From Hugh Falconer 23 June 1861
31 Sackville St. W
23 June. 1861
My Dear Darwin
I have been to Adelsberg Cave1—and brought back with me a live Proteus anguinus, designed for you from the moment I got it—i.e. if you have got an aquarium, and would care to have it.2 I only returned last night from the Continent and hearing from your brother, that you are about to go to Torquay, I lose no time in making you the offer.3 The poor dear animal is still alive—although it has had no appreciable means of sustenance for a month—and I am most anxious to get rid of the responsibility of starving it longer. In your hands it will thrive—and have a fair chance of being developed without delay, into some type of the Columbidæ—say a Pouter or a Tumbler.
My Dear Darwin, I have been rambling through the north of Italy, and Germany lately. Every where have I heard your views, and your admirable essay canvassed— the views of course often dissented from, according to the special bias of the speaker—but the work—its honesty of purpose—grandeur of conception—felicity of illustration—and courageous exposition—always referred to in terms of the highest admiration. And among your warmest friends, no one rejoiced more heartily in the just appreciation of Charles Darwin than did,
Yours very truly | H Falconer
Footnotes
Bibliography
Correspondence: The correspondence of Charles Darwin. Edited by Frederick Burkhardt et al. 29 vols to date. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1985–.
EB: The Encyclopædia Britannica. A dictionary of arts, sciences, literature and general information. 11th edition. 29 vols. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1910–11.
Origin: On the origin of species by means of natural selection, or the preservation of favoured races in the struggle for life. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1859.
Summary
Offers CD a live Proteus anguinus from Adelsberg cave. In his hands it will have a fair chance of developing into "some type of Columbidae (say a pouter or tumbler)".
The Origin is universally praised in Italy and Germany, even by those who disagree with it.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-3194
- From
- Hugh Falconer
- To
- Charles Robert Darwin
- Sent from
- London, Sackville St, 31
- Source of text
- DAR 99: 3–4
- Physical description
- ALS 3pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 3194,” accessed on 23 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-3194.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 9