From William Kemp 24 November 1843
Galashiels
24th Novr.—1843
Sir
I have examined the paper sent for my approval, and I beg to say that I am more than pleased with the manner in which you have drawn it up. I beleave that it embraces all that is worth notice in the case, I do not think more could have been done even had you been witness to all concerning it.— I have not an idea, or a word to add, or take from it.—1
I thank you for a perusal of the Gardeners Chronicle, I have seen the article aluded to in the papers of the day but in that I admire the prudent caution given to su⟨b⟩stantiate by the clearest evidance any discovery of that nature. Doubtes may still be intertained in this case, that I cannot help; however, were it a case in Law it could be proven by the best of evidance. Fortunately a Mr. Bell of Melrose, the proprietor of the place, was at the sand-pit at the time of the discovery,2 who is now sorrie that he had not kept a few of the seeds. You may rest satisfied that even the antiquety of the Egyptian Wheat3 is not more genuine than this is.
With this I hope you will receive the Chronicle safely.
I am Sir | With the warmest gratitude | your much Obliged and, | very Humble Servant | William Kemp Charles Darwin Esqre.
Footnotes
Bibliography
Kemp, William. 1844. An account of some seeds buried in a sand-pit which germinated. By Mr William Kemp of Galashiels, in a letter to Charles Darwin, Esq. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 13: 89–91.
Summary
Approves of the paper CD has drawn up concerning WK’s seed discovery.
Mentions article in Gardeners’ Chronicle.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-716
- From
- William Kemp
- To
- Charles Robert Darwin
- Sent from
- Galashiels
- Source of text
- DAR 50: A18
- Physical description
- ALS 1p
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 716,” accessed on 8 October 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-716.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 2