From J. E. Gray 29 January 1862
My Dear Darwin
Are you in existence? if you are I am glad, but I think Owen thought he had snuffed you & your theory out, last night in some observation tagged to a Paper on the Aye Aye1
This paper is a long one ocupped more than an hour at a preceding meeting & 2 hours last night. and ends in shewing what every one who has seen the Animal knew that it is a Lemur with anomalous teeth as it has all the other characters of the Primates.2
The Paper no doubt is good contribution to Science but why it was all to be read is another question The Secretary went fast asleep3 and I fear the Chairman your humble servant felt very much inclined to do the same but duty prevented him. However the Methaphysic and the religious? observations suited the minds of some of the Audience & they applauded. There was no discussion as Huxley & Busk (who has broken his arm)4 could not be there & it was so late (11. oclock) that I was not inclined to sit & listen to the observations of Capt Altherly the only person present who seemed inclined to say anything5
Ever Yours Sincerely | J. E Gray
29 Jan 1862
Footnotes
Bibliography
Scherren, Henry. 1905. The Zoological Society of London: a sketch of its foundation and development and the story of its farm, museum, gardens, menagerie and library. London: Cassell.
Summary
Owen’s paper on the aye-aye [Rep. BAAS 32 (1862) pt 2: 114–16];
his attacks on CD and his theories.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-3419
- From
- John Edward Gray
- To
- Charles Robert Darwin
- Sent from
- unstated
- Source of text
- DAR 165: 205
- Physical description
- ALS 4pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 3419,” accessed on 29 March 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-3419.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 10