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From A. G. More   28 September 1881

Science and Art Museum, Dublin, | Science and Art Department, | Leinster House, | Kildare Street, | Natural History | Department.

Sept 28th. 1881.

My dear Sir

If you still remember my name, I once had the honour of corresponding with you from the Isle of Wight at the time when I was beginning the study of Natural History—and I made a few observations at your request upon British Orchids1

Since that time Natural History has become my profession, and I have been for the last fifteen years employed in this Museum as Assistant Curator, always in the hope of succeeding some day to the post of Curator which is now vacant through the death of my chief, Dr Carte2

During the 15 years I have resided in Dublin I have especially occupied myself with the Natural History of Ireland and (with the late Dr. Moore) am the Author of the “Cybele Hibernica”.3 I have also published on the Natural History in general of the Isle of Wight on the Distribution of British Birds4 and other papers, which I can scarcely suppose have come under your notice—but I still venture to hope that, as a former correspondent I may be allowed to ask the favour of a few lines from you, such as I might forward together with my other testimonials to the Department of Science and Art, in whose hands the appointment lies—5

May I hope that I have not taken too great a liberty in venturing to trouble you in this matter.

I think I should perhaps add that my introduction to you was given by the late Mr. H. C. Watson6—and I remain dear Sir | Yrs very truly | A. G. More

To Charles Darwin Esq F.R.S. | etc etc.

1
CD exchanged several letters with More about orchids between 1860 and 1862 (see Correspondence vols. 8, 9, 10). His last request for information from More was made in 1869 (see Correspondence vol. 17, letter to A. G. More, 24 June 1869).
2
More had served as assistant curator in the Natural History Department of the Science and Art Museum, Dublin, since 1867. Alexander Carte, who had been director of the department from 1851, died on 25 September 1881 (Dictionary of Irish biography to 2002).
3
David Moore and More’s Contributions towards a Cybele Hibernica was published in 1866 (D. Moore and More 1866).
4
More published Outlines of the natural history of the Isle of Wight (More 1860). His work on the distribution of Britain’s breeding birds, based on a pioneer survey he organised by means of a questionnaire, appeared in More 1865 (see Moffat ed. 1898, pp. 134–42, 170, 173–6).
5
From 1878, the Dublin Science and Art Museum had come under the jurisdiction of the Department of Science and Art, South Kensington, London (Moffat ed. 1898, p. 267).
6
In his first letter to More, CD mentioned that Hewett Cottrell Watson had given him More’s address (see Correspondence vol. 8, letter to A. G. More, 24 June [1860]).

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-13361,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-13361