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Darwin Correspondence Project

From Henri Apatowsky1   11 January 1872

43 Talbot Road | Bayswater W.

11 janvier 1872

Monsieur,

En 1870 j’écrivis (à Paris) un mémoire sur la question: “Si l’espèce humaine est un genre sui generis?”. Je me suis rangé du côté de M. Vogt,2 soutenant votre Doctrine et avec plus d’hardiesse. Malheureusement, j’ai terminé ce travail au moment où la guerre éclata entre la France et l’Allemagne, pendant laquelle on ne s’occupait plus de Science.3 Moi-même, j’étais médecin en chef d’une ambulance.4 Puis venait la guerre civile, et pendant que j’avais soigné leurs malades et blessés, les barbares; car d’atrocités sans exemple dans l’histoire moderne ont été commises de part et d’autre, pendant que je soignais leurs malades et blessés, dis-je, ces barbares ont détruit tout ce que je possédais. Je quittais bientôt la France. Hélas! Je ne suis pas au courant de la langue anglaise pour traduire mon travail écrite en Français. J’ose Vous prier Monsieur, s’il est possible, de recommander mon travail à quelqu’un qui puisse le traduire et publier. Je n’en demande rien pour le moment, et je me rapporterai à la probité de celui-ci qui s’en occupera. Si Vous désirez Monsieur, de prendre lecture de mon manuscrit, veuillez bien m’écrire et je m’empresserai de le mettre à Votre disposition.5

J’ai l’honneur Monsieur d’être avec un profond respect | votre serviteur | Dr. Apatowsky

Footnotes

For a translation of this letter, see Correspondence vol. 20, Appendix I.
The Franco-Prussian War broke out in July 1870.
Ambulance: i.e. a mobile field hospital (Chambers).
No reply from CD to this letter has been found. The manuscript has not been found and was apparently never published.

Bibliography

Chambers: The Chambers dictionary. Edinburgh: Chambers Harrap Publishers. 1998.

Correspondence: The correspondence of Charles Darwin. Edited by Frederick Burkhardt et al. 29 vols to date. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1985–.

Translation

From Henri Apatowsky1   11 January 1872

43 Talbot Road | Bayswater W.

11 January 1872

Sir,

In 1870 I wrote (in Paris) a memoir on the question: “Is the human species a genus sui generis?”. I sided with Mr. Vogt2 in supporting your Doctrine, and was even bolder. Unfortunately, I finished that work at the moment when war broke out between France and Germany, during which time no-one was concerned with Science any more.3 I myself was chief physician of an ambulance.4 Then the civil war arose, and although I had cared for their sick and injured, the barbarians; for atrocities unrivalled in modern history were committed on both sides, while I was caring for their sick and injured, as I say, the barbarians destroyed everything I owned. I soon quitted France. Sadly, I am not familiar with the English language in order to translate my work, written in French. I dare to ask you Sir, if possible, to recommend my work to someone who can translate and publish it. I shall ask nothing for the time being, and shall appeal to the probity of whoever concerns himself with it. If, Sir, you wish to consult my manuscript, please write to me and I shall hasten to place it at your disposal.5

I have the honour of being, Sir | your most respectful servant | Dr. Apatowsky

Footnotes

For a transcription of this letter in its original French, see p. 18.
The Franco-Prussian War broke out in July 1870.
Ambulance: i.e. a mobile field hospital (Chambers).
No reply from CD to this letter has been found. The manuscript has not been found and was apparently never published.

Bibliography

Chambers: The Chambers dictionary. Edinburgh: Chambers Harrap Publishers. 1998.

Correspondence: The correspondence of Charles Darwin. Edited by Frederick Burkhardt et al. 29 vols to date. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1985–.

Summary

Asks CD whether he will find a translator and publisher for a paper Dr A wrote in 1870, siding with Carl Vogt in defence of CD’s view of descent of man.

Letter details

Letter no.
DCP-LETT-8156
From
Henri Apatowsky
To
Charles Robert Darwin
Sent from
London, Talbot Rd, 43
Source of text
DAR 159: 77
Physical description
ALS 3pp (French)

Please cite as

Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 8156,” accessed on 28 March 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-8156.xml

Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 20

letter