To J. W. Lubbock 28 March [1854]
Down.
March 28th
Dear Sir John
I am very sorry to find myself in opposition to you regarding the appointment of a Guardian,1 which I heard of only on Saturday night. When I nominated Mr. Innes,2 I had not the least idea that the place was desired by anyone, or that there was any chance of opposition, otherwise assuredly I would first have consulted you. From all I have seen of Mr Innes’ conduct towards the poor & sick, I think he would make an excellent Guardian.—
I may mention that last year Mr. Innes asked me whether I would stand as Guardian, & when I refused, he proposed to me to nominate him, which I did,—he having heard from Mr. W. Fox Junr.,3 that Mr. Smith4 wished to resign. This proved to be a misapprehension on Mr. Fox’s part; & as soon as Mr Innes heard this, he withdrew my nomination, & in place sent in a fresh nomination for Mr. Smith.— Under these circumstances Mr. Innes is not now willing to withdraw.— I have now told you everything about the transaction, as far as I know or am concerned with it.—
Perhaps you will attend the Vestry,5 where I hope to be tomorrow, & will communicate with me on the subject.
Pray believe me dear Sir John, | Your’s faithfully | Charles Darwin Sir John W. Lubbock Bart | &c &c
You will, I suppose, have heard that Mr Smith of Down Court has likewise been nominated as Guardian by Mr. Ainslie.—6
Footnotes
Bibliography
OED: The Oxford English dictionary. Being a corrected re-issue with an introduction, supplement and bibliography of a new English dictionary. Edited by James A. H. Murray, et al. 12 vols. and supplement. Oxford: Clarendon Press. 1970. A supplement to the Oxford English dictionary. 4 vols. Edited by R. W. Burchfield. Oxford: Clarendon Press. 1972–86. The Oxford English dictionary. 2d edition. 20 vols. Prepared by J. A. Simpson and E. S. C. Weiner. Oxford: Clarendon Press. 1989. Oxford English dictionary additional series. 3 vols. Edited by John Simpson et al. Oxford: Clarendon Press. 1993–7.
Post Office directory of the six home counties: Post Office directory of the six home counties, viz., Essex, Herts, Kent, Middlesex, Surrey and Sussex. London: W. Kelly & Co. 1845–78.
Summary
Distressed to find himself in conflict with JWL on appointment of a Guardian [for the parish].
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-1563
- From
- Charles Robert Darwin
- To
- John William Lubbock, 3d baronet
- Sent from
- Down
- Source of text
- The Royal Society (LUB: D20)
- Physical description
- ALS 4pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 1563,” accessed on 26 September 2022, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-1563.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 5