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Darwin Correspondence Project

To W. C. McIntosh   [after 21 November 1881]1

[Down.]

My dear Sir

I am sorry to say that I have given so strong a testimonial to Dr. Ray L. & expressed so strong a wish for his success, that it would stultify me to give another.2 I assure you that it pains me to refuse your request; but it may be doubted whether a testimonial from me wd be of any value unless the electors are evolutionists, which is not very probable.—

Footnotes

The date is established by the relationship between this letter and the letter from W. C. McIntosh, 21 November 1881.
CD had written a letter of support for Edwin Ray Lankester’s candidacy for the chair of natural history at Edinburgh University (see letter to E. R. Lankester, 31 October 1881).

Summary

Must refuse WCM’s request to revise E. Ray Lankester's testimonial.

Letter details

Letter no.
DCP-LETT-13501
From
Charles Robert Darwin
To
William Carmichael McIntosh
Sent from
unstated
Source of text
DAR 202: 110v
Physical description
ADraft 1p

Please cite as

Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 13501,” accessed on 29 March 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-13501.xml

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