RECORD: Darwin, C. R. [1873]. Testimonials in favour of W. Boyd Dawkins, M.A., F.R.S., F.G.S. a candidate for the Woodwardian Professorship of Geology. Cambridge: University Press printed.
REVISION HISTORY: Scanned, text prepared and edited by John van Wyhe 12.2005. RN2
NOTE: See record in the Freeman Bibliographical Database, enter its Identifier here. See the introduction by R. B. Freeman.
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TESTIMONIALS.
I.
DOWN, BECKENHAM, KENT,
February 3, 1873.
MY DEAR SIR,1
I have great pleasure in expressing my opinion that you are very well fitted to fill the Woodwardian Chair in Cambridge, now vacant by the death of its former venerated occupier.2 You have paid close attention to the geological history of the more recent periods, and I think every one will admit that these present an extraordinary amount of difficulty; so that your success in this line of research offers an excellent test of your ability. It will also, I think, be admitted that the study of the more recent periods is not only very difficult, but of the highest importance. Therefore I earnestly hope that you may be successful in your application, and if so, I do not doubt that you will be the means of encouraging the study of geology in the University.
Believe me, my dear Sir,
Yours sincerely,
CH. DARWIN.
To W. BOYD DAWKINS, Esq., F.R.S.
1 William Boyd Dawkins (1837-1929), geologist and palaeontologist. He was appointed to the Chair of Geology at Owens College, Manchester, in 1872. His application for the Cambridge chair was unsuccessful.
2 Adam Sedgwick.
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
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