From B. J. Sulivan 29 December 1875
Bournemouth
Decr. 29. 75
My dear Darwin
Many happy returns of the season to you and yours. I was very glad to hear a pretty good report of your health from your son who was here a short time since.1 We have been very busy since our summer trip, in moving from our old house, which I sold, to one more suitable for old people, being of two stories only instead of four. I built it six years since and let it till we wanted it for ourselves.2
I have not heard of our old shipmates lately except Hammond—who had been very ill for a few days owing to a drain being foul but not found out in time.3 I heard from King about a month since— he and his wife very well.4
Poor Mr. Langton bears up very well under his heavy trial— his comfort seems to be taking care of the dear little children, Mrs. L having gone to Cannes.5
My youngest brother, late Captn. of London. has just returned, having been dismissed his ship, because their Lordships think he did not show “consideration” enough for a chaplain who had been insulting him for a year because he would not allow the morning service to Ritualistic or vestments with crosses to be worn, though he allowed a second service later in the day with all these kind of things the parson chose to carry on.6 As all the insults were proved at a Court of Inquiry—and written falsehoods—as well as taking liberties with black girls also against this precious parson they were obliged to dismiss him—and to please their Ritualistic friends I suppose dismissed Captain also—without any offence or misconduct of any kind ever being alleged against him. A thing unheard of before.
Then to make it worse they superseed the Captain immediately, but only nominally dismiss the chaplain as he is still serving on the ship.7
My brother has applied for a Court Martial & will insist on it—
My wife8 joins me in kind regards to Mrs Darwin.
Believe me | very sincerely yours | B. J. Sulivan
Footnotes
Bibliography
Aust. dict. biog.: Australian dictionary of biography. Edited by Douglas Pike et al. 14 vols. [Melbourne]: Melbourne University Press. London and New York: Cambridge University Press. 1966–96.
Correspondence: The correspondence of Charles Darwin. Edited by Frederick Burkhardt et al. 29 vols to date. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1985–.
Lloyd, Christopher. 1968. The Navy and the slave trade: the suppression of the African slave trade in the nineteenth century. London: Frank Cass & Co.
Navy list: The navy list. London: John Murray; Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. 1815–1900.
O’Byrne, William R. 1849. A naval biographical dictionary: comprising the life and services of every living officer in Her Majesty’s Navy, from the rank of admiral of the fleet to that of lieutenant, inclusive. London: John Murray.
Summary
BJS has just moved.
Gives the information he has of their old shipmates.
Tells of his brother’s misfortunes.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-10331
- From
- Bartholomew James Sulivan
- To
- Charles Robert Darwin
- Sent from
- Bournemouth
- Source of text
- DAR 177: 302
- Physical description
- ALS 7pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 10331,” accessed on 18 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-10331.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 23