
Skertchly had been an assistant geologist with the British Geological Survey; he retired from that post in 1881 following an accident in which he probably sustained an eye injury (Vincent 2017, p. 402). Skertchly’s son Cyril Edwin Kemp Skertchly was 7 years old when he died in the accident.

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-13344,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-13344