[Dean Farrar, preacher of Charles Darwin’s funeral sermon in Westminster Abbey.] Autograph Letter Signed (‘F. W. Farrar’), as Chairman of the Finsbury Polytechnic, appealing for funds ‘to save the Institute from being wrecked’.

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 2pp, 8vo. Nineteen lines of text. Signed ‘F. W. Farrar / Chairm[an]’. In poor condition, ruckled and with fraying and chipping to edges, resulting in loss to the last two letters of the word ‘Chairman’. The recipient is not named. The letter begins: ‘Dear Sir, / May I ask you to kindly read the enclosed? / As an established success among the working lads of the East End, who have flocked to it, in great numbers, since its opening in 1887, the Finsbury Polytechnic as strong claims upon all interested in the training of our lads, and saving tem from the evil influences of the streets - the only open spaces in the central part of the East End.’ He appeals for ‘a contribution to the fund we are raising to secure the endowment promised by the Charity Commissioner and to save the InstItute from being wrecked, and 2000 lads, who now use it, from being cast adrift.’