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From Edward Wilson   12 February 1869

Hayes | Bromley, Kent.

12 Feby 1869

My dear Mr Darwin

For long past I have been promising myself a leisure day in which I could drive over & return you the wonderful book of the beavers, which you were so kind as to lend me.1 But one day it is “fund Committee of Society of Arts”, another “Council for Colonial Society” another “Emigration Association” & so on till one really never gets a day to oneself.2 “No rest but the grave” &c as the song says!3 I trust that I have not inconvenienced you or hindered the great work by retaining it? It is very interesting & the man himself quite an enthusiast in the cause of his most intelligent friends. The particulars of their dam-building are certainly most astonishing.

With kindest regards to Mrs Darwin & the young ladies4 I am Dear Sir | Yours very truly | Edw Wilson

1
Wilson refers to The American beaver and his works (Morgan 1868). CD’s annotated copy is in the Darwin Library–CUL.
2
Wilson was known for his philanthropic activities. He was a founder of the Colonial Society in 1868 and served as a member of the council (ODNB).
3
The final line of the song ‘Pilgrim of love’ by Henry Rowley Bishop was ‘No rest but the grave for the pilgrim of love’ (Bishop [1864]).
4
Wilson refers to Emma, Henrietta Emma, and Elizabeth Darwin.

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-6611,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-6611