To Leonard Jenyns 24 June [1841]
Maer Hall | Newcastle Staffordshire
Dear Jenyns
I have been scandalously indolent in not sooner answering your kind enquiries about me & mine. The country at first acted like magic on me, but the charm has latterly lost some of its virtue,1 I am, however, a good deal stronger than when in London, but I do not feel that I shall have any mental energy for a long time & the Doctors tell me, it will be some years, before my constitution will recover itself— You & I can tell people in health, they have little idea, what an unspeakable advantage they possess over us poor weak wretches.— I judge from your note that Hitcham acted on your health, somewhat like this place did on mine, that is as a temporary relief.—2
I can only repeat, what I have said before to beg you not to give yourself any anxiety to hurry forward your part,; let it come when it may.3 I feel sure it & all the other numbers, (whatever you may say to the contrary) will be good durable work.— I have lately had note from Bell, who has matter for Engraver’s ready, but alas says nothing about M.S. for Printers.—4 But I have made up my mind not to fret myself on the subject, & just take things easy.—
I earnestly hope your health may improve as the summer passes & follow my & Bells example & take your Fish Part easy.
Believe me dear Jenyns | Most truly your’s | C. Darwin June 24th—
Footnotes
Bibliography
Correspondence: The correspondence of Charles Darwin. Edited by Frederick Burkhardt et al. 29 vols to date. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1985–.
Summary
Doctors predict it will take years for CD’s constitution to recover.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-599
- From
- Charles Robert Darwin
- To
- Leonard Jenyns/Leonard Blomefield
- Sent from
- Maer
- Source of text
- Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution
- Physical description
- ALS 3pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 599,” accessed on 18 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-599.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 2