From H. W. Bates   [17 April 1862]1

Gregory’s Hotel | Rupert Street [London]

Thursday evening

My Dear Sir

I could not resist your invitation2 & the beautiful weather, although I had made other arrangements for Easter, intending to have a trip South about the middle of next week. Nothing could be more delightful to me than to visit you. I have arrived so far, en route, & intend to take an early train for Bromley tomorrow3   I see a train from Pimlico at 9.55— I will try that & arriving at Bromley I shall get a boy to carry my bag & walk to Down having a great desire to loiter about the Kentish lanes— the county is quite new to me

I have been very poorly lately & shall be poor company

Yours sincerely | H W Bates

1
The date is established by reference to Bates’s visit to Down House from 18 to 21 April (see n. 3, below); the previous Thursday was 17 April 1862.
3
According to Emma Darwin’s diary (DAR 242), Bates arrived at Down House on 18 April 1862.

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-3511,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-3511