William Thomson’s (Lord Kelvin) letters to George Howard Darwin, April 1882.
Editor’s note: With thanks to Dr John van Wyhe for editing the introduction. The letters and images will be uploaded to Darwin Online in due course. As far as I know, there are no DAR numbers assigned to the letters.
In Cambridge University Library’s DAR215 are 345 images relating to Darwin’s LLD degree from the University of Cambridge in 1877, obituaries and related correspondence. These express grief and condolences from T. H. Huxley, Herbert Spencer, John Lubbock and many others, to Emma Darwin, Darwin’s sons, mainly William, George and Francis and other family members.
Two of the items which were somehow missed during the cataloguing process were letters from William Thomson to George Darwin, written on 21 April and 28 April 1882. They are transcribed for the first time below. The first letter was a message of condolence to Emma Darwin, George and his brothers. The letter mentioned a Glasgow Herald article which could well be the obituary of Charles Darwin now in CUL-DAR215.24b. The second letter expressed Thomson’s regret over missing the funeral service at Westminster Abbey.
In Darwin: A Companion, by Paul van Helvert and John van Wyhe, published in 2021, the entry for William Thomson reads:
Thomson, Sir William, Baron Kelvin, 1824-1907. Physicist. T was amongst the most distinguished astronomical physicists of his day, but quite wrong about the age of the earth. Established correct value of absolute zero temperature. 1846-99 Prof. Natural Philosophy Glasgow. 1851 FRS. 1856 Royal Medal Royal Society. 1866 Kt. 1869 CD to Hooker, “I feel a conviction that the world will be proved rather older than Thomson makes it”. CCD17:339. 1883 Copley Medal Royal Society. 1890-95 PRS. 1892 1st Baron Kelvin of Largs. First scientist to be elevated to the House of Lords. 1902 OM. 1904-07 Chancellor University Glasgow. 1880 May, T and Mrs paid a visit to Down where the “two men had a good deal of talk, and parted with mutual respect and admiration.” Thompson, Life of William Thomson, Baron Kelvin of Largs, 2011, p. 758. Corresponded mostly with George Darwin.
In Thompson, Life of William Thomson, Baron Kelvin of Largs, p. 758, a visit to Down by Sir William and Lady Thomson “In the middle of May [1880]” was mentioned. The biographer also stated that “No record has been preserved of the occasion;” but in the uncatalogued letter we have now this as a record of the visit to Down House.
Unfortunately, the records in Emma Darwin’s diary (CUL-DAR242[.44]) between 4 April to 15 May 1880 were not microfilmed. The pages could have been excised, or perhaps there were blank and therefore were not microfilmed.
The letters
April 21/82
THE UNIVERSITY,
GLASGOW.
Dear Darwin
We were much grieved yesterday evening to hear of the loss you have suffered. We had been hoping to see you here next week and little thought of your home-coming being so soon turned into sorrow. We had always hoped to see your father again and have another visit like the first one, which we always look back on as a great happiness.
I send you a copy of this morning’s Glasgow Herald containing an article which I think you will like to see.
We feel very much for your mother, and for yourself and your brothers, the more so that we could well understand how much you were devoted to your father.
The loss will be greatly felt through the whole world and there will be many and lasting regrets for what we might have had from him if he remained some more years, but it is only those who have had the privilege of knowing him personally that can see how much more than the greatness known to all, there was to endear him to his friends.
My wife joins in kind regards and I remain
Yours very truly
William Thomson
*****
April 28/82
THE UNIVERSITY,
GLASGOW.
Dear Darwin
I was very sorry not to be able to be with you in the Abbey on Wednesday. I had been summoned to London for law business for Monday and Tuesday and on receiving the invitation on Monday I immediately resolved to wait over Wednesday as it would have been a great satisfaction to me to join in the great demonstration of respect for your father. I was much disappointed when Tuesday’s work in court came to its end, to be still in the witness box and to be absolutely obliged to continue my evidence at the beginning of Wednesday’s meeting. I still hoped I might possibly get away in time, or else I would have written to you to say I could not come; but I was kept the whole day and only got through my examination yesterday morning.
We hope to see you soon next month in London or Cambridge. My wife joins in kind regards and in full sympathy for you all.
Believe me
Yours very truly
William Thomson
It is very satisfactory and most interesting to find how many now join and how universal the agreement is to do honour to your father, and how admirable the contrast to 18 years ago is.