To S. P. Woodward   3 June [1856]1

Down Bromley Kent

June 3d.

My dear Sir

I have just finished studying with all the attention of which I am capable, your Book.2 And I, for one, am deeply indebted to you for its publication, as I have not derived for years so much solid instruction & interest, from any other book.—

I have some questions, which I am most anxious to ask you: I have written them down;3 but I think I shall cause you less trouble, by reading them over with you. (if you are kindly willing to assist me) & then leaving them if necessary.— I shall be in London in about a fortnight & will then call & see whether you will give me a little help—4

Yours very sincerely | Ch. Darwin.

1
Dated by the reference to Woodward 1851–6 (see n. 2, below).
2
Woodward 1851–6. CD recorded having read this work on 5 June 1856 (Correspondence vol. 4, Appendix IV, 128: 18). See letter to S. P. Woodward, 15 May [1856].
4
Emma Darwin’s diary indicates that CD was in London on 12 June 1856 and again from 18 to 21 June.

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-1886,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-1886