To W. E. Darwin 8 November [1866]1
Down
Nov. 8th
My dear William.
Taking the valuation of Claythorpe, at 13,500£ I have resolved to charge you in my Will (which I will at once have altered) 8500£; so that you will in fact receive 5000£ more than my other sons, as being eldest & more especially as Susan has bequeathed this estate to you.2 But I think I mentioned to you that Susan clearly understood and agreed with my intention of deducting the value of the estate. As 4500£ was advanced when you joined the Bank, the total deduction will be 13,000£.3 As far as I can judge, by including what Aunt Catherine has left all you children, & if Uncle Eras bequeaths us any share,4 I expect you will receive on our deaths beyond the 13,000£ about 10,000£ in addition.— When you receive your whole rent you ought to save somewhat.— I request that you will soon consult your Solicitor about your will, for Land requires special notice in a will, & deliberate carefully what you think will be best to do with all property which you may die possessed of.—
I wish to God I could leave you better off, but I have not been extravagant or wasted our property.
My dear old son | Your affect. Father | C. Darwin
This note is miserably expressed & written, but I am tired.—
Footnotes
Bibliography
Correspondence: The correspondence of Charles Darwin. Edited by Frederick Burkhardt et al. 29 vols to date. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1985–.
Summary
Tells WED of a change in his will.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-5271
- From
- Charles Robert Darwin
- To
- William Erasmus Darwin
- Sent from
- Down
- Source of text
- DAR 210.6: 120
- Physical description
- ALS 4pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 5271,” accessed on 28 March 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-5271.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 14