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To Friend Lewin   16 April [1872]1

Down, | Beckenham, Kent.

April 16

My dear Sir

I have just discovered that at a more distant station viz Chiselhurst on the same line there is a rather later train, viz one leaving at 9o 34’, but Chiselhurst is a full hour’s drive from my house.

If not inconvenient to you & Dr. Maudsley, will you return by this train, which will give us nearly 1,34 hour instead of only a full hour. I can send you in my carriage to Chiselhurst Station. So if this suits you, do not keep your Fly from Orpington; but you can take return tickets, as the 2 stations are on the same line.—2

In Haste | Yours sincerely | Ch. Darwin

I am sure you & Dr. Maudsley will allow me to leave the room for quarter of an hour, if my head fails me.—

The 9o. 34’ Train from Chiselhurst reaches Charing Cross at 10o, 11’

1
The year is established by a reference to the visit of Friend Lewin and Henry Maudsley in Emma Darwin’s diary (DAR 242) for 17 April 1872.
2
Chislehurst and Orpington were on the South Eastern Railway line; Chislehurst is about four miles and Orpington eight miles from Down. See also letter from Henry Maudsley, 6 November 1872.

Manuscript Alterations and Comments

1.1 a more] after del ‘the’
1.1 viz Chiselhurst] interl
1.2 Chiselhurst] interl
1.3 from my house] above del ‘to it.’
2.00 nearly] interl

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-8289,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-8289