From William Farrer 4 January 1878
Edgend | nr Burnley1
Jany 4. 1878
Sir,
The enclosed is a leaf of the Australasian Newspaper: it contains an account of the origin of a new variety of the Merino sheep, which has lately appeared in Victoria.2 As I had lately read with very great pleasure your ‘Variation of Animals & Plants under domestication’ when this appeared, and as there seemed to be circumstances connected with this breed of sheep, which would be likely to interest you, I saved this leaf for the purpose of sending to you: and as I have brought it with me to England, I take this opportunity of sending it, in case you have not already seen it.3
I am not personally acquainted with Mr. Currie: but from what I have heard of him from hearsay, I have no doubt that he would answer with pleasure & intelligence any enquiries you might desire to make from him. His address is
J.L. Currie, Larra, Skipton, Victoria
Your book—The Variation of Animals &c—caused me to feel great interest in Nathusius’ works.4 From the way in which you speak of them, I am led to expect that they may contain good expositions of valuable principles connected with the ‘Science of Breeding’. This is a study that I have been trying to make my own for several years (although I am not pecuniarily interested in Stock.) I therefore, take the liberty of encroaching on your knowledge & kindness, and will ask you to be so kind as to jot down for me the names of a few books—English & Foreign & especially Nathusius’—which treat in a satisfactory way of this subject.
This subject is one, that is of great importance in a Stock-raising country like Australia, and I entertain a hope of being able at some future time to organize a club of kindred spirits, & getting some of the best foreign works on this subject translated.
Any list, therefore, that you may be kind enough to prepare for me will be regarded as of great value; and I shall endeavour to take back with me to Australia copies of the works it contains.
I am, dr Sir, | Faithfully yours | William Farrer.
Footnotes
Bibliography
Post Office directory of Lancashire, Liverpool and Manchester: Post Office directory of Lancashire. Post Office directory of Lancashire, Liverpool and Manchester. London: Kelly & Co. 1858–92.
Russell, Archer. 1949. William James Farrer: a biography. Melbourne and London: F. W. Cheshire.
Variation 2d ed.: The variation of animals and plants under domestication. By Charles Darwin. 2d edition. 2 vols. London: John Murray. 1875.
Summary
Sends cutting on origin of variety of merino sheep.
Would like references to works on breeding.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-11311
- From
- William James (William) Farrer
- To
- Charles Robert Darwin
- Sent from
- Burnley
- Source of text
- DAR 164: 106
- Physical description
- ALS 3pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 11311,” accessed on 5 May 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-11311.xml