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Letter 1657

Darwin, C. R. to Miller, Hugh

29 Mar [1855]

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    Requests HM's article in the Witness [24 Feb 1855; see HM, "On the late severe frost", Proc. R. Phys. Soc. Edinburgh 1 (1854–8): 10–14], on the effects of frost on shells. CD expresses admiration for the two works by HM he has read.

Transcription

Down Farnborough Kent

March 29th

Dear Sir

I hope that you will excuse the liberty I take in troubling you; but I heard lately at the British Museum, from Dr Baird & Mr A. White (who said that I might use their names as an introduction) that you had published a very curious paper in the Witness on the effects of the frost on certain shells; & I am anxious to see this. They could not tell me at all the date of the Witness, & I now write to ask whether you will take the trouble to inform me, that I may order the copy.

It may be presumptuous, but I cannot resist, expressing the very great pleasure I owe to you, from the perusal of the two of your works, which I have as yet read.

With much respect | I remain | Yours very faithfully | Charles Darwin

    Footnotes Add

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    f1 1657.f1
    William Baird and Adam White were both employed in the zoological department of the British Museum.
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    f2 1657.f2
    The article ‘On the late severe frost’ was published in the Witness, a liberal, pro-Free Church newspaper edited by Miller, on 24 February 1855.
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    f3 1657.f3
    CD had read Miller's Old Red Sandstone (Miller 1841) in June 1842, First impressions of England and its people (Miller 1847) in October 1847, and Footprints of the Creator (Miller 1849) in November 1849 (Correspondence vol. 4, Appendix IV, 119: 12a, 20a, 22a).
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