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From J. M. Grandclément1   [after 15 June 1874]2

A Monsieur Charles Darwin salut respectueux.

Monsieur.

Je vous suis très reconnaissant de la réponse que vous avez bien voulu me faire à la question que je vous ai adressée dans le courant du mois de Mai dernier. Votre lettre ne m’a pas convaincu. Je ne trouve encore dans ce moment aucune bonne raison pour croire à la prophylaxie de la vaccine.3 Je ne vous écris pas aujourd’hui pour reprendre ce sujet, mais seulement pour vous annoncer l’envoi d’un journal dans lequel se trouve un article qui vous concerne. C’est un travail que j’ai fait en réponse à une publication de Monsieur Emile Blanchard de l’académie des sciences sur l’un de vos ouvrages.4 Dans notre malheureux pays, les naturalistes qui occupent une position officielle, sont sans indépendance sous le rapport des idées philosophiques, la crainte de déplaire les condamnant à n’avoir aucun hardiesse.

Le langage de Monsieur Blanchard ne doit donc vous étonner en aucune manière pas plus que sa participation à d’autres déterminations.5

Recevez, Monsieur, mes salutations respectueuses. | Dr. Grandclément. | Clermont fd. (puy de Dôme). | France.

Si vous ne receviez pas le journal soyez assez bon pour me le faire savoir.

Footnotes

1
For a translation of this letter, see Appendix I.
2
The date is established by the date of publication of the first part of Blanchard 1874 (see n. 4, below).
3
See letter from J. M. Grandclément, [May 1874]; CD’s reply has not been found.
4
Blanchard criticised CD’s theories of natural and sexual selection, and their application to humans, in an article in Revue des deux mondes (Blanchard 1874), the first part of which appeared on 15 June 1874 with subsequent parts on 1 August 1874 and 1 October 1874. Grandclément’s response has not been identified.
5
Blanchard had opposed attempts to elect CD as a correspondent of the Paris Academy of Sciences. The most recent election had been held on 22 July 1872 (see Correspondence vol. 20, letter from Armand de Quatrefages, 23 July 1872); for an account of Blanchard’s earlier opposition see Revue des cours scientifiques, 23 July 1870, p. 529).

Bibliography

Blanchard, Emile. 1874. L’origine des êtres. Revue des deux mondes 3: 837–67, 4: 580–610, 5: 583–617.

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

Translation

From J. M. Grandclément1   [after 15 June 1874]2

To Mr Charles Darwin, respectful greetings.

Sir.

I am most grateful for your kind response to the question I sent you last May. Your letter has not persuaded me. I still find, at present, no good reason to believe in the prophylaxis of vaccine.3 I am not writing to you today in order to take up that subject again, but only to announce that I am sending you a journal containing an article which concerns you. It is a piece of work I did in reply to a publication by Mr Emile Blanchard of the académie des sciences concerning one of your works.4 In our unfortunate country, naturalists who occupy an official position, are without independence in regard to philosophical ideas; the fear of causing displeasure condemns them to have no daring.

Mr Blanchard’s language ought therefore not to astonish you in any way, any more than his participation in other decisions.5

Yours truly,

Dr Grandclément. | Clermont fd (puy de Dôme). | France.

If you do not receive the journal be so good as to let me know.

Footnotes

1
For a transcription of this letter in its original French, see Transcript.
2
The date is established by the date of publication of the first part of Blanchard 1874 (see n. 4, below).
3
See letter from J. M. Grandclément, [May 1874]; CD’s reply has not been found.
4
Blanchard criticised CD’s theories of natural and sexual selection, and their application to humans, in an article in Revue des deux mondes (Blanchard 1874), the first part of which appeared on 15 June 1874 with subsequent parts on 1 August 1874 and 1 October 1874. Grandclément’s response has not been identified.
5
Blanchard had opposed attempts to elect CD as a correspondent of the Paris Academy of Sciences. The most recent election had been held on 22 July 1872 (see Correspondence vol. 20, letter from Armand de Quatrefages, 23 July 1872); for an account of Blanchard’s earlier opposition see Revue des cours scientifiques, 23 July 1870, p. 529).

Bibliography

Blanchard, Emile. 1874. L’origine des êtres. Revue des deux mondes 3: 837–67, 4: 580–610, 5: 583–617.

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

Summary

Thanks CD for his answer to his letter. It has not convinced him – he still sees no reason to believe in the prophylactic effect of the vaccine.

Sends an article he has written answering Émile Blanchard of the Academy. Naturalists in France who occupy official positions are not independent.

Letter details

Letter no.
DCP-LETT-9479
From
Joseph Marie Grandclément
To
Charles Robert Darwin
Sent from
Clermont-Ferrand
Source of text
DAR 165: 88
Physical description
ALS 3pp (French)

Please cite as

Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 9479,” accessed on 24 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-9479.xml

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

letter

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