To J. P. Gaimard 14 October 18411
[Darwin explains that he accompanied Captain FitzRoy on his voyage on board H.M.S. Beagle as a naturalist, and he is almost ready to publish a small volume on coral formations.2 He has lively hopes of learning about one aspect of the subject, and the zeal with which M. Gaimard has for so long cultivated the natural sciences, emboldens him to hope that M. Gaimard will oblige a fellow worker in the same field. In the account by M. Cordier of the geology of the voyage of the Astrolabe (vol. I, p. cxi), he writes concerning Vanikoro that the island is “entourée de récifs madréporiques qu’on assure être de formation tout-à-faire moderne”3 … As he is extremely interested in this question and because he has come to much the same conclusion when it comes to the structure of the reef, he would would be grateful if M. Gaimard could inform him on what foundation the remark of M. Cordier rests: the source of the information and whether it relies on the traditions of the indigenous peoples. He begs M. Gaimard to reply quickly, since he is on the eve of publication; he knows very well that] my position is not such, as to have any claims to intrude on your valuable time:4
with much respect | I beg to remain | Sir | Your faithful servant | Charles Darwin
12 Upper Gower Stt.—
Footnotes
Bibliography
Coral reefs: The structure and distribution of coral reefs. Being the first part of the geology of the voyage of the Beagle, under the command of Capt. FitzRoy RN, during the years 1832 to 1836. By Charles Darwin. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1842.
Dumont d’Urville, Jules Sébastien César, ed. 1830–5. Voyage de la corvette l’Astrolabe. Histoire 5 vols. 1830–5; Zoologie 4 vols. 1830–4; Botanique 1 vol. 1832; Entomologie 2 pts in 1 vol. 1832–5; Philologie 1 vol. 1833. Paris: J. Tastu, éditeur-imprimeur.
Freeman, Richard Broke. 1978. Charles Darwin: a companion. Folkestone, Kent: William Dawson & Sons. Hamden, Conn.: Archon Books, Shoe String Press.
Summary
Asks if JPG can supply him with the source of M. Cordier’s assertion that the reef of Vanikoro is of recent formation.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-609F
- From
- Charles Robert Darwin
- To
- Joseph Paul Gaimard
- Sent from
- London
- Source of text
- Ader Nordmann (dealers) (18 June 2015)
- Physical description
- ALS 3pp inc
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 609F,” accessed on 18 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-609F.xml