My dear Sir
I feel that I have no choice in complying with the request of the Council, which you have communicated to me in so very kind a manner, of remaining in the office, which at present I have the honour to hold.— I confess, however, it is with considerable reluctance, that I do this. Since receiving your letter, I have seen Mr Lyell and he tells me, he informed you, and the members of the Council, what I had frequently mentioned to him, the regret I felt at the necessity of tendering my resignation. But, as I had not been able to attend in my place during the last four meetings & saw no early prospect of doing so, and as during the last year I assure you, I have never once attended, without having suffered the next day, I felt that I had no other course to pursue.—
Under the arrangements, you have made, I will certainly attend as often as my health permits, but I beg you will have the kindness to bear in mind, that I am still anxious to resign, should you find anyone to occupy my place, & that I cannot hold the office, which although so honourable to me, I have found very irksome, beyond the next anniversary.—
With thanks for your kind expressions regarding my health. | Believe me | My dear Sir | Your’s very sincerely | Chas. Darwin
Please cite as “DCP-LETT-562,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on