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Darwin Correspondence Project

To C. G. Ehrenberg   19 April [1845]1

Down near Bromley | Kent

April 19th

Dear Sir

I send the enclosed small specimens (through Mr Cuming the conchologist) from the great Gypseous formation of the northerly parts of the Cordillera of Chile: it belongs either to the Neocomian period, or probably a little earlier in the Secondary formations.2 I hope you understood that I did not wish to ask you to examine these specimens for my sake, but only if they appear interesting to yourself: should you examine them, would you kindly inform me of the result, referring to my specimens by the numbers which I have sent.

I am exceedingly obliged to you for your last letter on the Atlantic Dust & I will before long send my little paper to the Geological Soc:—3

Should you ever look at the Pampæan mud, perhaps you will kindly take the trouble of informing me of the result.4

I sincerely feel the honour you have conferred on me by your kind communications & I remain, dear Sir | Yours faithfully & obliged | C. Darwin

Footnotes

The year is established by the relationship between this letter, the letter from C. G. Ehrenberg, 13 March 1845, and the letter to C. G. Ehrenberg, 21 May [1845] (Correspondence vol. 3). This letter was evidently written before CD received Ehrenberg’s letter of 8 April 1845 (ibid.).
Hugh Cuming visited Europe annually in search of specimens to exchange (Melvill 1895, p. 63). CD had offered these specimens in his letter of 23 March [1845] (Correspondence vol. 3). On the gypseous formation of the Chilean Cordillera, see South America, pp. 178ff.
See Correspondence vol. 3, letter to C. G. Ehrenberg, 23 January [1845]. Ehrenberg gave the results of his analysis in his letter of 8 April 1845 (ibid.); see also Journal of researches 2d ed., pp. 82, 129–30, and South America, p. 81.

Bibliography

‘Account of the dust which falls on vessels in the Atlantic’: An account of the fine dust which often falls on vessels in the Atlantic Ocean. By Charles Darwin. [Read 4 June 1845.] Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society (Proceedings) 2 (1846): 26–30. [Shorter publications, pp. 192–6.]

Journal of researches: Journal of researches into the geology and natural history of the various countries visited by HMS Beagle, under the command of Captain FitzRoy, RN, from 1832 to 1836. By Charles Darwin. London: Henry Colburn. 1839.

Melvill, J. C. 1895. An epitome of the life of the late Hugh Cuming, F.L.S., C.M.Z.S. &c. [Read 1 May 1895.] Journal of Conchology 8 (1895–7): 59–70.

South America: Geological observations on South America. Being the third part of the geology of the voyage of the Beagle, under the command of Capt. FitzRoy RN, during the years 1832 to 1836. By Charles Darwin. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1846.

Summary

Sends small specimens for CGE to examine if he wishes.

Thanks CGE for his letter on Atlantic Dust: CD hopes to send a little paper to the Geological Society of London.

If CGE should examine Pampæan mud, CD would like to know the result.

Letter details

Letter no.
DCP-LETT-857F
From
Charles Robert Darwin
To
Christian Gottfried Ehrenberg
Sent from
Down
Source of text
Museum für Naturkunde Berlin (MfN/HBSB, N005 NL Christian Gottfried Ehrenberg Nr. 43 Bl. 9–10)
Physical description
ALS 3pp

Please cite as

Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 857F,” accessed on 28 March 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-857F.xml

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