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Darwin Correspondence Project

From J. T. Austen   30 May 1863

Slape House | Netherbury— | Beaminster— Dorset

May 30— 1863

My dear Sir,

I ⁠⟨⁠inclose⁠⟩⁠ you Dennen’s letter which I have just received.1 I do so because it wd give me a good deal of trouble to epitomize the contents of it, but I must request you to consider it private, for it is a stupid letter and if made use of would raise perhaps an unfair prejudice against him, it was written to me certainly in confidence— I have told him in reply that the case is simply this— The Savings Bank is founded to protect the savings of the poor, to induce & enable them to invest their savings where they will be secure instead of risking them with adventurers for the sake of hig⁠⟨⁠her⁠⟩⁠ interest, and therefore he o⁠⟨⁠ug⁠⟩⁠ht not to have made such a pr⁠⟨⁠op⁠⟩⁠osition to Percival—2 I have not in⁠⟨⁠s⁠⟩⁠isted on knowing who the partie⁠⟨⁠s were⁠⟩⁠ to whom the money was to hav⁠⟨⁠e⁠⟩⁠ been lent, because perhaps it would be a breach of confidence on his part to disclose the name—

It appears to me that he has been only very stupid; perhaps you will kindly let me know whether you think the matter ought to be formally brought to the knowledge of the Trustees.3 I would not bring it forward as a charge against the poor little man, but merely as a matter which ought to be noticed. I am almost of opinion that if you do not mind the trouble, it wd be well for Dennen to call on you when convenient to you to see him and then you might obtain from him such explanation as you think it right he should give. He has certainly done the work of the Bank carefully and well. he appears to be trustworthy. by the system now adopted at the Bank no money passes through his hands, he does not in any way intervene between the Depositor & the Manager and he has in no instance that I am aware of sought to do so   he understands accounts— any public en⁠⟨⁠qu⁠⟩⁠iry into this business would certainly so far prejudice him as to lose him support in any application for employment in a responsible situation. I therefore would not publish this affair without due consideration, & hope you will not do so—

I remain | my dear Sir | yrs very truly | John Thos. Austen.4

Chas. Darwin Esqre

Footnotes

The letter from George Dennen to Austen has not been found. See letters from J. T. Austen, 27 May 1863 and 29 May 1863.
This individual has not been identified.
CD and Austen were trustees of the Savings Bank, High Street, Bromley (see letter from J. T. Austen, 3 June 1863). For an account of the bank’s history, see Horsburgh 1980.
Austen appended a postscript to this letter, but failed to enclose it. It was sent with the letter from J. T. Austen, 3 June 1863.

Bibliography

Horsburgh, E. L. S. 1980. Bromley, Kent: from the earliest times to the present century, compiled from materials collected from original sources by various hands. Reprint edition. Chislehurst, Kent: Lodgemark Press.

Summary

Sends letter from G. Dennen. GD improperly proposed to a depositor, Percival, to lend his savings at 10% to Dennen’s brother; asks CD whether matter should be brought before bank trustees.

Letter details

Letter no.
DCP-LETT-4195
From
John Thomas Austen
To
Charles Robert Darwin
Sent from
Netherbury
Source of text
DAR 159: 131
Physical description
ALS 7pp damaged

Please cite as

Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 4195,” accessed on 28 March 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-4195.xml

Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 11

letter