Ɛpsilon

To Neil Arnott   29 August [1861]1

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

Aug. 29th

My dear Sir

On my return home after a two months’ absence in Devonshire,2 on Tuesday night I found lying here the “Survey of Human Progress”,3 which you have very kindly sent me. I fear it has been lying here for some time. I am very glad to see that you have kept your intention of publishing on this grand & interesting subject & I hope in a few days to read your work.4

I thank you sincerely for sending me a copy & with much respect, I [ … ] remain My dear Sir | Yours sincerely | Charles Darwin

1
The year is established by the reference to CD’s stay in Devon and by the date of publication of Arnott’s book (see nn. 2 and 3, below).
2
CD was in Torquay, Devon, during July and August 1861 (see Correspondence vol. 9, Appendix II).
3
Arnott 1861 was published in August 1861 (Publishers’ Circular, 15 August 1861, p. 373).
4
After receiving a pamphlet from Arnott on human progress, CD had encouraged him to write a book on the subject (see Correspondence vol. 8, letter to Neil Arnott, 16 February [1860?] and n. 3).

Manuscript Alterations and Comments

1.2 here] corrected from ‘there’

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-3237F,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-3237F