Ɛpsilon

To Charles Kingsley   2 June [1865]1

Down. | Bromley. | Kent. S.E.

June 2

My dear Sir

I am much obliged for your extremely kind note. I enclose the only photograph which I have of myself, made by one of my sons.2 I believe it is like but it makes me rather an awful old gentleman. One of the greatest losses which I have suffered from my continued ill-health has been my seclusion from society & not becoming acquainted with some few men whom I should have liked to have known3

Pray believe me my dear Sir | yours very faithfully | Ch. Darwin

P.S. I have a small collection of photographs & shd. very much like to possess yours.—4

LS(A)

1
The year is established by the relationship between this letter and the letters from Charles Kingsley, 30 May 1865 and 10 June 1865 (Correspondence vol. 13).
2
See Correspondence vol. 13, letter from Charles Kingsley, 30 May 1865. The photograph was probably one taken by CD’s eldest son, William Erasmus Darwin, in 1864 (see Correspondence vol. 12, letter from W. E. Darwin, [19 May 1864], and frontispiece).
3
On CD’s health during this period, see Correspondence vol. 13, Appendix IV.
4
CD started an album of photographs of scientific friends in 1864 (see Correspondence vol. 12, letter to T. H. Huxley, 5 November [1864]). It has not been found.

Manuscript Alterations and Comments

1.5 should have] ‘have’ interl in CD’s hand
2.1 Ch. … yours.— 3.2] in CD’s hand

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-3174F,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-3174F