Did my father recant on his deathbed?

I was present at his deathbed, Lady Hope was not present during his last illness, or any illness.

I believe he never even saw her, but in any case she had no influence over him in any department of thought or belief. He never recanted any of his scientific views, either then or earlier.

We think the story of his conversion was fabricated in the U.S.A.

The whole story has no foundation what-so-ever.

Lady Hope's account of my father's views on religion is quite untrue. I have publicly accused her of falsehood, but have not seen any reply. My father's agonistic point of view is given in my Life and Letters of Charles Darwin Vol. I., pp. 304–317. You are at liberty to publish the above statement. Indeed, I shall be glad if you will do so."