From Alfred Wrigley   28 July 1868

Grammar School, | Clapham. S.

July 28. | 1868

My dear Mr Darwin

I thank you for the letter expressing your satisfaction at Leonard’s success.1 The result is highly creditable to his abilities and diligent application. He will enter Woolwich in the best condition for securing ultimately the highest distinctions conferred by the Royal Militar⁠⟨⁠y⁠⟩⁠ Academy—for the place ha⁠⟨⁠s⁠⟩⁠ been won without the aid of Classics which cease, on the admission of a Candidate, t⁠⟨⁠o⁠⟩⁠ aid him with ‘marks’. The objects he must now aim at securing are “The Pollock Medal” and “First Engineer”.2

On parting with Leonard I would express in strong terms my testimony to his docility and intelligence, his genial good-nature and uniform good conduct.

I remain | My dear Sir | Yours faithfully | Alfred Wrigley

Charles Darwin Esqre.

1
CD’s letter to Wrigley has not been found; however, see the letter to Horace Darwin, 26 [July 1868] and n. 2.
2
The Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, was the training establishment for the Royal Engineers. The Pollock Medal was presented twice a year to the most distinguished cadet at Woolwich (Memoir … to illustrate the origin and foundation of the Pollock Medal (Woolwich: Boddy and Co., Military Publishers, 1875)).

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-6294,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-6294