To R. F. Albrecht 16 October [1871]1
Down, | Beckenham, Kent.
Oct 16
Dear Sir
I am much indebted to you for your kindness in writing to me & sending me the extracts.2 I formerly collected a good many facts bearing on the subject to which you refer, & have briefly touched on the subject in my Variation of Animals under Domestication Vol. 2. Chapt 22. p. 264.—3 I have there just alluded to my reasons for not believing that actual resemblances can thus originate, though of course I do not wish to deny that a strong mental shock, like any bodily injury, may cause an arrest of development in the embryo & thus induce various monstrosities.
With my thanks | I beg leave to remain | Dear Sir | Yours faithfully | Ch. Darwin
Footnotes
Bibliography
Variation: The variation of animals and plants under domestication. By Charles Darwin. 2 vols. London: John Murray. 1868.
Summary
Thanks RFA for extracts.
Does not believe resemblances can be produced as RFA suggests, but would not deny that a strong mental shock may cause arrest of embryonic development and thus give rise to monstrosities.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-8014
- From
- Charles Robert Darwin
- To
- R. F. Albrecht
- Sent from
- Down
- Source of text
- Universitätsbibliothek Leipzig, Sondersammlungen (Sammlung Nebauer)
- Physical description
- ALS 2pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 8014,” accessed on 19 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-8014.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 19