The year is conjectured from CD’s having first written to Nevill the previous November, requesting her help in procuring orchid specimens (see Correspondence vol. 9, letters to D. F. Nevill, 12 November [1861] and 19 November [1861]).

CD probably refers to the second of the two letters from Nevill dated [before 22 January 1862].

In the first letter dated [before 22 January 1862], Nevill requested a photograph or lithograph of CD to hang in her sitting room. The photograph to which CD refers may have been one taken the previous year by his son, William Erasmus Darwin (see Correspondence vol. 9, letter to Asa Gray, 11 April [1861] and n. 19; the photograph is reproduced as the frontispiece to that volume). Since, however, it appears that CD did not send the photograph to Nevill personally, it may be that he had ordered her a copy of the photograph taken by Maull and Polyblank in about 1857 (Correspondence vol. 8, frontispiece). See also letter from E. A. Darwin, [April – May? 1862].