Darwin, C. R. to Cresy, Edward, Jr
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Declines to canvass for Richard King.
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Water-cure has benefited health.
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Transcription
The Lodge, | Malvern.
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My dear Sir,
Your letter of the 22nd has been forwarded to me here (from Down) where I have been staying since the 10th of March, under the cold water cure, which has benefitted my health to a very considerable extent.
Dr. King from all that you say, from his testimonials and his writings, has, I am sure, my best good wishes, but it is really impossible that I can canvass for a man not personally known to me. I fully appreciate the kindness of your feelings and your gratitude to Dr. King for his attentions to you, but, I think, a moment's reflexion will show you how a strange it would appear to any third person for me to canvass with only second hand information. I return the documents to save the trouble of copies. I return home by beginning of next month, and shd. I see Owen, I will mention what you say of Dr. King, but his name must be pretty well known to everyone. I can only repeat with sincerity that he has my good wishes.
I hope that your Father is well. In Haste, | Yours sincerely,
C. Darwin.
Sunday morning.
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- f1 1238.f1
The Sunday after Edward Cresy's letter, as mentioned by CD, and the last Sunday that CD spent at Malvern before his return to Down on 30 June (‘Journal’; Correspondence vol. 4, Appendix I). - +
- f2 1238.f2
Cresy had solicited CD's opinion of Richard King's views on Arctic expeditions earlier. See second letter to Edward Cresy, [before May 1848?]. - +
- f3 1238.f3
The canvassing may have been in support of King's proposal to lead a search for John Franklin. In 1850 he was appointed assistant surgeon with the H.M.S. Resolute expedition. - +
- f4 1238.f4
Richard Owen.