To M. D. Conway   11 January [1873]1

Down Beckenham

Jan 11—

My dear Sir

I am very much obliged for your letter, dated Dec 24, but recd only a few days ago, with its very interesting details bearing on the subject of expression.2 I have long wished to have the pleasure of making your acquaintance. Would it be convenient to you to pay us a visit on Friday the 24th. & stay with us till the next day?3

In case we have the pleasure of seeing you I will mention that your best plan will be to leave Charing Cross Station by the 4.12 train for Orpington Station, where I will send to meet you.

We have asked Mr & Miss Norton with whom you are probably acquainted to come on the same day—4

I feel bound to add that owing to my state of health I am never able to talk long with any one; & I hope that you will excuse my occasionally leaving my guests.

Trusting that we may see you I remain | my dear Sir | Yours very faithfully | Ch. Darwin

LS

1
The year is established by the relationship between this letter and the letter from M. D. Conway, 24 December 1872 (Correspondence vol. 20).
3
According to Emma Darwin’s diary (DAR 242), Conway did arrive at Down on 24 January 1872.
4
Charles Eliot Norton is not mentioned in Emma Darwin’s diary (DAR 242) as visiting on 24 January; however, Henrietta Emma and Richard Buckley Litchfield, Frances Emma Elizabeth Wedgwood, and ‘Alice’ (possibly Alice Bonham-Carter) are mentioned. Jane Norton was at Down on 27 January 1873 (letter to J. D. Hooker, 27 January [1873] and n. 10).

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-8730,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-8730