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Darwin Correspondence Project

To James Paget   8 November [1869]1

6. Queen Anne St

Nov. 8

My dear Paget.

Cordial thanks for your confirmation about the extent of the blush, & for your case of inheritance.— I do love such little facts.2

I passed your door the other day, & wished much to come in, but thought I shd. only waste your time, & virtuously refrained. I now wish I had not been so self-restraining.— We are off home early tomorrow morning.3

Yours most sincerely, | Ch. Darwin

Footnotes

1
The year is established by the references to CD’s returning home on 9 November (see n. 3, below), and to Paget’s having given information about blushing (see n. 2, below).
2
Paget’s letter has not been found, but CD cited him for information on blushing, including a case of an apparently inherited pattern of blushing, in Expression, pp. 312–14. In his letter to Paget of 29 April [1869], CD had written, ‘If ever you come across an extra blushing damsel do not forget the downward extent of the blush’ (Correspondence vol. 17).
3
Paget lived in Hanover Square, London. CD stayed from 1 to 9 November 1869 at the house of his brother, Erasmus Alvey Darwin.

Bibliography

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

Summary

Thanks for confirmation about the extent of blushing.

Passed JP’s house but did not call; and now regrets his restraint.

Letter details

Letter no.
DCP-LETT-6977F
From
Charles Robert Darwin
To
James Paget, 1st baronet
Sent from
London
Source of text
The Argyll Papers, Inveraray Castle (NRAS 1209/856)
Physical description
ALS 1p

Please cite as

Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 6977F,” accessed on 20 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-6977F.xml

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Darwin Correspondence Project
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