To William Alexander Baillie Hamilton1 28 March [1848]2
Down | Farnborough | Kent
March 28th
Sir
I have just heard from Sir John Herschel that my parcel of “Scientific Instructions” has not been received, or has been mislaid at the Admiralty.3
It was of such very large size & secured inside with string, that I think it quite impossible, that it can have been lost by the Post Office.— I have traced it into the Office at this place where it was posted, I believe on the 15th inst.— The direction was very plain, & was exactly as follows
On H. M. Service To the Secretary (for Sir J. W. Herschel B) Admiralty London Scientific Instructions C. Darwin
I think it certain that it is at the Admiralty, or has been sent to some other person, instead of to Sir J. Herschel. Or is it possible that Ld. Auckland can have taken it?4 I beg sincerely to apologise for giving so much trouble, but I do hope that you will kindly take the trouble to have an accurate search made for it, as it would cause me the loss of some weeks of labour. The M.S extending to 50 M.S. pages.—
I beg to remain | Sir | Your very obedient sert | C. Darwin
I should be extremely much obliged by an answer after a search & then I will write to the Post Office5
To R A B. Hamilton Esq
Footnotes
Summary
Sir John Herschel has not received the parcel of "Scientific Instructions", which was posted on the 15th. He requests an accurate search at the Admiralty.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-1166A
- From
- Charles Robert Darwin
- To
- William Alexander Baillie Hamilton
- Sent from
- Down
- Source of text
- The National Archives (TNA) (ADM/5580 009075)
- Physical description
- ALS 4pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 1166A,” accessed on 28 May 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-1166A.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 7 (Supplement)