From Armand de Quatrefages1 23 July 1872
Paris
23 Juillet 1872
Cher Monsieur et confrere,
J’ai le bien vif regret de vous annoncer qu’en dépit de tous mes efforts j’ai échoué et que votre candidature n’a pas réussi.2 Après trois longues séances de discussion on est allé au scrutin hier. 19 voix seulement se sont ralliées autour de votre nom. Loëven en a eu 32.3 Bon nombre de membres comme vous voyez se sont abstenus de voter.— Comme vous l’aviez prévu, votre dernier livre a été pour beaucoup dans ce résultat.4 Plusieurs orateurs on dit très nettement que sans cette publication, ils auraient voté pour vous.
Je regrete très vivement que les choses se soient passées ainsi. Mais je ne renonce pas à vous compter plus tard parmi nos collegues. Il y a encore une place vacante et je ferai de nouveaux efforts dans ce but.
Croyez cher Monsieur que des dissentiments de doctrine ne m’empêcheront jamais de rendre justice a vos mérites et que je ferai mon possible pour que l’Académie agisse de même5
Votre bien dévoué | De Quatrefages
Footnotes
Bibliography
Correspondence: The correspondence of Charles Darwin. Edited by Frederick Burkhardt et al. 29 vols to date. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1985–.
Descent: The descent of man, and selection in relation to sex. By Charles Darwin. 2 vols. London: John Murray. 1871.
Quatrefages, Armand de. 1870. Charles Darwin et ses précurseurs français. Etude sur le transformisme. Paris: Germer Baillière.
Translation
From Armand de Quatrefages1 23 July 1872
Paris
23 July 1872
Dear Sir and colleague,
I deeply regret having to inform you that despite all my efforts I have failed and your candidature was unsuccessful.2 After three long meetings for discussion we went to the ballot yesterday. Just 19 votes rallied around your name. Loëven had 32.3 A good number of members, as you see, abstained from voting.— As you had foreseen, your latest book accounted for much of this result.4 Several speakers said very clearly that but for that publication they would have voted for you.
I regret very deeply that things have turned out this way. But I am not giving up hope of counting you as one of our colleagues at a later date. There is one vacant position left and I shall make renewed efforts towards that end.
Dear Sir, please believe that doctrinal disagreements will never prevent me from rendering justice to your merits and that I shall do what I can to ensure that the Academy acts likewise5
Very truly yours | De Quatrefages
Footnotes
Bibliography
Correspondence: The correspondence of Charles Darwin. Edited by Frederick Burkhardt et al. 29 vols to date. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1985–.
Descent: The descent of man, and selection in relation to sex. By Charles Darwin. 2 vols. London: John Murray. 1871.
Quatrefages, Armand de. 1870. Charles Darwin et ses précurseurs français. Etude sur le transformisme. Paris: Germer Baillière.
Summary
CD not nominated by French Academy.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-8424
- From
- Jean Louis Armand (Armand de Quatrefages) Quatrefages de Bréau
- To
- Charles Robert Darwin
- Sent from
- Paris
- Source of text
- DAR 175: 10
- Physical description
- ALS 3pp (French)
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 8424,” accessed on 28 March 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-8424.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 20