To George Gordon1 11 September [1860]
Down Bromley Kent
Sept 11th
Dear Sir
I hope that you will excuse the great liberty which I take in addressing you & begging a favour.—
Mr H. C. Watson informs me that you are the most likely man to be able to allow & willing to grant this favour.—2 I have been examining the minute structure of the rostellum of all British Orchids & am in consequence extremely anxious to see Goodyera. Is it in your power to send me a few fresh specimens? I know that it is a mere chance whether this rare plant grows near you. But if it does, & you would pack up a few specimens, in bud & flower, with damp moss round the cut off stems, packed in an old tin cannister & sent by Post (allowing me of course to repay postage) it would be a great favour. I hope in any case you will forgive the liberty, which I take in troubling you & I beg you not answer this, unless you can kindly send me the specimens.—3
With many apologies | I beg leave to remain | Dear Sir | Your obliged servant | Charles Darwin on account of health of my daughter I shall be compelled to go to sea-side in about 9 or 10 days.
Footnotes
Bibliography
Watson, Hewett Cottrell. 1835–7. The new botanist’s guide to the localities of the rarer plants of Britain. 2 vols. London. [Vols. 3,8]
Summary
Asks whether GG can provide a few fresh specimens of Goodyera.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-2911
- From
- Charles Robert Darwin
- To
- George Gordon
- Sent from
- Down
- Postmark
- SP 11 60
- Source of text
- Elgin Museum (Gordon Archive 60.13)
- Physical description
- ALS 3pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 2911,” accessed on 28 March 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-2911.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 8