To J. W. Lubbock 27 May [1856]1
Down
May 27th
Dear Sir John Lubbock
I hope that you will forgive me troubling you, & this note requires no answer.— I believe that you are interested in the University of London & have influence there.— My friend, Mr. Huxley F.R.S. is a candidate for the Examinership in Physiology & Comp: Anatomy vacant by Dr. Carpenter’s resignation.—2 He has asked me to write in his favour, & I can do this most conscientiously, for his merits in these particular branches of Natural Science, are of the highest order.3 I think if you will ask your Son he will agree with me in this.—4
He is Palæontologist in the Museum of Practical Geology, & they have never selected any but the best men.— He has lately been lecturing on Physiology at the Royal Institution. He has published several papers in the Phil: Transact, on comparative anatomy which papers were honoured by the Royal Medal, & have been translated into German.— His acquaintance with foreign literature in Nat. History is remarkably accurate & extensive. And lastly he gained when a medical Student in London the Gold Medal for Physiology.5
I hope that you will forgive my bringing Mr. Huxley’s claims to your attention, & pray believe me, | Your’s very sincerely | Ch. Darwin
I was extremely sorry that I was not able to come to dinner yesterday.—
Footnotes
Bibliography
DNB: Dictionary of national biography. Edited by Leslie Stephen and Sidney Lee. 63 vols. and 2 supplements (6 vols.). London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1912. Dictionary of national biography 1912–90. Edited by H. W. C. Davis et al. 9 vols. London: Oxford University Press. 1927–96.
EB: The Encyclopædia Britannica. A dictionary of arts, sciences, literature and general information. 11th edition. 29 vols. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1910–11.
Pingree, Jeanne. 1968. Thomas Henry Huxley: a list of his scientific notebooks, drawings and other papers, preserved in the college archives. London: Imperial College of Science and Technology, University of London. [Vols. 6,11]
Summary
Asks JWL to use his influence to forward the appointment of T. H. Huxley to the Examinership in Physiology and Comparative Anatomy at University of London. Gives details of THH’s qualifications.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-1877
- From
- Charles Robert Darwin
- To
- John William Lubbock, 3d baronet
- Sent from
- Down
- Source of text
- The Royal Society (LUB: D23)
- Physical description
- ALS 3pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 1877,” accessed on 26 September 2022, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-1877.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 6