Ɛpsilon

To ?   [after June 1868]1

I received an excellent character of J. A.2 from a Lady residing at Reigate.—3 He has lived with me for the last six months footman, & leaves my service at his own request, as he prefers the situation of a porter.— During the time he has lived with me, he has been perfectly sober & honest, & has invariably shown himself in every way obliging to a remarkable degree.— [He is active & busy] & [enjoys] good health.

ADraft

1
The date is established by the entries in CD’s account books for James Archer (see n. 2, below).
2
James Archer was employed as a manservant at Down House in 1868; payments to Archer are listed in CD’s Account books–cash account and Classed accounts (Down House MSS) for April and June 1868.
3
The letter of reference has not been found. The ‘lady’ may be Frances Farrer, wife of Thomas Henry Farrer of Abinger Hall, Reigate, Surrey, and a relative of Fanny Wedgwood.

Manuscript Alterations and Comments

1.1 I received] after del ‘J.A. has resided in my’
1.2 for the last six months] interl after del ‘for’ illeg
1.2 footman] after del ‘as’
1.2 & leaves] after del ‘only a month’; ‘leaves’ above del ‘has left’
1.3 During] after del illeg
1.6 [He … health.] pencil, added above ‘has invariably shown’

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-5747,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-5747