Ɛpsilon

From J. M. Herbert   9 October 1881

Rocklands | Ross. | Kerne Bridge Station | Telegrams to Ross

9 Oct. 1881.

My dear Darwin,

Yesterday’s Post brought me a Copy of your Book on Earth Worms from the Publisher, with a label “From the Author”.1 Very many thanks for your kindness in directing it to be sent to me—you could not have sent me a more acceptable gift—and valuing it as I do for its intrinsic interest, I value it still more as a memorial of our old friendship—2

I felt that I ought to write to you a few words of condolence, when some weeks back I saw the announcement of your family sorrow; for I well knew how closely attached you & your brother were to each other—and the arrival of the Book seemed to reproach me for my neglect.3 I am sure he will long be missed & sorrowed for by his intimate friends; for he always seemed to me the kindest, the gentlest, and the most courteous of men— Few alas, of our common Cambridge friends survive. But I can report well to you of Whitley, with whom I spent 4 pleasant days at his Northumberland Parsonage, in the last week in September.4

With my kind regards to Mrs. Darwin,— | believe me, my dear old friend | always yrs | J. M. Herbert

C. Darwin Esq

1
Herbert’s name is on CD’s presentation list for Earthworms (see Appendix IV).
2
Herbert had been one of CD’s close friends during their undergraduate days at Cambridge University. See Correspondence vol. 1.
3
Erasmus Alvey Darwin had died on 26 August 1881; the announcement of his death appeared in The Times, 30 August 1881, p. 1.
4
Charles Thomas Whitley, who had been a fellow student of CD’s at Shrewsbury School and Cambridge University, was vicar of Bedlington, Northumberland, about twelve miles north of Newcastle (Alum. Cantab.).

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-13383,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-13383