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Darwin Correspondence Project

To F. E. Abbot   8 January 1872

Down, | Beckenham, Kent.

Jan. 8th /72/

Private

My dear Sir

I have just received nor 104 of the Index, & I must write a few lines to say that I feel grateful for the manner in which you have introduced my name, which is in fact a magnificent eulogium on me.1 There are hosts of people, who if they saw the article, would disagree with you as widely as is possible; for it is the fashion here to say that I am a good observer, but possess an utterly illogical mind.

I greatly admire the force & eloquence of all the latter part of your article. A firm belief in the laws of nature will some day reign supreme.—2

Believe me | My dear Sir | Yours sincerely | Ch. Darwin

Footnotes

1
CD began to subscribe to the Index, a newspaper edited by Abbot advocating free religion, in 1871 (see Correspondence vol. 19, letter to F. E. Abbot, 6 June [1871]). CD’s copy of the Index, 23 December 1871, is in DAR 139.12: 2. In an editorial headed ‘The coming empire of science’ (pp. 404–5), Abbot revealed that an quotation approving of his Truths for the times (Abbot [1870]) printed in an earlier issue of the Index (that of 24 June 1871) was in fact from a letter from CD (see Correspondence vol. 19, letter to F. E. Abbot, 27 May [1871], for the quotation, which is the last sentence of the letter). He reprinted the quotation, and also the first paragraph of CD’s letter to him of 16 November [1871] (ibid.), which suggested modifications to it. See also ibid., letter to F. E. Abbot, 6 September [1871], and letters from F. E. Abbot, 20 August 1871 and n. 7, and 1 November 1871.
2
Abbot argued for a religion based on scientific method, and a harmonising of modern science and modern religion.

Bibliography

Abbot, Francis Ellingwood. [1870.] Truths for the times. Mount Pleasant, Ramsgate: Thomas Scott.

Correspondence: The correspondence of Charles Darwin. Edited by Frederick Burkhardt et al. 29 vols to date. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1985–.

Summary

CD is grateful for the eulogy in Index [no. 104]. Many would disagree. It is the fashion to say he is a good observer with "an utterly illogical mind".

Letter details

Letter no.
DCP-LETT-8151
From
Charles Robert Darwin
To
Francis Ellingwood Abbot
Sent from
Down
Source of text
Harvard University Archives (Papers of F. E. Abbot, 1841–1904. Named Correspondence, 1857–1903. Folder: Darwin, Charles and W. E. Darwin (son), 1871–1883, box 44. HUG 1101)
Physical description
ALS 2pp & ADraft 1p

Please cite as

Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 8151,” accessed on 18 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-8151.xml

Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 20

letter

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