Ɛpsilon

To the Linnean Society   4 March [1871]1

Down. | Beckenham | Kent. S.E.

March 4th

My dear Sir

I feel bound to obey the request of the Council of the Linn. Soc. & give my opinion of Mr M. Weale’s papers.2 From what I remember of them they will require great condensation. I am, however, so much fatigued by the publication of my book on the Descent of Man,3 that I really cannot bear the thought of the labour of condensation. I will, however make any suggestions which may occur to me.

Pray believe me, My dear Sir | Yours very sincerely | Ch. Darwin

1
The year is established by the reference to the publication of Descent (see n. 3, below).
2
CD had forwarded papers and drawings by James Philip Mansel Weale to the Linnean Society (see Correspondence vol. 18, letter to Richard Kippist, 28 July [1870]).
3
Descent was published on 24 February 1871 (see ‘Journal’ (Appendix II)).

Manuscript Alterations and Comments

0.1 Beckenham] before del ‘Bromley.’

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-7544,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-7544