Ɛpsilon

To [John Hawkshaw?]   1 January [1860]1

Down Bromley Kent

Jan 1st.—

My dear Sir

I have real pleasure in signing Mr. Bonney’s certificate, which I herewith return.—2

I am delighted to hear that you are interested in my Book3 & I remain | My dear Sir | Yours sincerely | C. Darwin

[Enclosure]

Paid Coutts March 27/604

The Rev: Thomas George Bonney M.A Fellow of St. John’s Coll: Cambridge St. Peter’s College Westminster5 being desirous of admission into the Geological Society of London, We, the undersigned, recommend him as a proper person to become a Fellow thereof.

Feby. 4th. 1860

John Hawkshaw, From Personal knowledge.

Charles Darwin

James Simpson

Jos. Prestwich6

T. Harlin

Proposed Feb 15/60

Notice of Ballot Feb 29th.

Elected March 14/60

No 1930

1
The year is established from the date of Thomas George Bonney’s election as a member of the Geological Society of London. There is a letter from John Hawkshaw dated February 1860 in the archives of the Geological Society asking the recipient to arrange for the other signatures to be added to the enclosed form.
2
The certificate has been transcribed in its final state in the archives of the Geological Society.
3
Origin had been published in November 1859.
4
Coutts was a well-known London bank. Members of the Geological Society who lived in London paid thirty guineas on joining, or three guineas a year (H. B. Woodward 1907, p. 60).
5
Bonney taught mathematics at St Peter’s College, Westminster (also known as Westminster School; ODNB).

Manuscript Alterations and Comments

2.1 Book] altered from ‘Books’

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-2633F,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-2633F