Ɛpsilon

From Sarah Elizabeth Wedgwood   25 December [1860?]1

Christmas day

Dear Charles

Charlotte2 reports from Mr Wallis3 that he only once saw sundew open— he mentioned the time & place, but was sorry he could not recollect the time of day— he took so⁠⟨⁠me⁠⟩⁠ home & kept ⁠⟨⁠two words missing⁠⟩⁠ he never s⁠⟨⁠aw it⁠⟩⁠ open again.— It was a long time ago— he said he understood they did open some time in the day, but did not know at what hour. Smith4 says nothing about ⁠⟨⁠it. He s⁠⟩⁠eems to know ⁠⟨⁠very lit⁠⟩⁠tle, for he says

incomplete

1
The year is inferred from the reference to William Wallis, whom CD first met in 1860 while visiting Sarah Elizabeth Wedgwood, Emma Darwin’s sister, in Sussex. See ‘Journal’ (Appendix II).
2
Charlotte Langton, Emma’s other sister, also lived in Hartfield, Sussex.
3
William Wallis was the surgeon of Hartfield and an orchid collector. He had assisted CD in his study of orchids and of the sundew (Drosera rotundifolia) when the Darwins visited Hartfield in July 1860. See letters to J. D. Hooker, 29 July [1860], and to W. E. Darwin, [30 July 1860].
4
Probably Frederick Smith, a farmer residing at Thornhill farm, Hartfield, Sussex (Post Office directory of the six home counties 1859).

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-3030,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-3030