Ɛpsilon

To J. S. Burdon Sanderson   24 [April 1875]1

Down, | Beckenham, Kent. | Railway Station | Orpington. S.E.R.

24th. Evening

My dear Sanderson

I have seen Sir John. He thinks L. Playfair wd be the best man to present the petition, as he attends to medical subjects; but if Playfair objects on any grounds he will present it.2 He doubts about wisdom of any petition.— I showed him our bill & he thought this a far more important & useful proceeding, & suggested an alteration in Title & Preamble, giving it a more humanitarian aspect, & he thought this not a little important.— I have written to Litchfield & told him Sir John’s suggestion.—3

Sir J. thinks it wd be better that petition shd be presented to both Houses of Parliament.—

Yours very sincerely | Ch. Darwin

Will you ask L. Playfair?

1
The year and month are established by the relationship between this letter and the letter from J. S. Burdon Sanderson, 23 April [1875].
2
CD refers to John Lubbock and Lyon Playfair and the petition to regulate vivisection (see letter to E. H. Stanley, 15 April 1875 and n. 2).

Manuscript Alterations and Comments

1.2 Playfair] above del ‘he’
1.3 He … petition.—] inserted
1.5 more] interl
1.6 have] after del ‘sh’

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-9948,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-9948