Darwin, C. R. to Jukes, J. B.
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Flattered by JBJ's discussion of coral reefs [in Voyage of H.M.S. "Fly" 1 (1847): 347–8]. CD has always thought his Coral reefs "too bold and speculative", so he is gratified "when anyone who has had opportunities of observation does not give his verdict against it".
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Transcription
Down Farnborough | Kent
Oct 8
My dear Sir
Pray accept my thanks for your coloured map of N.E. Australia: it is the very thing I was wishing to have the other day, when I
was reading your chapters on the Coral Reefs.— I
have not yet been able to get a copy of your work to go through with it, but I have read
carefully all you say on Coral Reefs & been very greatly flattered &
pleased. I admire your boldness about this being a
reef-building age & Lyell & myself agreed there was much probability in
it. I have always felt that my coral-reef book was too bold & speculative
& therefore you will not easily imagine how gratified I am when anyone, who has
had opportunities of observation, does not give his verdict against it. The Barrier is
certainly a grand feature; but you must have found the coast geology with its
everlasting granite very dull: I remember that I used to hate granitic districts. How I
wish that fate & your Captain had led you to examine the scattered reefs between
the Barrier & N. Caledonia; I have always felt much curiosity about
them. I daresay you know M
Pray believe me, my dear Sir, Yours very sincerely | C. Darwin
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Jukes had been the naturalist aboard H.M.S. Fly during the survey of the north-east coast of Australia, 1842–6, under the command of Francis Price Blackwood. - +
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Jukes 1847. - +
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Jukes 1847, pp. 347–8. - +
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John Crawfurd, who travelled widely in India and China and published many ethnological and philological works after his return to England in 1827.