From G. G. Bianconi1 1 February 1875
Monsieur!
Une observation trés-juste qu’on m’a adressée sur la raison mécanique du type articulé m’a conduit à une addition que j’ai àjoutée á la traduction italienne de mon livre.2 Une telle addition n’étant enfin qu’une ampliation de l’argument même auquel vos célèbres travaux ont donné occasion, j’ai vu que sans manquer à un dévoir je ne pouvais me dispenser de vous en faire hommage; et j’ai conçu l’espérance que vous voudrez aussi accueillir avec bonté l’adresse que j’ai l’honneur de vous faire aujourd’hui.
J’avais espéré recevoir vos savantes observations, ainsi que me l’annonçait votre honorée lettre 31. Oct. 1873;3 certes elles m’auraient fourni le moyen de rectifier et d’éclaircir quelques parties de mon travail. Elles pourraient cépendant m’être précieuses encore, car je tacherais de les utiliser dans une seconde édition francaise à la quelle je travaille à présent.4
J’aime à croire que dans cette nouvelle circonstance vous ne trouverez pas trop mal la discussion que j’ai dû suivre, car elle est, je crois, entiérement et uniquement scientifique. Comme je l’ai dit a pag. 3. = Voi cercate la verità in buona fede: e anch’io la cerco sinceramente. Sopra questo terreno potremo intenderci5 = Cette disposition à nous nous entendre est sans doute bien assurée, car outre la recherche de la verité, j’ai de mon coté pour guide encore la haute et sincére estime que je vous professe, et le respect avec le quel je suis | Monsieur! | votre très devoué serr | J. Jos. Bianconi.
Bologne 1. Febr. 1875
Footnotes
Bibliography
Bianconi, Giovanni Giuseppe. 1874. La théorie darwinienne et la création dite indépendante. Lettre à Ch. Darwin. Bologna: Zanichelli.
Bianconi, Giovanni Giuseppe. 1875. La teoria Darwiniana e la creazione detta indipendente: lettera al signor Carlo Darwin. Translated from French by Dr G. Antonio Bianconi. Bologna: N. Zanichelli.
Bianconi, Giovanni Giuseppe. 1879. La teoria Darwiniana e la creazione detta indipendente. 2d edition. Bologna: N. Zanichelli.
Correspondence: The correspondence of Charles Darwin. Edited by Frederick Burkhardt et al. 29 vols to date. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1985–.
Marginalia: Charles Darwin’s marginalia. Edited by Mario A. Di Gregorio with the assistance of Nicholas W. Gill. Vol. 1. New York and London: Garland Publishing. 1990.
Translation
From G. G. Bianconi1 1 February 1875
Sir!
A very just observation I was sent concerning the mechanical reason for the articulated type has led me to an addition which I have made to the Italian translation of my book.2 This addition being in the end no more than an expansion of the same argument to which your famous works have given rise, I saw that without failing in my duty I could not do without paying tribute to you; and I conceived the hope that you might thus welcome the approach I am honoured to be making today.
I had hoped to receive your learned observations, as announced in your honoured letter 31. Oct. 1873;3 they would, to be sure, have supplied me with the means to correct and clarify certain parts of my work. However, they could still be precious for me, since I would try to use them in a second French edition on which I am currently working.4
I like to hope that under this new circumstance you would not find the argument that I must follow too bad, for it is, I believe, entirely and uniquely scientific. As I say on pag. 3 = Voi cercate la verità in buona fede: e anch’io la cerco sinceramente. Sopra questo terreno potremo intenderci5 = This disposition to understand one another is assured without a doubt, for besides the pursuit of truth, I have on my part, as an additional guide, the high and sincere esteem I profess for you, and the respect with which I am | Sir! | your very humble servt | J. Jos. Bianconi.
Bologna 1. Febr. 1875
Footnotes
Bibliography
Bianconi, Giovanni Giuseppe. 1874. La théorie darwinienne et la création dite indépendante. Lettre à Ch. Darwin. Bologna: Zanichelli.
Bianconi, Giovanni Giuseppe. 1875. La teoria Darwiniana e la creazione detta indipendente: lettera al signor Carlo Darwin. Translated from French by Dr G. Antonio Bianconi. Bologna: N. Zanichelli.
Bianconi, Giovanni Giuseppe. 1879. La teoria Darwiniana e la creazione detta indipendente. 2d edition. Bologna: N. Zanichelli.
Correspondence: The correspondence of Charles Darwin. Edited by Frederick Burkhardt et al. 29 vols to date. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1985–.
Marginalia: Charles Darwin’s marginalia. Edited by Mario A. Di Gregorio with the assistance of Nicholas W. Gill. Vol. 1. New York and London: Garland Publishing. 1990.
Summary
At work on new editions of his books against CD’s theory [La teoria dell’uomo-scimmia (1864); La théorie darwinienne (1874)]. Had hoped to receive CD’s comments, as earlier promised; they would still be useful.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-9838
- From
- Giovanni Giuseppe Bianconi
- To
- Charles Robert Darwin
- Sent from
- Bologna
- Source of text
- DAR 160: 181
- Physical description
- ALS 3pp (French)
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 9838,” accessed on 23 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-9838.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 23