To J. J. Weir 30 April [1872]1
Down, Beckenham, Kent
April 30
My dear Sir
Many thanks for your note. I am not much surprised at incipient disease causing an alteration in the female, so that she would cease to be attractive to the male.2 I am sorry that your official duties have been of late so heavy; but I suppose it is the fate of all whose services become more valuable.3 I much hope, however, that your duties may not altogether interrupt your wonderful powers of observation in Natural History.
My dear Sir | yours sincerely | Ch. Darwin.
Footnotes
Bibliography
Descent: The descent of man, and selection in relation to sex. By Charles Darwin. 2 vols. London: John Murray. 1871.
LL: The life and letters of Charles Darwin, including an autobiographical chapter. Edited by Francis Darwin. 3 vols. London: John Murray. 1887–8.
ML: More letters of Charles Darwin: a record of his work in a series of hitherto unpublished letters. Edited by Francis Darwin and Albert Charles Seward. 2 vols. London: John Murray. 1903.
Summary
Not surprised incipient disease in female would make her unattractive to male.
Sorry JJW’s official duties are so heavy.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-8303
- From
- Charles Robert Darwin
- To
- John Jenner Weir
- Sent from
- Down
- Source of text
- DAR 148: 329
- Physical description
- C 1p
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 8303,” accessed on 16 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-8303.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 20
