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Darwin Correspondence Project

From C. I. F. Major1   17 November 1872

Pisa,

ce 17 Nov. 1872.

Très honoré Monsieur,

Je Vous suis sincèrement obligé pour les deux lettres dont Vous m’avez honoré et de l’offre que Vous avez bien voulu me faire dans Votre dernière de 11 ct.2 En réponse je déclare que je suis résolu de faire tout mon possible pour acheminer une traduction italienne de Votre dernier ouvrage,3 et je me suis déjà mis en rapport avec un éditeur de Florence.

Après ce que Vous m’avez dit des conditions de Votre éditeur, M. Murray, je ne me cache nullement les difficultés qu’il faudra vaincre.4 Cependant j’éspère qu’en réduisant pour ma part les exigences autant que possible, je trouverai bien un éditeur. Je serai fier de pouvoir contribuer un peu à faire apprécier Votre génie en Italie et à divulguer les nouvelles idées dont Vous enrichissez sans cesse les sciences naturelles.

J’accepte Votre amiable offre de me faire parvenir un exemplaire de Votre ouvrage, dans le but aussi de pouvoir le faire voir à l’éditeur.

Agréez, très honoré Monsieur, mes expressions de la plus haute estime. | C. I. Forsyth Major

No 11 Via Solferino | Pisa.

Footnotes

For a translation of this letter, see Correspondence vol. 20, Appendix I.
See Correspondence vol. 30, Supplement, letter to C. I. F. Major, [c. 1 November 1872]. CD’s letter to Major of 11 November has not been found.
CD may have warned that John Murray would charge for the heliotypes and for electrotypes of the woodcuts; there might also have been a charge for translation rights (see letter from R. F. Cooke, 1 August 1872).

Bibliography

Correspondence: The correspondence of Charles Darwin. Edited by Frederick Burkhardt et al. 29 vols to date. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1985–.

Expression: The expression of the emotions in man and animals. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1872.

Translation

From C. I. F. Major1   17 November 1872

Pisa,

17 Nov. 1872.

Most honoured Sir,

I am sincerely obliged to You for the two letters with which You have honoured me and for the offer You kindly made me in Your last letter of 11 inst.2 In reply I declare that I am resolved to do all I can to proceed with an Italian translation of Your latest work,3 and I have already been in touch with a publisher in Florence.

After what you have told me about the terms of your publisher, Mr. Murray, I shall make no secret of the difficulties that will need to be overcome.4 However, I hope that by limiting my own demands as far as possible, I shall find a publisher. I shall be proud if I can contribute a little towards the appreciation of your genius in Italy and to revealing the new ideas with which you constantly enrich the natural sciences.

I accept Your amiable offer to send me a copy of Your work, with a view to being able to show it to the publisher as well. Most honoured Sir, I remain yours faithfully. | C. I. Forsyth Major

No 11 Via Solferino | Pisa.

Footnotes

For a transcription of this letter in its original French, see pp. 511–12.
See Correspondence vol. 30, Supplement, letter to C. I. F. Major, [c. 1 November 1872]. CD’s letter to Major of 11 November has not been found.
CD may have warned that John Murray would charge for the heliotypes and for electrotypes of the woodcuts; there might also have been a charge for translation rights (see letter from R. F. Cooke, 1 August 1872).

Bibliography

Correspondence: The correspondence of Charles Darwin. Edited by Frederick Burkhardt et al. 29 vols to date. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1985–.

Expression: The expression of the emotions in man and animals. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1872.

Summary

Agrees to translate Expression into Italian.

Letter details

Letter no.
DCP-LETT-8633
From
Charles Immanuel Forsyth Major
To
Charles Robert Darwin
Sent from
Pisa
Source of text
DAR 171: 29
Physical description
ALS 2pp (French)

Please cite as

Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 8633,” accessed on 19 September 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-8633.xml

Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 20

letter