To Wilhelm Behrens 29 August [1878]1
Down. | Beckenham, Kent. | (Railway Station | Orpington. S.E.R.)
Aug. 29th
Dear Sir
I am very much obliged to you for having sent me your “Geschichte der Bestäubungstheorie”, which has interested me much.2 It has put some things in a new light, & has told me other things which I did not know.— I heartily agree with you in your high appreciation of poor old C. Sprengel’s work; & one regrets bitterly that he did not live to see his labours thus valued.3 It rejoices me also to notice how highly you appreciate H. Müller, who has always seemed to me an admirable observer & reasoner.4 I am at present endeavouring to persuade an English publisher to bring out a Translation of his Befruchtung &c.5
Lastly permit me to thank you for your very generous remarks on my works.— By placing what I have been able to do on this subject in systematic order, you have made me think more highly of my own work, than I ever did before!6 Nevertheless, I fear, that you have done me more than justice.
I remain Dear Sir | Yours faithfully & obliged | Charles Darwin.
Footnotes
Bibliography
Behrens, Wilhelm Julius. 1878. Beiträge zur Geschichte der Bestäubungstheorie. Separatabdruck aus dem Programm der Königl. Gewerbeschule zu Elberfeld 1877–78. Elberfeld: A Martini & Grüttefien.
Müller, Hermann. 1873. Die Befruchtung der Blumen durch Insekten und die gegenseitigen Anpassungen beider. Ein Beitrag zur Erkenntniss des ursächlichen Zusammenhanges in der organischen Natur. Leipzig: Wilhelm Engelmann.
Müller, Hermann. 1883a. The fertilisation of flowers. Translated and edited by D’Arcy W. Thompson. London: Macmillan and Co.
Summary
Thanks him for ["Beiträge zur Geschichte der Bestäubungstheorie", in Program der Königlichen Gewerbeschule zu Elberfeld, 1877/78 (1879)]. Agrees with appreciation of Carl Sprengel’s work. Rejoices how highly GWJB appreciates Hermann Müller.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-11678
- From
- Charles Robert Darwin
- To
- Georg Wilhelm Julius (Wilhelm) Behrens
- Sent from
- Down
- Source of text
- Niedersächsisches Landesarchiv – Standort Wolfenbüttel (VI Hs 11 nr. 12)
- Physical description
- ALS 3pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 11678,” accessed on 20 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-11678.xml