Ɛpsilon

From Henry Johnson   31 January 1868

Shrewsbury

Jan 31 | 1868

My dear Darwin,

I see by the Papers that one of your sons has greatly distinguished himself at Cambridge.1 I know how great the pleasure of this must be to you—& I cannot help writing a line to tell you how glad I am & how much I congratulate you. The natural-hereditary talent of your family is not extinct, but is cropping out in a new direction.

I dare say you know that I have lost a dear Son (Herbert)   He was just ready to go in for his moderations & did so—but could not do what he ought—being at the time too ill to attempt it— if I had only known it.2

I dare say you are still working at your various & interesting pursuits Geology, Zoology &c   You have acquired for yourself a world wide reputation. It must be very pleasant to look back upon your former days of travel.

I hope you are better. Will you never come to Shrewsbury.— where there is now no one of your name?3

Yours | very | sincerely | Henry Johnson

1
George Howard Darwin was second in the final examination for the mathematical tripos at Cambridge (Cambridge University calendar 1868).
2
Herbert Johnson matriculated at Christ Church, Oxford in 1864 (Alum. Oxon.). Moderations are the first public examination taken in certain faculties of Oxford University for the degree of BA (OED).
3
CD’s elder sister, Susan Elizabeth Darwin, was the last member of CD’s immediate family to live in Shrewsbury. She had continued to live at The Mount, the family home, until her death in October 1866.

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-5824,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-5824