To John Lubbock [25 May 1861]1
[Down]
Saturday night
My dear Lubbock
I have been thinking much of your communication about the Bank.2 I was so astonished at it, that I did not collect my wits enough to ask all that I might.— I have just written a long letter to William, & that has made me feel that I have hardly given him data for even a first impression. I know that it is quite likely that the place may be already filled up; but it seems so good an offer as to be well worth deliberation.—
I shd. very much like to ask you a few more questions. I do not like to ask you to call here, so if you will appoint any time whatever tomorrow I will drive down to High Elms, if you can see me.—3 Just send verbal message at what hour.
It was extremely kind in you to think of William, but whether he will be inclined to give up the Law (as I should do under his circumstances), which he thinks he shall like, I know not.—
Yours very sincerely obliged | Ch. Darwin
I can with entire truth say of William that he has excellent sound practical sense & judgment. Though not very clever he was in VI form at Rugby & has got scholarship at Cambridge;4 & has always borne good character at School. He has been steady & never extravagant. I never saw a shade of feeling bordering on untruthfulness or deceit in him. He is energetic in all his pursuits.—
Footnotes
Bibliography
Correspondence: The correspondence of Charles Darwin. Edited by Frederick Burkhardt et al. 29 vols to date. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1985–.
Summary
Discusses the possibility of a banking job for William [Darwin]; wishes to meet JL to discuss the prospects.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-3158
- From
- Charles Robert Darwin
- To
- John Lubbock, 4th baronet and 1st Baron Avebury
- Sent from
- Down
- Source of text
- DAR 263: 41 (EH 88206485)
- Physical description
- ALS 4pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 3158,” accessed on 12 September 2023, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-3158.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 9