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Darwin Correspondence Project

From Henry Maudsley   12 November 1879

9, Hanover Square, W.

November 12th. 1879

My dear Sir,

I have been very much gratified to receive from you a copy of the life of your distinguished grandfather, Dr E. Darwin, and I thank you sincerely for your kind remembrance of me.1

Since I read his works—now several years ago—I have wished that some one would do justice to his remarkable originality and sagacity, by pointing out, among other things, how far he was in advance of the thought of his times in some important respects, and how happily he had anticipated some of what is now current scientific thought—

I am very glad therefore that this has at last been done; and I feel some difficulty in adequately expressing how grateful I am to have received from his grandson, who has himself effected the greatest revolution—or rather, evolution—of thought, a welcome copy of the memoir— Valued in itself, it will be greatly more valued in the giver.

Believe me | Yours faithfully | H Maudsley

Footnotes

Maudsley’s name is on CD’s presentation list for Erasmus Darwin (Appendix IV). Maudsley is cited on p. 108 in connection with Erasmus Darwin’s treatment of mentally ill patients.

Summary

Thanks for copy of Erasmus Darwin. Has wished that justice be done to Dr Darwin’s originality and his anticipation of some modern scientific theories.

Letter details

Letter no.
DCP-LETT-12312
From
Henry Maudsley
To
Charles Robert Darwin
Sent from
London, Hanover Square, 9
Source of text
DAR 99: 187–8
Physical description
ALS 4pp

Please cite as

Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 12312,” accessed on 19 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-12312.xml

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