Ɛpsilon

To Charles Lyell   [9 November 1873 or 26 April or 6 December 1874]1

2. Bryanston St | Portman Sqre

Sunday Evening

My dear Lyell

Would it suit you for me to call on you on Wednesday morning about 9 12 to 10 oclock.— But if any other hour would be more convenient, or any other day, please let me know. Perhaps it will save you trouble by my settling to come at the above time if I do not hear to the contrary2

My dear Lyell | Yours most truly | Ch. Darwin

P.S | I have just recollected that my Doctor3 calls here on Tuesday morning, so that I have altered the day to Wednesday

1
The dates are established by the address and by the fact that Lyell died in February 1875 (ODNB). CD first stayed with his daughter Henrietta Emma Darwin at 2 Bryanston Street, London, from 8 to 18 November 1873, and then from 21 to 29 April 1874 and 3 to 12 December 1874 (see ‘Journal’ (Appendix II) and Correspondence vol. 22, Appendix II). The letter could have been written on 9 November 1873 or 26 April or 6 December 1874, all Sundays followed by a Wednesday when CD was still in London.
2
Emma Darwin’s diary (DAR 242) records that Lyell met with CD when he was in London on Monday 10 November 1873 and Friday 4 December 1874.
3
CD was under the treatment of Andrew Clark (see letter to Charles Lyell, 24 September 1873 and n. 8).

Manuscript Alterations and Comments

1.1 Wednesday] above del ‘Tuesday’

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-8715,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-8715