RECORD: Darwin, C. R. [post 1868, c. 1860s-1870s]. [Printed acknowledgement of correspondence]. np: np.
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed and edited by John van Wyhe 8.2007. RN3
NOTE: See record in the Freeman Bibliographical Database, enter its Identifier here.
"One other minute piece of Darwin's works, which was presumably written by him and is undoubtedly printed, is the notice expressing thanks for a letter sent to him which he was unable to answer personally. There is a copy at Cambridge (Darwin Mss 133(1)), and the published catalogue of the archive remarks that it appears to have been only rarely used. It cannot be dated more accurately than later than 1868, which is the date when Downe village ceased to be in Bromley and became part of Beckenham. It does not seem to have been reprinted, and is given here to show Darwin's extreme punctiliousness towards his many correspondents". R. B. Freeman.
Reproduced with the permission of Cambridge University Library.
DOWN, BECKENHAM,
KENT.
Mr. DARWIN is much obliged for the letter just received. Owing to the large number of communications which daily arrive, he regrets to say that it is almost impossible for him to do more than to acknowledge their receipt and express his thanks.1
1 Francis Darwin recalled '[CD] had a printed form to be used in replying to troublesome correspondents, but he hardly ever used it; I suppose he never found an occasion that seemed exactly suitable.' LL 1: 120. A copy in CUL-DAR215 is annotated by George Darwin: "As far as I know this form of notice was never used. G.H.D"
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 28 November, 2022