To J. S. Henslow 18 October [1857]1
Down Bromley Kent
Oct. 18th
My dear Henslow
I write to thank you for your note & to say that I shd. be very glad to have your Photograph.— You cd. leave it for me at Royal Soc. or Linn. Soc. or Athenæum Club, wherever most convenient to you.—
The plant with green flowers was this year’s seedling; but apparently only certain twigs on same plant were thus characterised. I had fancied that the 6 seeds was oddest part; but after sending you the specimen, I found flower with 10 sepals & two pistils & 8 or 10 imperfect seeds—; & other flowers with only 3 seeds.—2
I feel pretty sure I could make any flower in some degree monstrous in 4 or 5 generations.3
I am very glad to hear of the grand success of the Hitcham Hort. Soc. It must be very pleasant to you.—4
I noticed the Death of your Aunt.5 If you keep your health, God grant you may live as long.
Most truly yours | C. Darwin
Footnotes
Bibliography
Russell-Gebbett, Jean. 1977. Henslow of Hitcham: botanist, educationalist and clergyman. Lavenham, Suffolk: Terence Dalton.
Summary
Sends details on Myosotis sports. Feels sure he could make any flower in some degree monstrous in four or five generations.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-2154
- From
- Charles Robert Darwin
- To
- John Stevens Henslow
- Sent from
- Down
- Source of text
- DAR 93: A45–6
- Physical description
- ALS 3pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 2154,” accessed on 19 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-2154.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 6