Ɛpsilon

To Edward Cardwell   [before 29 April 1875]1

My Lord

I gathered some time ago from Dr. A Clark, & have since heard from others that you Lordship wished to know what physiologists thought on with respect to legislating on the subject of vivisection.2 A sketch of a bill concert with some eminent physiologists we have had a sketch of a bill drawn up, which we think will serve to protect animals from useless suffering, & will at the same time not interfere with the progress of physiology, a science which we are convinced will ultimately be of the greatest service to mankind.

I have, therefore thought that your Lordship wd like to see this sketch, which I take the liberty of enclosing.3

I beg leave to remain | obedient servt. C. D.

ADraftS

1
The date range is established by the relationship between this letter and the letter from Edward Cardwell, 29 April 1875.
2
Andrew Clark was CD’s physician. Thomas Henry Huxley had informed CD of Cardwell’s interest in the vivisection bill (see letter from T. H. Huxley, 21 April 1875).
3
CD probably sent the second draft of the vivisection bill, printed on 24 April 1875 (DAR 139.17: 32). CD said he was awaiting clean copies of the bill to send to Cardwell and Lyon Playfair in his letter to R. B. Litchfield, [24 April 1875].

Manuscript Alterations and Comments

1.1 time] after interl del ‘little’
1.1 ago] above del ‘since’
1.1 from others] above del ‘to the same effect’; ‘effect’ below del ‘quarter’
1.2 Lordship] interl
1.2 thought] added before del ‘thought’, below del ‘think’
1.2 with … on 1.3] interl
1.3 A … bill] above del ‘I have’
1.3 concert] after del ‘taken some [above del ‘advice’] pains in’
1.4 a sketch] after del ‘a b’
1.6 of physiology] after del illeg
1.6 , a … mankind 1.7] interl above del ‘which we all believe’
1.6 be of] after del ‘confer great benefit’
3.1 obedient] below del ‘Yours [illeg]’

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-9908,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-9908