From W. S. Dallas 6 October 1880
Geological Society
6th. October 1880.
Dear Mr. Darwin
I don’t know whether you are aware that owing to poor Kippist’s ⟨re⟩signation, there is to be an election of a new Librarian at the Linnean Society shortly.— Murie will of course be a candidate, but owing to his position, (he having already served the Society in nearly the same capacity for several years) he can hardly be expected to get up Testimonials as if the whole business was a new thing.—1
Under these circumstances it has occurred to some of us, both on & off the Council, that a joint Testimonial in the form of that enclosed would be a good thing, & if you approve of his candidature, or rather of his appointment, I shall be much obliged if you will sign & return it to me.— Perhaps Mr. Francis Darwin will also be good enough to add his signature.—2
Should you prefer to give Dr. Murie a personal testimonial, rather than to take part in a joint expression of opinion, I am sure he would be highly gratified,—but in that case be so kind as to send it to me.—
I hope that you are well & strong for the coming winter— It is to be hoped that it may be a rather more favourable one than the last, but we are already suffering from fogs here in London.—
With kind regards, | Believe me | Yours very truly | W. S. Dallas
Footnotes
Bibliography
ODNB: Oxford dictionary of national biography: from the earliest times to the year 2000. (Revised edition.) Edited by H. C. G. Matthew and Brian Harrison. 60 vols. and index. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2004.
Summary
Asks CD to join in a testimonial supporting James Murie’s candidacy for Librarian of Linnean Society.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-12738
- From
- William Sweetland Dallas
- To
- Charles Robert Darwin
- Sent from
- Geological Society
- Source of text
- DAR 162: 32
- Physical description
- ALS 4pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 12738,” accessed on 4 June 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-12738.xml