Ɛpsilon

To Frederick Bates   19 June [1868?]1

Down | Bromley | Kent. S. E.

June 19th

Dear Sir

I am very much obliged to you for your kindness. Though next spring will be rather late, I do not think it will be too late, & if in your power to send me some living specimens of Trox sabulosus, I shd. be greatly indebted to you.—2

With sincere thanks I remain, Dear Sir | Yours faithfully & obliged | Charles Darwin

1
The year is conjectured from the form of the address and from CD’s interest in stridulating insects, including Trox sabulosus, in 1868 (see, for example, letter from E. W. Janson, 4 June 1868, and letter to B. D. Walsh, 9 June 1868 and n. 5). By June 1869, CD’s postal address had changed to Down, Beckenham, Kent; also, he was away from home visiting Wales from 10 June to 31 July 1869 (Correspondence vol. 17, Appendix II).
2
The specimens appear not to have been sent until 1870 (see letter to Frederick Bates, 26 June [1870?] (Calendar no. 7245a)).

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-6787A,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-6787A