From V. O. Kovalevsky 28 May [1871]1
Berlin Georgenstrasse 7.
28 May
Dear Sir
I got the small book of Körte and mustered it through without finding anything that could be of interest or use for You, but to clear all doubts, I send the volume to You that You may judje by Your own eyes.2 The book is from the Royal library and if possibly it should be returned in two weeks. You said quite true in Your last letter about the strange life we led these five months, and really we have seen much not to be forgotten. The end is more terrible I could ever think, and the wholesale murders going now in Paris are heartrending.3 Many of our friends are no more and the brave Docteur Parisel who opened for me all the Collections and gave full liberty for studying the palaeontological treasures of the Ecole des Mines is shot by order of some scoundrel as Gallifet or the like.4 Really I think that the Indian thugs were pleasant and tenderhearted people, if we compare them with what is known in all countries under the name of “friends of Order”. Have You read the circular of Favre, do You think possible that England shall deliver the few who escaped to be murdered by Picard & Cy, I hope not, it would be an eternal shame.5 The events are so dreadful that they must disgust every man from politics,—nearly 40,000 perishing for the wish to have their own Lord Mayor and Aldermens as You have in London, and as every small town have them in Germany; this and the absence of troops of the line from the city were the only wishes of the working population of Paris.
I am very busy now at Embryology and hope to finish it till August and then go to England for three months to see You and work in the London collections.6 If I am ready with my general studies I have an idea of a special investigation on which I should like very much to consult You, but I leave this matter till I shall be so happy as to see You personally and speak about it. I dont know did my brother anything about Your Queries, he leaved Suez two weeks ago and is now at Jaffa.7 My wife is working very hard and hopes to pass her examination this winter, the Parisian events robbed us of a precious time and peace of mind indispensable for serious study.8
With compliments to Mrs Darwin and the ladies9 | I am | Yours very truly | W. Kowalevsky
Footnotes
Bibliography
DBF: Dictionnaire de biographie Française. Under the direction of J. Balteau et al. 21 vols. and 4 fascicules of vol. 22 (A–Leyris d’Esponchès) to date. Paris: Librairie Letouzey & Ané. 1933–.
Dupont, Michel. 1999. Dictionnaire historique des médecins: dans et hors de la médecin. Paris: Larousse.
EB: The Encyclopædia Britannica. A dictionary of arts, sciences, literature and general information. 11th edition. 29 vols. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1910–11.
Koblitz, Ann Hibner. 1983. A convergence of lives: Sofia Kovalevskaia, scientist, writer, revolutionary. Boston: Birkhäuser.
Körte, Franz. 1828. Die Strich-, Zug- oder Wander-Heuschrecke, ihre Beschreibung, Verheerung in jetzigen und früheren Zeiten, und die Mittel zu ihrer Vertilgung. Berlin: August Rücker.
Körte, Franz Friedrich Ernst. 1829. Strich-, Zug- oder Wander-Heuschrecke vom Eie an beobachtet und beschrieben. Berlin: August Rücker.
Tombs, Robert. 1981. The war against Paris, 1871. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Summary
Reports on the wholesale murder in Paris.
His wife, Sofya Kovalevsky, is working for her examinations.
VOK is studying embryology.
Alexander has left Suez and is now in Jaffa.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-7775
- From
- Vladimir Onufrievich Kovalevsky (Владимир Онуфриевич Ковалевский)
- To
- Charles Robert Darwin
- Sent from
- Berlin
- Source of text
- DAR 169: 63
- Physical description
- ALS 3pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 7775,” accessed on 23 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-7775.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 19
