Ɛpsilon

To C. L. Balch   15 April 1871

Down Beckenham, Kent, S.E.,

April 15, 1871

To Professor Charles L. Balch, Corresponding Secretary

New York Liberal Club.

Dear Sir:

I am much obliged for your extremely kind note and for the report of your lecture which you have been good enough to send.1 I am aware that I have but few supporters in your country. Should the Liberal Club do me the honor of electing me an honorary member I shall feel much flattered.

Would you be so good as to say to Mr. McDonald2 that I enclose four photographs for his acceptance: but I should fear that it could never be worth his while to execute a bust of me.3

Pray believe me, dear sir, yours faithfully, Ch. Darwin.

1
Balch’s letter to CD has not been found. Balch gave a lecture about Descent to the New York Liberal Club on 3 March 1871 (New York Times, 4 March 1871, p. 8).
3
CD may have enclosed photographs taken in 1869 by Elliot & Fry (see Correspondence vol. 17, letter to A. R. Wallace, 5 December [1869]). His most recent payment for photographs was made to Elliot & Fry on 5 April 1870 (CD’s Account books–cash account (Down House MS)).

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-7687F,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-7687F