The year is established by the record of payment in CD’s accounts (see n. 2, below).

An entry in CD’s Account books–cash account (Down House MS) for 29 March 1871 reads ‘Guthrie (Cupples)–£25’. The recipient of the letter is conjectured to be Thomas Guthrie, who was known for his philanthropic work (ODNB). Earlier CD had received a request from Cupples’s wife, Anne Jane Cupples, to write a letter supporting a memorial for Cupples to receive a government pension (see Correspondence vol. 18, letter from A. J. Cupples, [28 November 1870]). There is no record of the memorial having been presented to Parliament.