From Henry Woodward 8 April 1880
129. LATE 117 Beaufort Street, | Chelsea, | London. S.W.
8 April 1880.
Dear Mr Darwin,
My chief Mr Waterhouse, under whom I have served in the Department of Geology & Palæontology for 22 years, has just tendered his resignation & in so doing has expressed his conviction of my fitness as his successor, & in this Prof. Owen concurs heartily.1 Nevertheless the matter has to be referred first to the Treasury & then to the three Principal Trustees with whom the Appointment rests: (The Archbishop of Canterbury, The Lord Chancellor & the Speaker.)2
I shall have presently to apply to these august persons, & to accompany my letter by suitable Testimonials. May I venture to ask the great favor of a few lines of commendation from you?
Since my Brother’s death, in 1865, the management of the Department has mainly rested upon me, & I have tried hard to carry out my official duties, & to contribute also my share to the Scientific work of the day. My Mon: on the Merostomata in the Pal. Soc. my numerous papers in the Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc. in the Geol. Mag., & elsewhere show what I have done.3
I was elected to the Royl. Socy in 1873., & made an Hon. LL.D. of St Andrews in 1878.,
If I am appointed I shall aim to make the Palæontological Collections in the New Museum the best arranged & most instructive series to be seen anywhere.
With kindest regards, | Believe me, Dear Mr Darwin | yours very sincerely | Henry Woodward
Footnotes
Bibliography
Woodward, Henry. 1866–78. A monograph of the British fossil Crustacea, belonging to the order Merostomata. London: Palaeontographical Society.
Summary
Seeks testimonial, as he is applying for the Keepership of Geology at the British Museum.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-12568
- From
- Henry Woodward
- To
- Charles Robert Darwin
- Sent from
- Chelsea
- Source of text
- DAR 181: 151
- Physical description
- ALS 3pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 12568,” accessed on 28 March 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-12568.xml