To W. D. Fox   [9 May 1830]

[Cambridge]

Sunday

My dear Fox

I am very sorry to find that all our plans are likely to vanish into air.— It is most unfortunate your being obliged to go with your Father & Mother to Cheltenham, for the weather is so fine, the beetles so numerous, our zeal so ardent that the Science would have received a benefit never to be forgotten.— But it is a shame to talk about would have taken place: let us think of the future.—

I am very much obliged for your invitation to Osmaston, but I do not see how it is possible for me to accept it My brother has returned from Shrewsbury to London, & I have agreeed to pay him a visit, which if I do not do, I shall not see him again for a good while.— And after that I really must proceed to “ ‘sweet home’ ”.— for my unfortunate relations have been bereaved of my presence, for eight long Months.— But I have a plan which will remove a good many dif- ficulties.— Why, in the name of providence, not pay me a visit in Salop??? You know how glad we all shall be to see you.— You can start early from Derby, so through Lichfield to Birmingham, & then per the Wonder1 to Shrews- bury, where at 11 oclock the same night you will arrive safe & sound, & make me glad by your sight.— What plan can be more easy or natural? It is too unreasonable even to Hope, that you will come to Cambridge for so short a time as four days, so that I shall not see till we meet at Shrewsbury. If you are half as eager as I am for that occurrence, you will not make any sort of excuse.— As soon as you return to Derby go to Mr Hey,2 & find the habitat Odontomyia & Dromius & promised specimens.—

My plans for the summer are totally undecided.— write soon be sure do not say no to Shrewsbury scheme else I will never forgive you.— till then, My dear old Fox | Yours very sincerely | C. D.

Wilmer has left Cambridge, & begged to be most kindly remembered to you.— he has sent to Baker for you a Falcon out of Norfolk.— I have got your prints.— Chapman send Ditto.—he is going abroad.— I took the other day Elater sanguineus. What do think of that? I have 19 species in genus Amara.—

I have seen a good deal of Henslow lately & the more I see of him the more I like him I have some thoughts of reading divinity with him the summer after next.3 Adieu

As far as to the Bembididæ, this in toto 339 species,4 out of which I have 208 of them— What do you think of that?

Postmark: C ⁠⟨⁠1⁠⟩⁠0 MY 10 1830

1
The London, Birmingham, Shrewsbury mail coach.
2
The Rev. Samuel Hey of Derbyshire, mentioned in Stephens 1828–46, Mandibulata 3: 373 as having rediscovered the rare Chrysomela cerealis (a synonym of Chrysolina cerealis) and as having directed ‘his friend and neighbour Mr. Fox to the locality’.
3
If John Maurice Herbert’s memory was accurate, CD’s plan to take orders represented a change in his religious convictions. Earlier, at about the time of the reading tour at Barmouth (letter to W. D. Fox, 12 [June 1828]), according to Herbert, CD had serious doubts about this career. Herbert remembered ‘an earnest conversation’ he had with CD ‘about going into Holy Orders; & I remember his asking me with reference to the question put by the Bishop in the Ordination service: “Do you trust that you are inwardly moved by the Holy Spirit &c” whether I could answer in the affirmative; & on my saying “I could not”, he said, “neither can I, & therefore I can not take orders.” ’ (Letter of reminiscences to Francis Darwin, 2 June 1882, DAR 112 (ser. 2): 63–4).
4
The number 339 corresponds to the number listed in Stephens 1829, 1: 36, after which the descriptions of the family Bembidiidae begin.

Manuscript Alterations and Comments

2.6 difficulties] after del ‘dif’
2.10 night] interl
point omitted after: 1.2 ‘with’; 1.4 ‘benefit’; 2.11 ‘sight—’; 3.1 ‘undecided—’; 3.2 ‘else’; 4.2 ‘Norfolk—’

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-80,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-80