Ɛpsilon

From George Varenne Reed   15 August 1864

Hayes Rectory | S.E.

Augt. 15. 1864

My dear Sir.

I was rejoiced to see your handwriting again.1 I scarcely know how to reply to your letter but perhaps if I name 12 guineas, you will not deem it encroaching, for of course time is valuable.2

I hope Horace is making progress, but his mind is so far advanced, that grounding which he requires, is sad drudgery to him, especially as his health is not very strong.3

I am as pleased with his visits as he is, but on hot days he has occasionally been unequal to much exertion,—but I hope, as the weather gets cooler he will have greater energy.

With our mutual kind regards | I remain | Yours very ⁠⟨⁠truly⁠⟩⁠ | G V Reed

1
CD’s letter to Reed has not been found.
2
Reed refers to an enquiry from CD concerning fees for tutoring CD’s son, Horace Darwin. An entry in CD’s Account book–cash account (Down House MS) for 16 August 1864 records a payment to Reed of £12 12s. for services between 19 April and 19 July.
3
Horace was ill during much of 1863 and 1864 (see Correspondence vol. 11 and this volume).

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-4591,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-4591