Ɛpsilon

From Benjamin Collins Brodie   9 June 1870

Cowley house, | Oxford.

June 9. 1870.

Dear Sir.

As I hear that you may possibly come to Oxford at the approaching Commemoration for the purpose of receiving the degree, which we hope to have the honour of conferring upon you.1 I venture to ask whether you would come and stay with me and make my house your home by bringing with you Mrs Darwin and your daughter.2 I have, I know, no particular right to make such a request. But I hope the common bond of scientific pursuits will justify the freedom which I take, and also so many of your friends are my friends also that I cannot but say it will be a great pleasure to me, if you will allow me to become known to you.3

I am, | very truly yours | BC Brodie

Charles Darwin Esqr.

2
Benjamin Collins Brodie (1817–80) refers to Emma and presumably Henrietta Emma Darwin.
3
Brodie was the Wayneflete Professor of chemistry at the University of Oxford (ODNB). Joseph Dalton Hooker had visited him in 1869 (see Correspondence vol. 17, letter from J. D. Hooker, 14 November 1869).

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-7225,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-7225