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To John Higgins   14 June [1853]

Down Bromley Kent

June 14th—

My dear Sir

I heard from the Bank this morning that the £201 . 3s . 2d has been received from you, for which & your note of the 7th—I am much obliged.1

It is of course very satisfactory to me, to hear that you think yourself justified in giving notice to the Tenant2 that the whole rent must be paid next half.—3

With my thanks | Pray believe me | Dear Sir | Yours sincerely | C. Darwin J. Higgins Esqe

1
CD recorded the receipt of £206 3s. 2d. on 10 June 1853 in his Classed account book (Down House MS). The sum mentioned in the letter is the Beesby rent less a £5 donation to Beesby School.
2
The Beesby Farm tenant was Francis Hardy (see letter to John Higgins, 7 June 1851).
3
In 1850 CD had agreed to a reduction of 15% in rent on the Beesby Farm because of the slump in agricultural prices. From May 1850 to June 1853 the accounts show a reduction of that amount. The payment in June 1853 of £206 3s. 2d. represented a reduction of nearly 812%. In December 1853 the full payment of £225 was made.

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-1519,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-1519