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Darwin Correspondence Project

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

For a translation of this letter, see Correspondence vol. 20, Appendix I.
CD had failed to be elected as correspondent to the anatomy and zoology section of the Académie des sciences, Paris. For Quatrefages’s earler attempts to get CD elected, see letter from Armand de Quatrefrages, 12 January 1872 and n. 2.
Sven Lovén was elected correspondent to the section for anatomy and zoology on 22 July 1872 (Comptes rendus hebdomadaires des séances de l’Académie des sciences 75 (1872): 194). The record states that forty-eight members were in attendance and the votes numbered thirty-two for Lovén, fifteen for CD, and one blank paper.
Quatrefages refers to Descent.
For Quatrefages’s reservations about CD’s theories, see Quatrefages 1870.

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

For a transcription of this letter in its original French, see pp. 318–19.
CD had failed to be elected as correspondent to the anatomy and zoology section of the Académie des sciences, Paris. For Quatrefages’s earler attempts to get CD elected, see letter from Armand de Quatrefrages, 12 January 1872 and n. 2.
Sven Lovén was elected correspondent to the section for anatomy and zoology on 22 July 1872 (Comptes rendus hebdomadaires des séances de l’Académie des sciences 75 (1872): 194). The record states that forty-eight members were in attendance and the votes numbered thirty-two for Lovén, fifteen for CD, and one blank paper.
Quatrefages refers to Descent.
For Quatrefages’s reservations about CD’s theories, see Quatrefages 1870.

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

letter