From A. A. L. P. Cochrane 7 June 1873
Junior United Service Club, | London, S.W.
June 7th. ’73.
Private—
Dear Mr Darwin—
You will doubtless be surprised to receive this note from one who is a stranger to you—
My admiration for your works must be my excuse for making the following proposal— I am just appd. Commander in Chief on the Pacific Station and leave on July 2nd. by Packet for Panama and Vancouver Island. The ship in which I shall hoist my Flag is the Repulse a large Iron Clad,— I am accompanied by my Flag Captain Lieutt. & Secretary—1 What I would propose to you is in case you should desire to visit Vancouvers Island with possible facilities for visiting Queen Charlottes Isd.2 the coast of California central America Guaquil, Galapagos Panama Peru & Chile to give you one of my Cabins and a free seat at my Table for such months as you shall honor me with your Company—you would see much of the Western coast of America &c &c It is needless to recapitulate to so experienced a voyager and navigator as yourself the charms of such a voyage and I would do what I could to make it pleasant to you3
I take out a Photographic apparatus and other small matters for my own amusement and have for many years taken the greatest interest in all matters relating to soundings and temperature in the Sea
During such a voyage you would add many more laurels to those you have so greatly won and place the scientific world under yet more mighty obligations
Believe me to be | Truly Yours. | Arthur A. Cochrane | Rear Admiral
Such hospitality as I could render would take place on my joining ‘Repulse’ at Vancouver Isd. and I should probably mention the circumstance of my having invited you at the Admiralty—on your acceptance
Footnotes
Bibliography
Correspondence: The correspondence of Charles Darwin. Edited by Frederick Burkhardt et al. 29 vols to date. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1985–.
Journal of researches: Journal of researches into the geology and natural history of the various countries visited by HMS Beagle, under the command of Captain FitzRoy, RN, from 1832 to 1836. By Charles Darwin. London: Henry Colburn. 1839.
Navy list: The navy list. London: John Murray; Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. 1815–1900.
Summary
Invites CD on a voyage to the western coast of North and South America.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-8938
- From
- Arthur Auckland Leopold Pedro Cochrane
- To
- Charles Robert Darwin
- Sent from
- Junior United Service Club
- Source of text
- DAR 161: 191
- Physical description
- ALS 4pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 8938,” accessed on 29 March 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-8938.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 21