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Darwin Correspondence Project

To T. H. Farrer   7 [March 1880]1

6 Queen Anne St.

Sunday 7th.

My dear Farrer.

I have thought that you would like to see enclosed copy of letter received by Sir J. Lubbock. but I suppose it is vox et præterea nihil.2

I had despatched a letter to Torbitt before receiving Mr Caird’s, but it did not signify as I was able to send another by same post. explaining why Mr. C was obliged to withdraw to a certain extent.3

Hensleigh who was present offered to subscribe 10£ & Erasmus 25£4 so that 110£ is assured with your generous offer of 25£; & I suppose Mr C. will get something

Hensleigh & Erasmus strongly advise me to write to Times during Easter recess, describing what Mr. T has done & what is wanted— I am not sanguine of success. & dislike much the thought of writing to any paper; but I would do so if thought advisable.— If I could get 400 or 500£ I would pay 12 per year to Mr T so as to make it last 2 years—& he would then raise several thousand new varieties— Will you tell me at Down what you think.— Hensleigh was strong that if I did write I should insert subscriptions promised; if Mr Caird subscribes anything himself, & would allow me to use his name it would be a tower of strength. & would insure insertion of letter in Times.— I would of course, if you think fit, send any letter which I might write for your approval.— I have written to Mr Torbitt for various particulars & asking him whether he would object to my writing to Times—that is if I screwed my courage up. & I told him that I should first consult you.5

I had hoped never to trouble you again. | Yours very sincerely. Ch. Darwin.

Mr. T. writes that about 13rd. of his tubers are sprouting & ought to be planted next week & he can now do this.—6

P.S. In case I do write to Times, the letters which I wrote to you & which you sent me might come in of use, so will you send it me to Down.7

[Enclosure]

Board of Trade

5th Mar. 1880

Copy of letter from Lord Sandon’s secretary to Sir J Lubbock—

Sir,

I am directed by Lord Sandon to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday’s date.8

Lord Sandon wishes me to say that he will carefully consider the subject to which you refer.

I am Sir | your obedient servant | T. W. P. Blomefield9

Footnotes

The year and month are established by the relationship between this letter and the letter from T. H. Farrer, 6 March 1880.
John Lubbock. Vox et praeterea nihil: a voice and nothing else (Latin).
In his first letter of 6 March 1880 to James Torbitt, CD had said that James Caird would pledge £75 to help Torbitt to continue his blight-resistant potato breeding programme. The letter from Caird to Farrer has not been found. In CD’s second letter to Torbitt, of 6 March [1880], he said that Caird had withdrawn his pledge but would probably give something.
CD is probably referring to the enclosure to his letter to Farrer of 7 March 1878 (Correspondence vol. 26), which went through several drafts.
See letter to T. H. Farrer, 14 February 1880; Farrer had asked Dudley Francis Stuart Ryder, Viscount Sandon and minister for the Board of Trade, to seek government aid for Torbitt.

Summary

Describes subscription for Torbitt [to continue potato experiments]. Would dislike writing to any paper, but Hensleigh [Wedgwood] and Erasmus [Darwin] advise CD to write to the Times.

Letter details

Letter no.
DCP-LETT-12523
From
Charles Robert Darwin
To
Thomas Henry Farrer, 1st baronet and 1st Baron Farrer
Sent from
London, Queen Anne St, 6
Source of text
DAR 144: 101; DAR 177: 340
Physical description
C 2pp

Please cite as

Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 12523,” accessed on 28 March 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-12523.xml

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