To H. W. Bates 26 January [1863]1
Down Bromley Kent
Jan 26th
Dear Bates
I congratulate you very sincerely on your marriage.2 Judging from my own experience it is the best & almost only chance for what share of happiness this world affords. I hope you may succeed, for the sake of science, in getting fixed near London.—3
I am heartily glad to hear that your great labours over your Book are drawing to a close:4 I know that I for one shall read it with real interest.— Pray thank Wallace when you see him about Melastomas;5 I have in truth given more trouble on this, than case deserves, & am truly obliged to you. The fact is I cannot endure being beaten by a beggarly flower to the degree, which these confounded Melastomas have beaten me.— I am pleased to hear of discussion on species at Zoolog. Soc.—6
With my renewed congratulations & hopes for your happiness, believe me | Yours sincerely | Ch. Darwin
Footnotes
Bibliography
Bates, Henry Walter. 1863. The naturalist on the River Amazons. A record of adventures, habits of animals, sketches of Brazilian and Indian life, and aspects of nature under the equator, during eleven years of travel. 2 vols. London: John Murray.
Summary
Congratulations on marriage, which CD considers the best and only chance for happiness in this world.
Glad HWB is near completion of book.
Begs him to thank Wallace for Melastoma information; CD "cannot endure being beaten by a beggarly flower".
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-3945
- From
- Charles Robert Darwin
- To
- Henry Walter Bates
- Sent from
- Down
- Source of text
- Cleveland Health Sciences Library (Robert M. Stecher collection)
- Physical description
- ALS 3pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 3945,” accessed on 26 September 2022, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-3945.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 11
