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Darwin Correspondence Project

From Eugène Desmarest1   27 February 1874

Société Entomologique de France. | Paris, | 3, Rue Linné.

le 27 Février 1874.

Monsieur.

La Société entomologique de France a voulu associer votre avis à ceux des savants dont elle se glorifie et qui sont placés à la tête de sa liste: Westwood, Zetterstedt, Schiodte, Milne-Edwards, Boisduval, Perris, Guenée, etc.2 Aussi, dans sa séance de mercredi dernier (25 fevrier 1874) vous a-t-elle élu membre honoraire; elle a voulu en vous accordant la plus haute distinction qu’elle puisse décerner recompenser le savant zoologiste, et l’auteur de travaux très- appréciés sur les Insectes et les Crustacés.3

La Société compte sur votre acceptation; et, d’après l’usage suivi religieusement depuis sa fondation en 1832, elle desire imprimer dans ses Annales la lettre d’acceptation que je vous prie de m’adresser le plus tôt qu’il vous sera possible de la faire et de manière à ce que je puisse en faire communication à notre prochain séance (11 Mars 1874).4

La Société n’ose espérer que vous voudrez bien collaborer à ses travaux par quelque mémoire entomologique qu’elle serait bien heureuse de publier dans ses Annales. Mais elle compte sur votre dévouement; et espère que vous voudrez bien lui adresser pour sa bibliothèque quelques uns de vos ouvrages, ainsi que votre photographie qu’elle voudrait posséder dans ses albums.

Recevez, Monsieur et honoré collègue, | l’assurance du profond respect, | de votre serviteur | E Desmarest | Secrétaire depuis 1840.

P.S. Veuillez me faire savoir le nom et l’adresse à Paris de la personne à laquelle nous devrons remettre à Paris les publications de la Société auxquelles vous avez droit à partir de 1874.

Mr. Charles Darwin

Footnotes

For a translation of this letter, see Appendix I.
For the diploma, see Appendix III. Desmarest may refer to CD’s work on barnacles (Living Cirripedia (1851), (1854); Fossil Cirripedia (1851), (1854)). CD did not publish a work devoted to insects alone.
The letter was published in Annales de la Société entomologique de France 5th ser. 4 (1874): XLVI. See letter to Eugène Desmarest, 4 March 1874.

Bibliography

Fossil Cirripedia (1851): A monograph on the fossil Lepadidæ, or, pedunculated cirripedes of Great Britain. By Charles Darwin. London: Palaeontographical Society. 1851.

Living Cirripedia (1851): A monograph of the sub-class Cirripedia, with figures of all the species. The Lepadidæ; or, pedunculated cirripedes. By Charles Darwin. London: Ray Society. 1851.

Translation

From Eugène Desmarest1   27 February 1874

Société Entomologique de France. | Paris, | 3, Rue Linné.

27 February 1874.

Dear Sir.

The Entomological Society of France wishes to ally your judgement with that of the men of science in whom it glories and who head its list: Westwood, Zetterstedt, Schiodte, Milne-Edwards, Boisduval, Perris, Guenée, etc.2 Accordingly, at last Wednesday’s meeting (25 February 1874), it elected you an honorary member. In according you the highest distinction it can bestow, it sought to recognise a learned zoologist, the author of highly-appreciated work on the Insects and Crustacea.3

The Society is counting on your acceptance; and, in accordance with the custom it has faithfully followed since its foundation in 1832, it seeks to publish your letter of acceptance in its Annals. Please send it to me as soon as possible, so that I can present it at our next meeting (11 March 1874).4

The Society hardly dares hope that you might be so good as to participate in its work by means of an entomological memoir, which it would be delighted to publish in its Annals. But it is counting on your devotion and hopes that you might be so good as to send some of your works for its library, as well as your photograph, which it would like to add to its albums.

Dear Sir and honoured colleague, please believe me | yours truly | E Desmarest | Secretary since 1840.

P.S. Please let me know the name and address of the person in Paris to whom we should send the Society’s publications in Paris, to which you are entitled from 1874 onwards.

Mr. Charles Darwin

Footnotes

For a transcription of this letter in its original French, see Transcript.
For the diploma, see Appendix III. Desmarest may refer to CD’s work on barnacles (Living Cirripedia (1851), (1854); Fossil Cirripedia (1851), (1854)). CD did not publish a work devoted to insects alone.
The letter was published in Annales de la Société entomologique de France 5th ser. 4 (1874): XLVI. See letter to Eugène Desmarest, 4 March 1874.

Bibliography

Fossil Cirripedia (1851): A monograph on the fossil Lepadidæ, or, pedunculated cirripedes of Great Britain. By Charles Darwin. London: Palaeontographical Society. 1851.

Living Cirripedia (1851): A monograph of the sub-class Cirripedia, with figures of all the species. The Lepadidæ; or, pedunculated cirripedes. By Charles Darwin. London: Ray Society. 1851.

Summary

CD has been elected an Honorary Member of the Society.

Letter details

Letter no.
DCP-LETT-9320
From
Eugène Desmarest
To
Charles Robert Darwin
Sent from
Paris
Source of text
DAR 162: 172
Physical description
ALS 3pp (French)

Please cite as

Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 9320,” accessed on 19 March 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-9320.xml

Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 22

letter