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Darwin Correspondence Project

From G. E. Mengozzi1   24 November 1880

Rome | 3 Piazza del Popolo

24 Novembre 1880

Illustre Monsieur,

Avec grand plaisir je reçu a temp Votre Portrait, firmé par Vous, à Londres. Je Vous en remercie infiniment.2

Ma primiere pensée à Rome, c’etait de convoquer la Magistrature de la Royale et Imperial Accademie “La Scuola Italica” pour Vous proposer à Primier Ancien d’Honneur de la même. À unanimité et avec entusiasme ils Vous ont accueilli en se tenants très honoreés d’avoir a Membre d’honneur le Prince vivent de la philosophie de la Nature.

Moi en me faisant enterprête de Votre grand Esprit, j’ai assurée mes Collegues, que Vous aurai accepté avec bon gré, cet signe obsequieux que l’Italie il Vous offre, quoique soit peu de chose devant Vous.

Dans cette occasion, moi comme Membre Fondateur depuis l’année 1860 (et le Roi d’Italie, Humbert 1er. Président General d’Honneur) et obbligée que je suis de Votre noble accueil faite à mes pauvres lettres, je me prend la liberté de Vous dédier un des mes livres; “La générations des animaux et nouvelle Classification des êtres naturels” ci Vous me le permettez il sera honorée et il acquêtera ce prix que il n’a pas en lui.

Pour à présent je Vous prié d’agréer le livre que je Vous envoye comme signe de ma reconnaissance et devotion; avec ces sentiments je me repéte maintenent et toujours3 | De Vous Illustre Monsieur | Devouè | Comm. Profre G. E. Mengozzi M.D.

Ill. Monsieur | Charles Darwin | Down— Londres

Footnotes

For a translation of this letter, see Appendix I. Mengozzi’s French (not his native tongue) was extremely poor.
In his letter of 28 October 1880, Mengozzi had sent a portrait of CD and asked CD to sign it.
Mengozzi had founded the Accademia Nazionale, la Scuola Italica, in 1860; Umberto I was king of Italy from 1878 to 1900. No copy of Nuova classificazione degli esseri naturali e saggio sulla generazione degli animali (New classification of natural beings and essay on the generation of animals; Mengozzi 1881) has been found in the Darwin Library–CUL or the Darwin Library–Down; it contained a dedication to CD on pp. vii–xxv.

Bibliography

Mengozzi, Giovanni Ettore. 1881. Nuova classificazione degli esseri naturali e saggio sulla generazione degli animali. Rome: Tipografia Alle Terme Diocleziane.

Translation

From G. E. Mengozzi1   24 November 1880

3 Piazza del Popolo Rome

24 November 1880

IIllustrious Sir,

I received in time with great pleasure your Portrait, signed by you, at London. I am infinitely grateful to you for it.2

My first thought in Rome was to convene the Magistracy of the Royal and Imperial Academy “La Scuola Italica” in order to propose you as First Honorary Member of the same. They accepted you unanimously and with enthusiasm, feeling themselves very honoured to have as an Honorary member the living Prince of the philosophy of Nature.

Myself, as spokesperson for your great Intellect, I have assured my Colleagues, that you would willingly accept this fulsome sign that Italy offers you, even though it is hardly anything for you.

On this occasion, myself as a Founding member since 1860 (and the King of Italy, Humbert 1st. Honorary General President) and obliged for your noble acceptance of my poor letters, I take the liberty of dedicating one of my books to you; “La générations des animaux et nouvelle Classification des êtres naturels” if you allow me it will be honoured and take on this prize which it does not possess in itself.

For now please accept the book that I send you as a token of my gratitude and devotion; with these sentiments I remain now and always3 | Illustrious Sir | Your devoted | Comm. Profre G. E. Mengozzi M.D.

Ill. Sir | Charles Darwin | Down— London

Footnotes

For a transcription of this letter in its original French, see pp. 424–5. Mengozzi’s French (not his native tongue) was extremely poor.
In his letter of 28 October 1880, Mengozzi had sent a portrait of CD and asked CD to sign it.
Mengozzi had founded the Accademia Nazionale, la Scuola Italica, in 1860; Umberto I was king of Italy from 1878 to 1900. No copy of Nuova classificazione degli esseri naturali e saggio sulla generazione degli animali (New classification of natural beings and essay on the generation of animals; Mengozzi 1881) has been found in the Darwin Library–CUL or the Darwin Library–Down; it contained a dedication to CD on pp. vii–xxv.

Bibliography

Mengozzi, Giovanni Ettore. 1881. Nuova classificazione degli esseri naturali e saggio sulla generazione degli animali. Rome: Tipografia Alle Terme Diocleziane.

Summary

Announces proposal to make CD an Honorary Member of La Scuola Italica.

Letter details

Letter no.
DCP-LETT-12852
From
Giovanni Ettore Mengozzi
To
Charles Robert Darwin
Sent from
Rome
Source of text
DAR 202: 112
Physical description
LS 3pp (French)

Please cite as

Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 12852,” accessed on 5 June 2025, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-12852.xml

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