The years are suggested from the apparent invitation to a meeting in London in November. Between 1869 and 1874, Fox, who lived in Northwich, Cheshire, spent the winter on the Isle of Wight, travelling through London in October or November (Correspondence vol. 18, letter from W. D. Fox, 15 February [1870], and Correspondence vol. 22, letter from W. D. Fox, 8 May [1874]). The content of other letters between CD and Fox in this period suggests that 1871 and 1873 are the only possible years in which this letter could have been written. For the day and month: a scrap with only the date ‘Oct 2’ written on it exists, but other references to ‘next month’ and ‘November’ suggest the date may have been between 20 and 29 October.

The letter consists of separate fragments. The summary is based on two of the larger scraps, which give partial texts as follows: ‘in London next month … Erasmus’s or elsewhere’; ‘I lately m⁠⟨⁠et⁠⟩⁠ ... told me he ... to you some ... of Pigs’.