To F. E. Abbot 8 January 1872
Down, | Beckenham, Kent.
Jan. 8th /72/
Private
My dear Sir
I have just received nor 104 of the Index, & I must write a few lines to say that I feel grateful for the manner in which you have introduced my name, which is in fact a magnificent eulogium on me.1 There are hosts of people, who if they saw the article, would disagree with you as widely as is possible; for it is the fashion here to say that I am a good observer, but possess an utterly illogical mind.
I greatly admire the force & eloquence of all the latter part of your article. A firm belief in the laws of nature will some day reign supreme.—2
Believe me | My dear Sir | Yours sincerely | Ch. Darwin
Footnotes
Bibliography
Abbot, Francis Ellingwood. [1870.] Truths for the times. Mount Pleasant, Ramsgate: Thomas Scott.
Correspondence: The correspondence of Charles Darwin. Edited by Frederick Burkhardt et al. 29 vols to date. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1985–.
Summary
CD is grateful for the eulogy in Index [no. 104]. Many would disagree. It is the fashion to say he is a good observer with "an utterly illogical mind".
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-8151
- From
- Charles Robert Darwin
- To
- Francis Ellingwood Abbot
- Sent from
- Down
- Source of text
- Harvard University Archives (Papers of F. E. Abbot, 1841–1904. Named Correspondence, 1857–1903. Folder: Darwin, Charles and W. E. Darwin (son), 1871–1883, box 44. HUG 1101)
- Physical description
- ALS 2pp & ADraft 1p
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 8151,” accessed on 20 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-8151.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 20