Ɛpsilon

To Lyon Playfair   [before 29 April 1875]1

Dear Sir

I have heard from P. H. that you would like to see the sketch of a bill,2 has been drawn up with the concurrence of some eminent physiologists, & which we think will wd serve to protect animals from needless suffering, & will not prevent the future progress of physiology.—

I have therefore enclosed a copy3 & beg leave to remain | Dear Sir | Yours faithfully | C. Darwin

L. Playfair

ADraftS

1
The date range is established by the date of the second printed draft of the vivisection bill (see n. 3, below) and by the relationship between this letter, the letter from Lyon Playfair, 29 April 1875, and the letter from J. S. Burdon Sanderson, 30 April [1875].
2
P. H.: Professor Huxley. In his letter of 21 April 1875, Thomas Henry Huxley had informed CD that Playfair wanted to know what was being done about the vivisection bill.
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 Playfair and Edward Cardwell in his letter to R. B. Litchfield, [24 April 1875].

Manuscript Alterations and Comments

1.1 has … of] interl after del ‘which’
1.2 which … will 1.3] above del ‘think’; after added & del ‘who had drawn up’
1.3 needless] above del ‘useless’
1.3 will] above del ‘would’
2.1 faithfully 2.2] after interl and del ‘very’

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-9909,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-9909