To W. B. Tegetmeier   27 [November 1858]1

Down Bromley Kent

27th

My dear Sir

I thank you much for your note. The object, of course, is what you say.2 I did not guess that I shd have to pay so much per Hen to Baker & the experiment would not be at all worth such a sum. I have not a single Hen worth sending to Steven’s.3

If it really will not cost you much trouble, & you could get me some Hens & a young Spanish cock of pure breeds, but not very good birds for 10s each or under, I will try to experiment & shall be very heartily obliged to you.

Our Carrier came up on Thursday & I enclose envelope if you will post it on Tuesday before general post, & add address of your poultry man, where you can pay for keeping the fowls for a day & porterage.

I have silver Laced Poland Hen. of one Breed, & I shd wish for say 12 dozen Hens of other breeds, before specified & Spanish Cock.

Many thanks about Kidney Beans, but I had this var. this year in my garden. I saw & read the good Review of your Book.—4

You really are most goodnatured in assisting me.—

In Haste | Yours very sincerely | C. Darwin

Pray when you see Mr. H. Weir, do not forget to ask whether his Silver Barbs had black wing bars, & white rumps or bar at end of tail.—5

of course you shall hear result of crossing fowls.—

1
Dated by the relationship to the letter to W. B. Tegetmeier, 16 November [1858].
3
John Crace Stevens was a natural history dealer and auctioneer at 38 King Street, Covent Garden.
4
The fourth edition of Tegetmeier’s Manual of domestic economy (Tegetmeier 1858a) was reviewed in Gardeners’ Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette, 13 November 1858, p. 831.
5
CD had asked Tegetmeier to obtain information from Harrison William Weir (letter to W. B.Tegetmeier, 2 October [1858]).

Manuscript Alterations and Comments

4.1 of one] ‘of’ over illeg
5.2 & read] interl

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-2375,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-2375