To H. W. Bates [22 May 1870]¹

Cambridge

Sunday

My dear Bates

I have heard from M^r Appleton, but I have written to him to say that I am very sorry that I must decline undertaking the Review, which however, I fully grant is very desirable.—² I have had no practice & it w^d. take me much time; nor do I know that I sh^d succeed. But my chief reason is that I really have not a grain of spare strength, & have come here now for 2 or 3 days to try & rest.³ You w^d. not readily believe how often & urgently I am pressed to write articles— A week ago a most urgent request from men who had much claim: shortly before another:⁴ & it is an immense relief to me to be able to say that I never write reviews.— So I am very sorry, but must decline, even though you recommend it—

My dear Bates | Yours very sincerely | Ch Darwin

P.S. If you can let me see an old Proof of your sentences on Man, I sh^d really very much like to read them.—⁵

Footnotes

1

The date is established by the relationship between this letter, the letter from C. E. C. B. Appleton, 18 May [1870], and the letter from H. W. Bates, 20 May 1870, and by the dates of CD’s visit to Cambridge. The only Sunday during CD’s trip to Cambridge was 22 May 1870 (see n. 3, below).

2

See letter from C. E. C. B. Appleton, 18 May [1870]. CD’s reply to Charles Edward Cutts Birchall Appleton has not been found.

3

CD was in Cambridge from 20 to 24 May 1870 (see ‘Journal’ (Appendix II)).

4

These letters have not been found.

5

See letter from H. W. Bates, 20 May 1870 and n. 3.