Dear Madam

In response to your wish I have much pleasure in expressing the interest which I feel in your proposed investigation on the mental & bodily development of infants.—¹ Very little is at present accurately known on this subject, & I believe that isolated observations will add but little to our knowledge, whereas tabulated results from a very large number of observations systematically made, would probably throw much light on the sequence & period of development of the several faculties. This knowledge would probably give a foundation for some improvement in our education of young children, & would show us whether the same system ought to be followed in all cases.

I will venture to specify a few points of enquiry which, as it seems to me, possess some scientific interest. For instance does the education of the parents influence the mental powers of their children at any age, either at a very early or somewhat more advanced stage?² This could perhaps be learnt by school-masters or mistresses, if a large number of children were first classed according to age & their mental attainments, & afterwards in accordance with the education of their parents, as far as this could be discovered. As observation is one of the earliest faculties developed in young children, & as this power would probably be exercised in an equal degree by the children of educated & uneducated persons, it seems not improbable that any transmitted effect from education would be displayed only at a somewhat advanced age. It would be desirable to test statistically in a similar manner the truth of the often repeated statement that coloured children at first learn as quickly as white children, but that they afterwards fall off in progress.³ If it could be proved that education acts not only on the individual, but by transmission on the race, this would be a great encouragement to all working on this all-important subject.

It is well known that children sometimes exhibit at a very early age strong special tastes, for which no cause can be assigned, although occasionally they may be accounted for by reversion to the taste or occupation of some progenitor; & it would be interesting to learn how far such early taste are persistent & influence the future career of the individual. In some instances such tastes die away without apparently leaving any after effect; but it would be adviseable to know how far this is commonly the case, as we should then know whether it was important to direct, as far as this is possible, the early tastes of our children. It may be more beneficial that a child should follow energetically some pursuit, of however trifling a nature, & thus acquire perseverance, than that he sh^d. be turned from it, because of no future advantage to him.⁴

I will mention one other small point of enquiry in relation to very young children, which may possibly prove important with respect to the origin of language; but it could be investigated only by persons possessing an accurate musical ear. Children even before they can articulate express some of their feelings & desires by noises uttered in different notes. For instance they make an interrogative noise, & others of assent & dissent in different tones, & it would, I think, be worth while to ascertain whether there is any uniformity in different children in the pitch of their voices under various frames of mind.

I fear that this letter can be of no use to you, but it will serve to show my sympathy & good wishes in your researches.

I beg leave to remain | Dear Madam | Yours faithfully | Charles Darwin

To | M^rs Emily Talbot.—