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Darwin Correspondence Project

From Grant Allen   10 December [1881]1

22 Cambridge Road. | Hastings.

Dec. 10.

Dear Mr. Darwin

I must write just a few lines tonight to thank you for the copy of the Origin of Species which has been duly forwarded m⁠⟨⁠e⁠⟩⁠ from ⁠⟨⁠Murr⁠⟩⁠ay’s. It is very good of you to send it to ⁠⟨⁠    ⁠⟩⁠ and I shall ⁠⟨⁠    ⁠⟩⁠ with pride and ⁠⟨⁠pleasur⁠⟩⁠e as ⁠⟨⁠lon⁠⟩⁠g ⁠⟨⁠as⁠⟩⁠ I live. I ⁠⟨⁠several words⁠⟩⁠ ⁠⟨⁠  ⁠⟩⁠t I had ⁠⟨⁠    ⁠⟩⁠ ⁠⟨⁠several words⁠⟩⁠ ⁠⟨⁠  ⁠⟩⁠g begged a ⁠⟨⁠several words⁠⟩⁠ ⁠⟨⁠  ⁠⟩⁠dly pro-⁠⟨⁠  ⁠⟩⁠ ⁠⟨⁠several words⁠⟩⁠ the ⁠⟨⁠several words⁠⟩⁠ and which I ⁠⟨⁠several words⁠⟩⁠ as a much valued memento.2 The flattering inscription you have placed in it almost puts me to the blush; for I feel how little I deserve such words from you. I hope, however, that in time I may be able to do something in the way of original research which may justify your kindness. So far, I have been mainly occupied in popularizing ⁠⟨⁠t⁠⟩⁠he ideas of others; but my work is now beginning to pay me so much better that I hope in future I may have leisure to devote to some special subject, and so contribute my mite to the progress of science.

A⁠⟨⁠g⁠⟩⁠ain thanking you most heartily f⁠⟨⁠or⁠⟩⁠ ⁠⟨⁠  ⁠⟩⁠ gift | I am | Yours very sincerel⁠⟨⁠y⁠⟩⁠ | G⁠⟨⁠rant Allen⁠⟩⁠

Footnotes

The year is established by the relationship between this letter and the letter to G. J. Romanes, 8 December 1881.
See letter to G. J. Romanes, 8 December 1881. CD probably sent Allen a copy of Origin 6th ed. Allen was away from his home in Dorking, Surrey, where the book would have been sent (see P. Morton 2005, p. 81).

Bibliography

Morton, Peter. 2005b. ‘The busiest man in England’: Grant Allen and the writing trade, 1875–1900. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

Origin 6th ed.: The origin of species by means of natural selection, or the preservation of favoured races in the struggle for life. 6th edition, with additions and corrections. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1872.

Summary

Thanks for copy of Origin with its flattering inscription.

Hopes some day to have leisure to do original research.

Letter details

Letter no.
DCP-LETT-13545
From
Charles Grant Blairfindie (Grant) Allen
To
Charles Robert Darwin
Sent from
Hastings
Source of text
DAR 159: 48
Physical description
ALS 2pp damaged

Please cite as

Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 13545,” accessed on 28 March 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-13545.xml

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