Ɛpsilon

To G. H. Lewes   [13 November 1868]1

6. Queen Anne St.

Friday 9o P.M.

My dear Mr Lewes

Your note to Down has just reached me.— I am sure I have quite as strong a wish to see you, as you can have to see me.— I have to call on Sir C. Lyell tomorrow morning & sit with him at breakfast at 912 & shall try & stay only 34 of hour; & then, as I think you will excuse so early a call, I will come on to you, & so shall be there at 1012—to 11.—

But I must just add that my movements are always doubtful & if I do not appear by 11, you will understand that my tiresome head has failed me.—

I am engaged on Sunday morning, otherwise I wd not have proposed to call at such a time, & we go home quite early on Monday:2 almost every afternoon I am good for nothing in this world.

Forgive these tedious particulars—

yours very sincerely | C. Darwin

I hope this note will reach you before I call.—

1
The date is established by the relationship between this letter and the letter from G. H. Lewes, 12 November 1868. In 1868, the Friday following 12 November was 13 November.
2
CD was in London from 7 to 16 November 1868 (see ‘Journal’ (Correspondence vol. 16, Appendix II)). His Sunday engagement was with Thomas Henry Huxley (see letter from T. H. Huxley, 13 November 1868).

Manuscript Alterations and Comments

0.2 Friday] after del ‘Satu’
2.2 by] after del ‘at’

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-6459,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-6459