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Darwin Correspondence Project

From E. J. Collings   21 May 1879

27 Hampden St. | Bolton.

May 21st. 1879.

Sir;

A debating society to which I have the honour to belong is about to discuss “that reason is not confined to man” and I have been appointed to second the opener of the dis-cussion.1 But on consideration I find I know of so very little material available for the preparation of the dis-cussion, that I take the liberty of asking if you can kindly recommend me to any sources of information which would be of service under the circumstances.

I should be especially obliged if you would recommend me to any work or portion of a work of your own.2

Any suggestion you may be pleased to make as to any particular line of evidence, for or against the thesis or any hints you may be disposed to give would be gratefully accepted.

Apologising for thus troubling you

I have the honour to be | Sir. | Yours Very respectfully. | Edward: J: Collings.

CD annotations

Top of letter: ‘Cool’ red crayon

Footnotes

The society has not been identified.
CD had compared the mental powers of animals and humans in Descent 1: 34–69, and proposed to show that there was ‘no fundamental difference between man and the higher mammals in their mental faculties’ (ibid., p. 35).

Bibliography

Descent: The descent of man, and selection in relation to sex. By Charles Darwin. 2 vols. London: John Murray. 1871.

Summary

Wants information on the use of reason by animals.

Letter details

Letter no.
DCP-LETT-12058
From
Edward James Collings
To
Charles Robert Darwin
Sent from
Bolton
Source of text
DAR 201: 8
Physical description
ALS 4pp

Please cite as

Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 12058,” accessed on 20 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-12058.xml

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