[np]

A LETTER FROM MR. DARWIN.

The great English naturalist and philosopher has addressed the following note to the corresponding secretary of the Liberal Club:

DOWN BECKENHAM, KENT, S.E., April 15, 1871.

To Professor Charles L. Balch, Corresponding Secretary New York Liberal Club.¹

DEAR SIR: I am much obliged for your extremely kind note and for the report of your lecture which you have been good enough to send. I am aware that I have but few supporters in your country. Should the Liberal Club do me the honor of electing me an honorary member I shall feel much flattered.

Would you be so good as to say to Mr. McDonald² that I enclose four photographs for his acceptance: but I should fear that it could never be worth his while to execute a bust of me. Pray believe me, dear sir, yours faithfully,

CH. DARWIN.

¹ Charles Leland Balch (1840-1872), American teacher, teacher of elocution and corresponding secretary of the New York Liberal Club for 1871-2. This letter is published in Correspondence vol. 19, p. 288. This letter prompted correspondence from F. E. Abbot (see Darwin 1871) who felt Darwin's assertion that he had 'but few supporters' in the USA would entail 'a sad proof of American ignorance and unintelligence'. CUL-DAR159.1 Balch replied to Darwin, see Correspondence vol. 19, p. 289. The New York Liberal Club was established in 1869. Darwin was elected an Honorary Member in 1871. See later correspondence with Balch in the Milwaukee Sentinel (10 July): 2 (F3471) and with the Liberal Club in Correspondence vol. 22. Darwin's 13 August 1874 letter to D. T. Gardner, the Club's recording secretary, was published in Darwin 1874. (F2283)

² James Wilson Alexander MacDonald (1824-1908), American painter and sculptor. No record of a bust by MacDonald has been found. For a list of artistic representations of Darwin, including all known busts and statues, see the iconography by John van Wyhe in Paul van Helvert & John van Wyhe, Charles Darwin: A Companion, 2021.