RECORD: Darwin, C. R. 1975. [Letter to Edward Lumb, 1834]. In J. H. Winslow, Mr Lumb and Masters Megatherium: an unpublished letter by Charles Darwin from the Falklands. Journal of Historical Geography 1: 347-60, pp. 348, 350.
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed and edited by John van Wyhe 5.2022. RN1
NOTE: See record in the Freeman Bibliographical Database, enter its Identifier here. See the fully annotated letter in Correspondence vol. 1.
Mr. Lumb
36 Calle de la Paz
B. Ayres
March 30th 1834
E. Falkland Island
My dear Lumb
There is a French Whaler lying here which sails to day for M. Video and I take this opportunity of writing to you.- am very anxious that the Megatherium head, which Mr. Keen procured for me should not be lost. You will be, I am sure, be glad to hear that the fossil relics of olden days, which I found at B. Blanca, have been of preeminent interest tothose few, who in England care about such things.-Prof. Henslow &c begs of me to collect
every scrap of the bones of the head of the greater monster; for this reason, the specimens which Mr. Keen intended to forward from the R. Negro are the more valuable.- daresay you have already sent them to the Admiral at Rio.-You will very much oblige me, by sending a line to Valparaiso to state time & Ship, by which they were conveyed there so that, if they fail to arrive, I can write to Sir Michael Seymour.-
Since the Beagle left the Plata, we have had a pleasant cruise; we spent some time on the coast of Patagonia; the country swarms with Guanaco several were killed, but besides these, there were few living creatures. For my own part, I found some interesting work for the Geological hammer.- trust, with what I saw to the North, to be able to draw up a tolerable sketch of the geology of this eastern side of S. America. We then entered the Straits & passed on to Famine & returned to survey the East coast of Tierra del F.-The entrance of the Straits are found to be much narrower than drawn in the Charts.-After the coast was finished we ran down to near Cape Horn & returned & beat up the Beagle Channel to J. Button's country. Poor Jemmy was quite naked excepting a rag round his waist; he was however very happy; did not wish to return to England; had not forgotten his English & lastly, but not least, he had married a young, and for a Feugian, a beautiful Squaw.-
From thence, we sailed to this land; this seat of discord for the elements, as well as for Human affairs.-You will have heard of the murder of poor Brisbane &c &c; Such scenes of fierce revenge,cold-blooded treachery, & villainy in every form, have been here transacted as few can equal it.- shall be curious to hear what the wise Government of B. Ayres says on the occasion. I suppose 'a just revolt' 'their poor subjects groaning under the tyranny of England' &c &c. When you write you must tell me all the gossip. How goes our M' Griffith and your new minister?-How fare the Indians against the Caesar-like Rosas??-You must not forget to write to me under charge of British Consul, Valparaiso. Remember me most kindly to Mrs Lumb & with my best thanks for all your kindness.
Believe me Yours very truly.-
Charles Darwin
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
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