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Darwin Correspondence Project

To James Geikie   [after 15 December 1881]1

[4 Bryanston Street, London.]

My dear Sir

I can entertain no doubt that you are excellently fitted to fill the chair of Geology in the U. of Edinburgh.2 I have read with care & great interest your two last works relating on the later geological periods which are probably the most difficult of all to investigate;3 & after reading these works, I am convinced that you will be able to excite in the minds of all students a keen interest in the science of Geology, & this is the corner-stone in the work of teaching.—

Earnestly wishing you success, I remain | my dear Sir | yours very faithfully | Ch. D

Footnotes

The date is established by the relationship between this letter and the letter from James Geikie, 15 December 1881.
Geikie had written two major works on the origin of surface features and their formation during glacial periods (J. Geikie 1874 and J. Geikie 1881).

Bibliography

Geikie, James. 1874. The great ice age and its relation to the antiquity of man. London: W. Isbister.

Geikie, James. 1881. Prehistoric Europe: a geological sketch. London: Edward Stanford.

Summary

Testimonial letter stating his belief in JG’s suitability for the Chair of Geology at Edinburgh.

Letter details

Letter no.
DCP-LETT-13553
From
Charles Robert Darwin
To
James Murdoch (James) Geikie
Sent from
unstated
Source of text
DAR 202: 103v
Physical description
ADraftS 2pp

Please cite as

Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 13553,” accessed on 28 March 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-13553.xml

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