skip to content

Darwin Correspondence Project

From E. Schweizerbart’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung1   11 July 1862

Stuttgart

den 11 Juli 1862.

Verehrtester Herr!

Ich weiss nicht ob Sie schon die Kunde erhielten, dass die deutsche Wissenschaft einen grossen Verlust zu beklagen hat, der auch Sie und mich besonders in hohem Grade trifft,—unser verehrter Freund Hofrath Bronn ist vor einigen Tagen plötzlich am Herzschlag gestorben, während er wie gewöhnlich im Hotel Schrieder seinen Nachmittags Kaffé trank!—2

Diese betrübte Nachricht wurde mir von Hause abwesend gemeldet; ich eilte sogleich nach Heidelberg um der Familie persönlich meine Theilnahme zu bezeigen.3 Herr Bronn hinterlässt eine Wittwe, eine Tochter und 2 Söhne, welche eben von Marseille ankamen wo sie in Handlungshäusern angestellt sind.

Bronn hatte eine immense Arbeits-Kraft, daher war nicht nur die neue Auflage der Uebersetzung vom “Origin” für den Druck vorbereitet,4 sondern auch das M.S. der Uebersetzung des Buches über die Orchideen war in der Kürzesten Zeit fertig, so dass wir nur auf die Clichées warteten um Satz und Druck zu beginnen. Ich wäre Ihnen recht verbunden wenn Sie Herrn Murray zur schleunigsten Absendung der Clichées veranlassen wollten.5

Was die Beobachtungen des Herrn Treviranus betrifft, so liesse sich vielleicht die Bekanntmachung derselben gleichzeitig damit bewerkstelligen, wenn er überhaupt deren Publikation beabsichtigt und sein M.S. fertig ist.6 Wissen Sie etwas von ihm?

Herr Bronn sandte neulich noch das M.S. der Zusätze welche Sie ihm lieferten und welches Sie für die amerik. Ausgabe wieder zu erhalten wünschten;7 ich lege solches diesem Briefe bei.

Ich werde nicht verfehlen Ihnen sobald die Uebersetzungen gedruckt sind, Ex. davon zu schicken;8 leider kann nun die Correctur nicht mehr von Br. gelesen werden, doch werde ich einen tüchtigen Corrector dafür anstellen.

Wenn Sie das unter der Presse sich befindende neue Werk von Ihnen mir später auch zusenden wollten, wäre ich Ihnen sehr verpflichtet.9

Mit grösster Hochachtung und Verehrung | Ihr ganz ergebenster E. Schweizerbart10

Footnotes

For a translation of this letter, see Correspondence vol. 10, Appendix I. The letter was written by Christian Friedrich Schweizerbart, who was head of the Stuttgart publishing firm E. Schweizerbart’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung (see n. 10, below).
Heinrich Georg Bronn died on 5 July 1862, aged 62 (Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society of London 19 (1863): xxxiii).
Bronn was professor of zoology at the University of Heidelberg.
The second German edition of Origin (Bronn trans. 1863) was initially issued in three parts, whose publication was announced on 6 October, 17 November, and 19 December 1862, respectively (Börsenblatt für den Deutschen Buchhandel 29 (1862): 2083, 2447, and 2735).
Bronn trans. 1862. CD arranged for Schweizerbart to buy electrotype plates of the illustrations for Orchids from John Murray, CD’s British publisher (see letter from E. Schweizerbart’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, 7 June 1862, and letter to John Murray, 13 June [1862]). The German translation of Orchids was published on 20 October 1862 (Börsenblatt für den Deutschen Buchhandel 29 (1862): 2195).
CD had apparently written to ask the German botanist Ludolph Christian Treviranus whether he would be prepared to translate Orchids into German, only to discover that Bronn had already almost completed a translation (see letter from H. G. Bronn, 21 June 1862 and n. 2). The observations referred to by Schweizerbart have not been identified; Treviranus included a detailed critique of Orchids in his review of CD’s views on dichogamy, published in the Botanische Zeitung in January 1863 (Treviranus 1863a), and in his ‘Supplementary observations on the fertilisation of some orchids’ published in August 1863 (Treviranus 1863b). Treviranus sent CD a copy of Treviranus 1863a with his letter of 12 February 1863 (Correspondence vol. 11); there are lightly annotated copies of Treviranus 1863a and 1863b in the Darwin Pamphlet Collection–CUL.
The reference is to Variation, on which CD had been working intermittently since January 1860 (see Correspondence vol. 8, ‘Journal’ (Correspondence vol. 10, Appendix II)); the work was not published until 1868.
Although C. F. Schweizerbart purchased the publishing firm of E. Schweizerbart from his uncle Wilhelm Emanuel Schweizerbart in 1841, he continued to use the signature ‘E. Schweizerbart’ in business communications (Jubiläums-Katalog, pp. x–xi).

Bibliography

Börsenblatt für den Deutschen Buchhandel: Börsenblatt für den Deutschen Buchhandel und für die mit ihm verwandten Geschäftszweige herausgegeben von den Deputirten des Vereins der Buchhändler zu Leipzig. Leipzig: Vereins der Buchhändler. 1834–80.

Correspondence: The correspondence of Charles Darwin. Edited by Frederick Burkhardt et al. 29 vols to date. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1985–.

Jubiläums-Katalog: Jubiläums-Katalog der E. Schweizerbart’schen Verlagsbuchhandlung (Erwin Nägele) G.m.b.H., Stuttgart, 1826–1926. Stuttgart: E. Schweizerbart. 1926.

