Darwin, C. R. to Newton, Alfred
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Declines writing testimonial for AN for the Cambridge Professorship in Zoology. The post requires expertise in comparative anatomy and histology, whereas AN's work is on habits and colours of birds.
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Transcription
Down. | Bromley. | Kent. S.E.
Oct. 29
My dear Sir
As I have always held, if you will permit me to say so, a very friendly feeling & respect towards you, it is with sincere regret, I may say with pain, that I feel I cannot give you a testimonial for the intended Professorship, of which I had not previously heard; for in my opinion in the present state of Zoological Science it would be indispensable that a teacher should have especially studied comparative anatomy & Histology, & likewise have attended much to the invertebrate animals which exhibit such different types of structure.
If I am not mistaken, you have not published on these subjects, & have chiefly
attended to Birds, including their habits, instincts, distrubution and other such
philosophical points. I do not suppose my testimonial would be
of much value, & with not a few members of the University it w
Pray believe me | my dear Sir | yours very sincerely | Ch. Darwin
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- f1 4926.f1
See letter from Alfred Newton, 27 October 1865 and n. 1. - +
- f2 4926.f2
A full bibliography of Newton's publications, all of which were on ornithological subjects, is contained in the appendix to A. F. R. Wollaston 1921.