Much respected Sir,

I am deeply indebted to you, for the honour you have done me in having sent me your newest work: the expression of the emotions etc.

I have long ago the deepest conviction in my chief-study in the psychology, of the evolution of all our psychical or mental faculties. This view desires the same in respect to our physical forces also. Body and mind live on the same bread and water, and die together.

I studied your system the first time in Jena, after having heard it from prof. Haeckel.¹ I was then deep convicted, that it is impossible to speak on the connection of body and mind without accepting your principles of the origin of the species. And as I became a professor in psychology in the year 1868, I was so much animated by the principles of the “descendenz-theorie”, that I was called by the scorn-name: “homo Darwini”

Instincts are the common language of man and animals. I was very glad to read from your excellent book, that the expression of our instincts and emotions is also common with man and animals. But allow me, Sir!, to express my regret that our classical people, the sze’kelys (szekler)² are left out of your work. As our sze’kelys form a transition from the natural to the civilized state, so are the expressions of their emotions sometime very remarkable. Now I circulate 14 queries at my acquaintances of the Szekerland the most part others, than yours.³ I shall have the honour to communicate you the result   One instance shows, how much the expressions of the Sze’kelys are curious. Somebody asks the Sze’kely: was the inundation great in your country? He answers by giving a sign with the face, and by gently raising up the orbicular muscles of the eyes, and he gives the nasal sound, hm! Has it caused many damages? The Sze’kely answers by a more striking sign and raised up eye-muscles, by the same organ, but an octave higher sound: hm! Has it carried away your mill? is the third question. Now he nods with the hand too, and he cries out two octaves higher and by open lips: hopp! You see Sir, that the expressions of our people are very worth to be printed.

I remark on the joy and high spirits that in Corregio’s “holy night” at Dresde, the Shepherds bright delight is to be seen not only on his front and eyes, but on his ears also.—⁴ For the anger and for the “breathing out vengeance” and nervous force, is for ever the most admirable example “the fighter of Borghese.” (Louvre)⁵

In reply to your favour I have the honour to send you a copy of the diary of my journey in Scotland, and some photographs of the various races in Transylvania.⁶ The sze’kelys are but in a country represented, and I hope, that I can get lately good photographs from other Sze’kely countries too.

In your land I have many acquaintances but I was only with M^r A. Bain in connection.

The reception on your book will soon appear in our review of Budapest⁷

The Summer-Semester I intend to give lectures on the contact-points of the Darwinism and the psychology. I was very glad to experience, that my hearers receive always with great delight the principles of the “descendenz-theorie”, and that the theorie of evolution in mental and organic respect is the best method for driving away the “materia peccans”⁸ of the metaphysic chimeras.

I wish you Sir, a very happy new year, and am with deep respect | Your most obedient Servant | Lewis Felméri

Klausenburg, | the 3^d. Janu. 1873.

Charles Darwin Esqre