Orchids: On the various contrivances by which British and foreign orchids are fertilised by insects, and on the good effects of intercrossing. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1862.

Origin: On the origin of species by means of natural selection, or the preservation of favoured races in the struggle for life. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1859.

Variation: The variation of animals and plants under domestication. By Charles Darwin. 2 vols. London: John Murray. 1868.

Translation

From E. Schweizerbart’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung1   11 July 1862

Stuttgart

11 July 1862

Most honoured Sir,

I do not know whether you have already been informed that German science has suffered a great loss that is particularly telling for both you and me,— our dear friend Hofrat Bronn died suddenly from a heart attack a few days ago while he was drinking his afternoon coffee as usual in the Schrieder Hotel!—2

I heard this sad news while I was away from home; I hurried immediately to Heidelberg to present my condolescences in person to his family.3 Mr Bronn leaves a widow, one daughter and two sons who arrived all the way from Marseille where they are employed in business.

Bronn was so immensely industrious that not only was the new edition of the translation of the “Origin” prepared for the press,4 but also the translation of the book on Orchids was finished so quickly, that we are only waiting for the plates before going to press. I would be most obliged if you would be so kind as to ask Mr Murray to send the plates as soon as possible.5

As far as the observations of Mr Treviranus are concerned, perhaps their publication should be effected at the same time, if he intends to publish them at all and his manuscript is ready.6 Do you know anything about him?

Mr Bronn recently sent the manuscript of the additions with which you supplied him and that you wished to be returned for the American edition;7 I enclose them with this letter.

I will not fail to send you a copy of the translation as soon as it is ready;8 unfortunately, the proofs can no longer be corrected by Mr Br., so I will employ a competent proofreader for this purpose.

I would be most obliged if you should wish to send me later your new work in progress.9

With the most profound respect and reverence | Your most humble servant | E. Schweizerbart10

Footnotes

For the transcription of this letter in its original German, see pp. 315–16. The letter was written by Christian Friedrich Schweizerbart, who was head of the Stuttgart publishing firm E. Schweizerbart’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung (see n. 10, below).
Heinrich Georg Bronn died on 5 July 1862, aged 62 (Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society of London 19 (1863): xxxiii).
Bronn was professor of zoology at the University of Heidelberg.
The second German edition of Origin (Bronn trans. 1863) was initially issued in three parts, whose publication was announced on 6 October, 17 November, and 19 December 1862, respectively (Börsenblatt für den Deutschen Buchhandel 29 (1862): 2083, 2447, and 2735).
Bronn trans. 1862. CD arranged for Schweizerbart to buy electrotype plates of the illustrations for Orchids from John Murray, CD’s British publisher (see letter from E. Schweizerbart’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, 7 June 1862, and letter to John Murray, 13 June [1862]). The German translation of Orchids was published on 20 October 1862 (Börsenblatt für den Deutschen Buchhandel 29 (1862): 2195).
CD had apparently written to ask the German botanist Ludolf Christian Treviranus whether he would be prepared to translate Orchids into German, only to discover that Bronn had already almost completed a translation (see letter from H. G. Bronn, 21 June 1862 and n. 2). The observations referred to by Schweizerbart have not been identified; Treviranus included a detailed critique of Orchids in his review of CD’s views on dichogamy, published in the Botanische Zeitung in January 1863 (Treviranus 1863a), and in his ‘Supplementary observations on the fertilisation of some orchids’ published in August 1863 (Treviranus 1863b). Treviranus sent CD a copy of Treviranus 1863a with his letter of 12 February 1863 (Correspondence vol. 11); there are lightly annotated copies of Treviranus 1863a and 1863b in the Darwin Pamphlet Collection–CUL.
The reference is to Variation, on which CD had been working intermittently since January 1860 (see Correspondence vol. 8, ‘Journal’ (Appendix II)); the work was not published until 1868.
Although C. F. Schweizerbart purchased the publishing firm of E. Schweizerbart from his uncle Wilhelm Emanuel Schweizerbart in 1841, he continued to use the signature ‘E. Schweizerbart’ in business communications (Jubiläumskatalog, pp. x–xi).

Bibliography

Börsenblatt für den Deutschen Buchhandel: Börsenblatt für den Deutschen Buchhandel und für die mit ihm verwandten Geschäftszweige herausgegeben von den Deputirten des Vereins der Buchhändler zu Leipzig. Leipzig: Vereins der Buchhändler. 1834–80.

Correspondence: The correspondence of Charles Darwin. Edited by Frederick Burkhardt et al. 29 vols to date. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1985–.

Jubiläums-Katalog: Jubiläums-Katalog der E. Schweizerbart’schen Verlagsbuchhandlung (Erwin Nägele) G.m.b.H., Stuttgart, 1826–1926. Stuttgart: E. Schweizerbart. 1926.

Orchids: On the various contrivances by which British and foreign orchids are fertilised by insects, and on the good effects of intercrossing. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1862.

Origin: On the origin of species by means of natural selection, or the preservation of favoured races in the struggle for life. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1859.

Variation: The variation of animals and plants under domestication. By Charles Darwin. 2 vols. London: John Murray. 1868.

Summary

Relates death of H. G. Bronn.

Discusses publication of German edition of Orchids [1862].

Letter details

Letter no.
DCP-LETT-3654
From
E. Schweizerbart’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung
To
Charles Robert Darwin
Sent from
Stuttgart
Source of text
DAR 177: 69
Physical description
ALS 3pp (German)

Please cite as

Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 3654,” accessed on 19 March 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-3654.xml

Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 10

letter