From J. R. Martin 22 February 1873
The | Artizans, Labourers, & General Dwellings Co., | Limited. 51, South John Street, | Liverpool,
Feby 22. 1873.
Dear Sir,
We held our annual Meeting in London last Saturday, which was well attended, & of a most cordial & unanimous character.1
The two chief points of interest were the declaration of a Dividend of 6 per cent, & the election of a new Director in the person of J. Thornton Hoskins Esq MA. of 9 Prince of Wales Terrace, Kensington W, who holds 120 shares.
I have much pleasure in handing you a copy of the new Report Balance Sheet, which I am sure you will peruse with great interest & satisfaction. Our paid up Capital (now exceeding £52.000) has been trebled during the past year, & has been considerably increased during the past fortnight, several of the leading Shareholders having doubled & some trebled their holdings, in appreciation of the sound & satisfactory Financial condition of the Company.2
Special reference is due to the London estate of the 1200 Houses we are building, we expect 500 will be ready for occupation by the end of August. We have already 600 Applicants upon our Books, of which number many intend to purchase their Houses. This is highly gratifying, for whilst it shows that the Working men cordially appreciate the opportunity we afford them of becoming the Owners of their Houses, it effectually secures the Company against any possible risk.
I beg to hand you a copy Report recently made upon our Manchester Houses by Mr. Hollis3 Agent to the Reverend Walter Sneyd MA. JP. of 55 Portland Place W. who has just added his name for 40 shares to our List. I am sure it will please you very much.
Your Dividend Warrant will be forwarded from the Head office in a few days.4
We require further Capital to carry out our projected Works. May I ask you kindly to increase your shares to fifteen, or Twenty?5
I am confident Capital cannot be more safely invested or more effectually made the instrument of ministering to the common good of the Industrious Classes.
I take the liberty to hand you an autograph note from Professor Geikie FRS. of Edinburgh, who has just increased his shares to 15. May I ask you kindly to return it with your valued reply?6
I beg to remain, Sir, | Your Most Humble & Obliged | Servant. | J Royle Martin.
To Charles R Darwin Esquire | FRS. LLD.
Footnotes
Bibliography
Artizans’ & General Properties Company Ltd. [1967.] Artizans Centenary: 1867–1967. [London]: Artizans’ & General Properties Company Ltd.
Correspondence: The correspondence of Charles Darwin. Edited by Frederick Burkhardt et al. 29 vols to date. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1985–.
Summary
CD is asked to increase his shares in the Artizans, Labourers, & General Dwellings Co. Ltd., which has trebled its capital in the last year and is paying a 6% dividend.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-8781
- From
- John Royle Martin
- To
- Charles Robert Darwin
- Sent from
- Liverpool
- Source of text
- DAR 171: 55
- Physical description
- ALS 4pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 8781,” accessed on
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 21
