To Francis Galton 10 November [1875]1
Down, | Beckenham, Kent. | Railway Station | Orpington. S.E.R.
Nov. 10th night
My dear Galton
I have this minute finished your article in Fraser & I do not think I ever read anything more curious in my life.2 It is enough to make one a Fatalist. I am in a passion with the Spectator who always muddles if it is possible to muddle.3 But after all he does not write so odiously as I did in my letter, which you received so beautifully.4 I shd be glad to be convinced that the obscurity was all in my head, but I cannot think so, for a clear-headed (clearer than I am) member of my family read the article & was as much puzzled as I was— To this minute I cannot realise what are “developed” “sterile” & fertile germs.—5 You are a real Christian if you do not hate me for ever & ever.—
I shall try you when we come to London in a month or six weeks time, as I want to ask a question about averages, which can be asked in a minute or two, but wd. fill a long letter.—
Yours very sincerely | Ch. Darwin
PS. As soon as I am sure that no more pods of Sweet Peas will ripen, I will send all the bags in a Box per Railway to you.—6
Footnotes
Summary
Comments on FG’s paper ["The history of twins"].
CD is "in a passion with the Spectator who always muddles".
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-10254
- From
- Charles Robert Darwin
- To
- Francis Galton
- Sent from
- Down
- Source of text
- UCL Library Services, Special Collections (GALTON/1/1/9/5/7/20)
- Physical description
- ALS 4pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 10254,” accessed on 26 September 2022, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-10254.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 23
