To Lionel Smith Beale1 26 October [1861]2
Down. | Bromley. | Kent. S.E.
Oct. 26th
Dear Sir
Should the Subscribers determine to make a present to Mrs Queckett,3 I should have great pleasure in putting my name down for five Guineas:4 but I am sorry to say that I have, I suppose peculiar opinions in regard to Testimonials, & if the Subscribers determine on one, I must decline subscribing, as although I have a sincere respect for Prof. Queckett, in my judgment his scientific claims are not of that eminent merit deserving a public Testimonial. I am heartily sorry to differ from so many better judges than myself, but each man must act on his own judgment.— Under these circumstances it will not of course do to put my name down on the committee.5
Dear Sir | Yours faithfully | Charles Darwin
Footnotes
Bibliography
DNB: Dictionary of national biography. Edited by Leslie Stephen and Sidney Lee. 63 vols. and 2 supplements (6 vols.). London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1912. Dictionary of national biography 1912–90. Edited by H. W. C. Davis et al. 9 vols. London: Oxford University Press. 1927–96.
Summary
Subscribes to present for Mrs J. T. Quekett only on condition that no public testimonial is planned for JTQ.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-3300
- From
- Charles Robert Darwin
- To
- Lionel Smith Beale
- Sent from
- Down
- Source of text
- Scripps College, Denison Library (Perkins Autograph Letter Collection)
- Physical description
- ALS 3pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 3300,” accessed on
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 9
