From E. A. Greaves 3 January 1878
14 Pittville Parade, | Cheltenham
Jany. 3rd. 1878
Dear Sir,
Thanks to Parker’s dilatoriness the Picture had not been forwarded1 I sent off to Mr. Myers2 with the corrected address, and also called this morning upon Mr. P: I trust, the Portrait will arrive safely, it goes from me uninjured, & the more I examine it, I think that it will adorn either your own or your relations dining-room—
If it could speak, it would tell of its own travels and interesting history, 1st. at Ashborne, then over the chimney piece at Derby in Uncle Hadley’s dining-room afterwards in several migrations to residences with my esteemed & loved Aunt Hadley & more strange still to myself, and last to those who will value it for its ancestral worth—3 Glad as I am to see it so safely housed, I feel a little pang when I say farewell to the dear old painting— I received yr. handsome acknowledgment for it, but never was such a thing heard of as payment before the article received it is most kind & benevolent of you.4
I shall be glad to hear that Parker has duly attended to all directions—
At your leisure I shall be glad to learn your opinion of the painting. Wrights are I believe considered valuable, tho’ in his life-time he did not receive the commendation he ought to have done.
I send you another copy of my friend’s; I have another so pray accept it—5
Receive my best wishes for the New-Year & I hope that you may be spared many more to look on your justly famed ancestor— | I am dear Sir, | Yours truly, & obliged, | Elizth. A. Greaves
P.S. Parker’s men have just been for the Picture; and it will be sent off tomorrow morning, so that I trust you will receive it in the Eveng. in the same condition it went from here: I laid down very strict injunctions—& they will be answerable for any damage—
Footnotes
Bibliography
Correspondence: The correspondence of Charles Darwin. Edited by Frederick Burkhardt et al. 29 vols to date. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1985–.
Post Office directory of Gloucestershire, with Bath, Bristol, Herefordshire, and Shropshire: Post Office directory of Gloucestershire, with Bath, Bristol, Herefordshire, and Shropshire. Post Office directory of Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, and the City of Bristol. Post Office directory of Shropshire, Herefordshire, and Gloucestershire, with the City of Bristol. London: Kelly & Co. 1856–79.
Summary
The portrait of Erasmus Darwin by Wright of Derby has been dispatched.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-11309F
- From
- Elizabeth Anne Hadley/Elizabeth Anne Greaves
- To
- Charles Robert Darwin
- Sent from
- Cheltenham
- Source of text
- DAR 210.14: 12
- Physical description
- ALS 6pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 11309F,” accessed on 29 March 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-11309F.xml