To W. E. Darwin 4 August [1881]1
6. Q. Anne St
Augt 4th
My dear William.—
I enclose Bacon’s letter.2 The case seems simpler about the guarantee as the money is wanted for works in progress. Let me hear when you hear from Langton,3 & then if you keep of the same opinion I will take the shares & pay first call, & afterwards sell out, if calls are too frequent—
My luncheon was a failure, as there was an immense crowd of all the greatest scientific swells & much delay & I was half dead before luncheon began—4 I sat close opposite to the Prince, & between Virchow & Donders,5 who both spoke bad English incessantly & this completed my killing.— I was a fool to go, but I could hardly have declined.— The Prince spoke only a few civil words to me.
The Crown Prince of Germany was there, to whom I was presented, & he looks a very nice & sensible & fine man.6 Huxley7 was standing near when I was introduced to half a dozen high & mighty savants, & he then said to Paget, “pray introduce me to Mr Darwin”. & bowed to me like a foreigner until his back was horizontal.
Good Bye | my dear old William | C. Darwin
I hope Sara may be able to come to us on the Sunday.8 Order her!!
Footnotes
Summary
Reports on a luncheon of scientific savants at which the Crown Prince of Germany [and Prince of Wales?] were present.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-13274
- From
- Charles Robert Darwin
- To
- William Erasmus Darwin
- Sent from
- London, Queen Anne St, 6
- Source of text
- DAR 210.6: 181
- Physical description
- ALS 2pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 13274,” accessed on 5 October 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-13274.xml