Ɛpsilon

To Edward Blyth   14 September [1869]1

Down. | Beckenham | Kent. S.E.

Septr 14th

My dear Mr. Blyth.

Very many thanks for your attempts to find out about the Mandrills:2 I have written to several Zoolog. Gardens on the continent, but with no success.—3 I have got from Sir W. Elliot & others some information about Indian Boar & Elephant confirming your impression.—4

I am very sorry to hear that you have been so badly treated by the manager of L. & W.5 He has cut his own throat; for to my mind your articles were incomparably the best which appeared. I left off taking in L. & W. a little time ago, for I found I had not time to read so many periodicals; but I have doubted since whether I was wise, & this was exclusively on account of your articles.

Anyhow the case is now decided. I must think about the Field.6

With many thanks | Yours sincerely | C. Darwin

1
The year is established by the relationship between this letter and the letter from Edward Blyth, 13 September 1869.
4
CD cited William Elliot on the wild boar in Descent 1: 267. See letters from Walter Elliot, 7 August 1869 and 7 September 1869.
5
CD refers to Land and Water; see letter from Edward Blyth, 13 September 1869.
6
Blyth had started writing for the Field.

Manuscript Alterations and Comments

0.1 Beckenham] before del ‘Bromley.’
2.4 have] interl

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-6891,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-6891