Ɛpsilon

To R. B. Sharpe   24 November [1874]1

My dear Sir,—

From the well-known value of your several contributions to ornithology, & for the extraordinary zeal, which you have for many years shown in the pursuit of natural science, I can not entertain the least doubt that you are well fitted to fill a higher post in the B. Museum, & that you will there do excellent service.—2

With my best wishes for your success | I am my dr S | Your vy faithfully | C. D

R. B. Sharpe— | Nov 24

ADraftS

1
The year is established by the relationship between this letter and the letter from R. B. Sharpe, 23 November 1874.
2
Sharpe had asked CD to support his application for promotion at the British Museum. See letter from R. B. Sharpe, 23 November 1874.

Manuscript Alterations and Comments

1.1 From] after ‘*I have much pleasure in expressing my opinion, [del red crayon] that [del blue crayon below ‘formed’ blue crayon, del blue crayon] *from the extraordinary zeal you have shown for many years in pursuing natural [del; ‘pursuing’ above del ‘furthering’] History, [del blue crayon]’
1.1 well-known] interl
1.1 several] above del ‘many’
1.1 for the] after del red crayon ‘more [interl] especially’
1.2 for many] after del blue crayon ‘now’
1.2 the pursuit of] blue crayon above del blue crayon ‘pursuing’
1.3 can … doubt] underl blue crayon
1.3 not] interl red crayon
1.3 the least] red crayon, above del ‘no’
1.3 well] blue crayon above del ‘wholly’
1.4 excellent] red crayon above del red crayon ‘real good’; ‘real’ also del blue crayon
3.1 R. … 24] added red crayon

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-9731,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-9731