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Darwin Correspondence Project

From G. E. Mengozzi1   28 October 1880

56 Brompton Square S.W.

28 October 1880

Illustre Monsieur,

Samedi ou dimanche prochaine je vais à Rome avec le pensée entièrement tourné à Vous, beaucoup honorée des Vos chéres lettres les quelles j’ai lues avec attention et avec profit que s’extrait par chaque parole inspiré par un homme eminemment savant.2

À présent je ne puis ni je doive m’étendre sur la question que je Vous avait faite en proffitant de la bonte et courtoisie que Vous avez eu pour mes pensées.

Toute la question par nous agitée, pour moi elle se résoudre dans l’harmonie dialectique parmis le savoir des sciences du monde exterieur et celles du interieur, trouvant le positif et excluant le leur negatif; parce que isolément prises elles n’ont pas, le pouvoir de démontrée clairement l’existence de Dieu. Pour cela les arguments qu’il ce fondaient sur les seules notions du monde exterieure ne suffisaient comme Vous même dites, et en particulier le cosmologique et le théléologique, ce dernier s’attenent à Votre doctrine évolutionistique la quelle a tante de matière à discuter.

Moi—sans Dieu je ne comprend ni l’Univers ni la vie, ni la sociétè, et je ne puisse admettre que le monde puisse vivre heureux sans la santification de la religion qui à sa foi dans l’Unique Dieu Créateur! Le livre eternal de Dieu il n’est pas fermé, et la nouvelle page divine, par l’oeuvre de Votre grand ésprit et de Vos études profonds, elle sera tournée.

Moi, je crois ainsi toute les fois que je prend à mediter les ouvrages qui Vous avez donnée au monde des penseurs.

Je voudrais bien que tous les hommes avancées dans les sciences physiques et metaphysiques puissaient penser, comme moi je pense et j’éspére. Quelque ce soient mes pensées et mes desirs, je Vous prie de mes croire avec fraternelle affection, et profonde veneration toujours à Vous | Devouè | Comm. Profr. G. E. Mengozzi M.D.

P.S. Pardonnez-moi la libertè que je me prend, de Vous envoyer Votre portrait au fin de Vous bien voulevoir le orner de Votre Nom august par Votre propre main signé.

Je vais glorieux de le porter dans le sol, que à dire avec Dante, chaque piérre mérite réverence … !3

Footnotes

For a translation of this letter, see Appendix I. Mengozzi’s French (not his native tongue) was extremely poor.
The only known letter from CD to Mengozzi prior to 28 October is the letter to G. E. Mengozzi, [before 28] October 1880.
The reference is to Dante Alighieri’s Il convivio, book 4, end of chapter 5: ‘Certo di ferma sono oppinione che le pietre che nelle mura sue stanno siano degne di reverenza’ (I am certainly of the firm opinion that the stones of her walls are worthy of reverence). This work was written between 1304 and 1307.

Translation

From G. E. Mengozzi1   28 October 1880

56 Brompton Square S.W.

28 October 1880

Illustrious Sir,

Next Saturday or Sunday I am going to Rome with my thought entirely turned to you, much honoured by your dear letters, which I have read with attention and profit that is reaped from each word inspired by an eminently learned man.2

At present I cannot nor ought I to dwell on the question that I put to you by profiting from the bounty and courtesy that you had for my thoughts.

The whole question debated by us, for me it will be resolved in the dialectical harmony between the knowledge of the sciences of the external world and those of the internal world, finding the positive and excluding their negative; because taken alone they do not have the power to demonstrate clearly the existence of God. For that, the arguments that are based only on ideas of the exterior world on are not sufficient as you yourself say, and in particular the cosmological and theological, this last touches on your evolutionary doctrine, which has so much matter for discussion.

For myself—without God I understand neither the Universe nor life, nor society, and I cannot admit that the world could be happy without the sanctification of religion that has its faith in the One God Creator! The eternal book of God, it is not closed, and the new divine page, by the work of your great spirit and your profound studies, it will be turned.

Me, I believe thus all the times that I take to meditate the works which you have given to the world of thinkers.

I would dearly like that all men advanced in the physical and metaphysical sciences could be able to think, like I myself think and hope. Whatever my thoughts and my desires may be, please believe me, with fraternal affection and profound veneration, always your | Faithful | Comm. Profr G. E. Mengozzi M.D.

P.S. Excuse me the liberty that I take, of sending you your portrait in order to ask you if you would like to sign your august Name by signed with your own hand.

I am proud to carry it on the ground on which, as Dante says, every stone is worthy of reverence … !3

Footnotes

For a transcription of this letter in its original French, see pp. 357–8. Mengozzi’s French (not his native tongue) was extremely poor.
The only known letter from CD to Mengozzi prior to 28 October is the letter to G. E. Mengozzi, [before 28] October 1880.
The reference is to Dante Alighieri’s Il convivio, book 4, end of chapter 5: ‘Certo di ferma sono oppinione che le pietre che nelle mura sue stanno siano degne di reverenza’ (I am certainly of the firm opinion that the stones of her walls are worthy of reverence). This work was written between 1304 and 1307.

Summary

Extremely grateful for CD’s reply. He continues in his faith in God and his devotion to CD.

Letter details

Letter no.
DCP-LETT-12779
From
Giovanni Ettore Mengozzi
To
Charles Robert Darwin
Sent from
London, Brompton Square, 56
Source of text
DAR 171: 154
Physical description
LS 3pp (French)

Please cite as

Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 12779,” accessed on 19 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-12779.xml

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