Ɛpsilon

To E. W. Brayley   8 May [1841]1

12 Upper Gower St

My dear Sir

I feel extremely obliged to you for your kindness in remembering and trouble in extracting the reference with respect to the Carb. of Lime. Owing to the state of my health it is very doubtful when I shall publish my geological memoranda but when I do, I do not doubt your references will be of valuable assistance to me.2 I feel much indebted for your kind expressions regarding my health and the few facts which I have contributed towards the complex mass composing geological Science3

Believe me dear Sir | Yours very truly | Ch Darwin

May 8th. Saturday

1
The year is established by the address and day of the week; CD lived at 12 Upper Gower Street from 31 December 1838 until 14 September 1842 (Correspondence vol. 2, Appendix II). During that period, 8 May fell on a Saturday only in 1841.
2
In Volcanic islands, p. 6 n., CD thanked Brayley for references suggesting that the retention of carbonic acid gas (carbon dioxide) by carbonate of lime (calcium carbonate) had more to do with the surrounding atmosphere than with pressure. Volcanic islands was published in 1844; CD had worked on it intermittently since October 1837 (Correspondence vol. 2, Appendix II). In his Geology notebook A, 41e, CD noted: ‘Mr Brayley says he can give me facts respecting lime being heated without parting with Carb. Acid.—’ (Notebooks, p. 96). CD used the notebook between 1837 and 1839 (Notebooks, p. 6).
3
Brayley’s letter has not been found. CD’s paper ‘Distribution of the erratic boulders’ had been read at the Geological Society of London on 8 May 1841; CD probably did not attend in person (Correspondence vol. 2, letter to William Lonsdale, 14 April [1841]).

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-598F,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-598F