RECORD: Litchfield, Richard Buckley. 1897.08.31. Letter to William Erasmus Darwin. CUL-DAR210.6.190. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 8.2023. RN1
NOTE: See record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here. Reproduced with permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library and William Huxley Darwin. The volume CUL-DAR210.6 contains correspondence of William Erasmus Darwin and family correspondence (1851-1896).
"Litchfield, Richard Buckley, 1832 Jan. 6-1903 Jan. 11. Scholar and philanthropist. Had 2 siblings. L worked on the legal side of the Ecclesiastical Commission. One of the founders of the Working Men's College (later Birkbeck College) London, where he became Bursar and Vice Principal. L lived at no. 4 Bryanston Square. See Gwen Raverat, Period piece, Ch. 7. 1871 Aug. 31 Married at Downe Church, Henrietta Emma Darwin d.s.p." (Paul van Helvert & John van Wyhe, Darwin: A Companion, 2021.)
A few of the articles mentioned by Litchfield are here: CUL-DAR210.13.
[1]
THE RECTORY, ABINGER, DORKING.
31 Aug. 97
My dear Wm
I have this day sent of in a Registered packet the Letters of yr. father which you lent to us, also an envelope (with the letters) containing:─ Two papers by your mother ─ about religious doubts.
Two notes written by Annie (to Effie & Margt. V. Wms)
An envelope containing
[1v]
letters from Miss Thorley from Malvern Ap 1851 ─ & several sheets of mem[orials] & reminiscences of your father by your mother.
I shall be glad of a word to say you have received the packet.
Many of the letters were much torn ─ those I have mended with that transparent
[2]
gummed paper w. is so excellent for this purpose.
We I have been copying all your father's letters into a book. I am glad to have done this, not only that we might have the copies) but also because the close following of his words has made me feel with renewed freshness his delightful qualities in his characters wh. made him
[2v]
so beloved, and also what an ideally perfect union their marriage was.
Our time here is come to an end. We leave on Monday.
Your friend Mr Goodwin has just been here ─ their farewell visit before sailing.
With our love to you both
Believe me
Yours affectly
R. B Litchfield
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 15 October, 2023