From W. E. Darwin 6 January 1881
Bank, Southampton,
Jany 6th 1881
My dear Father,
I have seen our lawyer; he says that a gift during life unless the articles are actually handed over & taken possession of is not legally valid, and would only be evading legacy duty. He says also that a codicil is much better and more likely to prevent confusion than a letter to Exōrs, and that such a Codicil need be no longer than a letter.1
Also that there is no occasion to appoint new Trustees under the circumstances, so that I have written to ask if there is any objection to Southampton Dock Deb: Stock and to say that it be invested in his name.2
The Lawyer says the articles should be specified in the Codicil
They are I suppose
Family papers & deeds
Autograph Voyage of Beagle
" Memoirs3
Scientific Library
Portraits of C. Darwin
" E. Darwin4
" R Darwin5
" J. Wedgwood6
? Picture of Foxgloves7
? Portrait of Wm Darwin from Uncle Eras8
As to plate I do not know whether the Royal Society Medal Candle Sticks & Soup Tureen from your Father should be considered heirlooms.9
I have sent on your Memorandum to Leonard.10
What a grand Division it is; We are the luckiest children in the world.
I am very glad. I am coming on Saturday. | Your affect son | W. E. Darwin
CD annotations
Footnotes
Bibliography
Journal of researches: Journal of researches into the geology and natural history of the various countries visited by HMS Beagle, under the command of Captain FitzRoy, RN, from 1832 to 1836. By Charles Darwin. London: Henry Colburn. 1839.
‘Recollections’: Recollections of the development of my mind and character. By Charles Darwin. In Evolutionary writings, edited by James A. Secord. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2008.
Summary
Passes on legal advice.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-12980F
- From
- William Erasmus Darwin
- To
- Charles Robert Darwin
- Sent from
- Southampton
- Source of text
- Cornford Family Papers (DAR 275: 85)
- Physical description
- ALS 3pp †
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 12980F,” accessed on 26 September 2022, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-12980F.xml