The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online

RECORD: Lubbock, John. 1875.04.12. Letter to George Sketchley Ffinden. BROM-P.123.25.3.1.12. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

REVISION HISTORY: Scanned by Kate Bond, transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 8.2023. RN1

NOTE: Reproduced with permission of Bromley Historic Collections, Bromley Central Library and William Huxley Darwin. With thanks to Kate Bond.

"Ffinden, Rev. George Sketchley, 1836?-1911. Anglican priest. King's College, London; Assoc. (1st class) 1859; ordained deacon 1860; ordained priest 1861. 2 Nov. 1871-1911 vicar of Down, he was generally disliked."
"Lubbock, Sir John, Bart, 1834-1913. First child of Sir John William L. Statesman, banker and man of science. Home: High Elms near Down. L was the closest of CD's younger friends and frequent visitor to Down House from childhood." (Paul van Helvert & John van Wyhe: Darwin: A Companion, 2021).

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High Elms

12 April 1875

My dear Mr Ffinden

I have written to Mr Darwin & am now authorized by him to say that in writing to the Education Department he had not the slightest intention of being in any way discourteous to you, nor any

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idea that his action could be so construed.

As regards the repairs to the School he simply sent a message to Mr Town begging him to complete them with as little delay as possible, & was told they would cost £5. Finding that you only considered

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yourself authorized to pay £4 he has paid the balance himself.

~~Under these circumstances~~ He adds that he & his family are on their part quite ready to return to the ordinary courtesies of life, & I hope therefore that under these circumstances there is no

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reason why you should not again be on friendly terms.

Believe me

yours very truly

John Lubbock

Rev GS Ffinden

Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)