Ɛpsilon

To S. P. Woodward   [14 January 1843]

Down near Bromley | Kent

Saturday

Dear Sir

Would you oblige me by getting the following specimens, ready for my inspection on Wednesday Morning1 about 12 oclock—viz. a set of obsidian & other allied rocks, presented to the Soc: in 1838 by Mr Edmonds, from Mexico—2 Would you also have ready for me ‘Dolimieu Voyage aux isles de Lipari’3

Perhaps, I may not be able to come till 2 oclock, but will you have them ready by 12 & I shall be much obliged.—

Your’s very faithfully | C. Darwin

Postmark: JA15 1843

1
CD was in London from 17 to 19 January 1843 (Emma Darwin’s diary (DAR 242)).
2
In Volcanic islands CD was concerned to explain the laminated structure of volcanic rocks such as obsidian. The specimens in question were collected by Frederick Edmonds in Mexico and sent to John Taylor, Treasurer of the Geological Society, who presented them to the Society (Proceedings of the Geological Society 2 (1833–8): 686). In Volcanic islands (p. 66 n.), CD referred to the collector as ‘Edwards’.
3
Dolomieu 1783. CD cited Dolomieu’s descriptions of laminated volcanic rocks in Volcanic islands (pp. 63–8).

Manuscript Alterations and Comments

1.4 Dolimieu] ‘o’ over ‘i’
1.4 de] over ‘des’
1.4 Lipari] 2‘i’ over ‘s’
3.1 Darwin] over ‘Woodw’

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-652,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-652