skip to content

Darwin Correspondence Project

From Quintino Sella1   28 November 1875

Reale Accademia de’Lincei | Roma

28 Novembre 1875.

Protoclo. No. 448 | Risposta al foglio No. —— | Del giorno —— | Oggetto | Nomina a Socio dell’Accademia | Allegati No. 1

Al Chiarissimo Signore | Sigr Carlo Roberto Darwin | Londra.

Illustre Signore.

Sua Maestà il Rè d’Italia con Suo decreto del 4 Febbrajo 1875, si degnò rifermare l’Accademia dè Lincei.2

Nell’astratto delle sedute dell’Accademia del 24. e 25 Gennajo 1875, che ho l’onore di trasmetterle, Ella vedrà le ragioni, e la natura della riferma. Ella vi troverà pure il nuovo Statuto dell’Accademia.3

Oltre al dividersi l’Accademia in due Classi, l’una per le Scienze Fisiche, Matematiche, e Naturali, e l’altra per le Scienze Morali, Storiche, e Filologiche, vennero assegnati a ciascuna delle due Classi 10 Soci Straniei (art 2o dello Statuto) i quali godono di tutti i diritti che spettano ai Soci Nazionali. Prendono parte alle adunanze, ed alle votazioni (Arti 18. 21). Quando sono in Italia prendono anche parte alla elezione dei Soci (Arto 12).

La Classe di Scienze Fisiche, Matematiche, e Naturali procedette già alla elezione di otto de’ Suoi Soci stranieri.

Mi è ora gratissimo il potere annunziare alla S.V. Chiarissima, che Ella fù [eletta] uno dei X Soci stranieri della Classe di Scienze Fisiche, Matematiche, e Naturali, e che la Sua nomina fù approvata da S.M. il Rè d’Italia, con Suo Decreto del 2 Luglio 1875.

Mi faccio un dovere di mandarle copia del Decreto di Sua Maestà, ed a Suo tempo avrò l’onore di mandarle il Diploma Accademico.4

Io mi rallegro coll’Accademia che hà acquistato in Lei un Collega, ed un Collaboratore che ha reso servizi così eminenti alla Scienza; e spero che del pari Ella gradirà la manifestazione di stima che Le volle dare l’Italia unita nell’eterna Sua Capitale, aggregandola come Suo Socio straniero effetivo alla più antica delle Accademie Scientifiche esistenti.

Tutti i Colleghi si terrebbero onorati, se Ella mandasse all’Accademia memorie, o communicazioni originali. Esse verranno tosto stampate nel Volume Accademico nella lingua in cui faranno scritte, e l’autore riceverà cento copie della stampa a parte della memoria, o communicazione.

Gradisca, Egregio Collega, i miei fraterni saluti.

Il Presidente | Q Sella

P.S. La S.V. riceverà presto il primo, e secondo volume della seconda Serie degli Atti dell’Accademia. Della prima Serie non si hanno copie sufficienti per poterne fare distribuzione ai Soci. Mi pregio però mandarle una copia del Volume 1o. di detta Serie, il quale potrà interessarla pei ragguagli storici intorno all’Accademia, che contiene.5

[Enclosure]

VITTORIO EMANUELE II

PER GRAZIA DI DIO E PER VOLONTÀ DELLA NAZIONE

RE D’ITALIA

Visto lo Statuto dell’Accademia de’ Lincei di Roma approvato col Nostro Decreto del 14 Febbrajo 1875;

Vista la lettera del Presidente di detta Accademia del 16 Giugno 1875;

Sulla proposta del Nostro Ministro Segretario di Stato per la pubblica Istruzione:6

Abbiamo decretato e decretiamo:

Sono approvate le nomine, fatte dalla suddetta Accademia, de’ Signori:

Carlo Roberto Darwin (Londra) a Soci Stranieri della classe di scienze fisische, matematiche e naturali dell’Accademia de’ Lincei di Roma.

Il predetto Nostro Ministro è incaricato della esecuzione del presente Decreto, che sarà registrato alla Corte dei Conti.

Dato a Sant’Anna a di 2 Luglio 1875

fo. Vittorio Emanuele | f. Ruggiero Bonghi

Reg.to alla Corte dei Conti | Li 16 Luglio 1875 | Ro. 432 D. Lerf. a Cte152 | fo. Ayres.7

Visto conforme all’Originale esistente | nell’Archivo dell Accademia | Roma | Il Presidente | per | P. Volpicelli Sego.8

Per estratto dall’originale Decreto | Vo. Il Direttore Capo della Divisione 2ei. fo.

Footnotes

For a translation of this letter, see Appendix I.
The king of Italy was Victor Emmanuel II.
The minutes and statutes of the Accademia have not been found.
The diploma has not been found.
Issues of the Atti dell’Accademia dei Lincei from 1875–80 are in the collection of unbound journals in the Darwin Library–CUL.
Ruggiero Bonghi was the minister of education from 1874 to 1876 (DBI).
Ayres has not been identified.
Paolo Volpicèlli was a secretary of the Accademia dei Lincei (EI).

Bibliography

DBI: Dizionario biografico degli Italiani. Edited by Alberto M. Ghisalberti et al. 100 vols. Rome: Istituto della Enciclopedia Italiana. 1960–2020.

EI: Enciclopedia Italiana di scienze, lettere ed arti. 36 vols., and 6 appendixes in 21 vols. Rome: Giovanni Treccani. 1929–2001.

Translation

From Quintino Sella1   28 November 1875

Reale Accademia de’Lincei | Rome

28 November 1875.

Protocol. No. 448 | Reply to document No. —— | Of —— | Subject | Nomination as Fellow of the Academy | No. of enclosures 1

To the most distinguished Sir | Mr Charles Robert Darwin | London.

Esteemed Sir.

His majesty the King of Italy by His decree of 4 February 1875 has deigned to confirm the Accademia dè Lincei.2

From the minutes of the sessions of the Academy of 24 and 25 January 1875, which I have the honour of passing on to you, you will glean the reasons, and the nature of this confirmation. You will also find the new Statutes of the Academy.3

In addition to dividing the Academy in two Sections, one for Physical, Mathematical and Natural Sciences, the other for Moral Sciences, History and Philology, each of the two Sections were allotted 10 Foreign Members (art. 2 of the Statutes) who enjoy all the rights that are due to the National Members. They participate in the assemblies and in the elections (art.s 18, 21). When they are in Italy, they also participate in the election of Members (Art. 12).

The Section of Physical, Mathematical and Natural Sciences has already elected eight of its Foreign Members.

It is a great pleasure for me to be able to announce to your most distinguished highness that you have been nominated one of the X foreign members of the Section of Physical, Mathematical and Natural Sciences, and that your nomination has been approved by H.M. the King of Italy, in His Decree of 2 July 1875.

It is my duty to send you the Decree of His Majesty, and in due course I will have the honour of sending you the Academic Diploma.4

I rejoice with the Academy to have acquired in you a Colleague, and a Collaborator who has rendered science such eminent service, and I hope that you, too, will appreciate the demonstration of esteem which Italy, united in its Eternal Capital, wants to make towards you by admitting you to the most ancient of existing Scientific Academies as Her Active Foreign member.

All your Colleagues would consider it an honour if you sent to the Academy papers or original communications. They will be speedily published in the Academic Volume in the language in which they have been written, and the author will receive a hundred offprints of the paper or communication.

May you, distinguished Colleague, accept my fraternal greetings.

The President | Q Sella

P.S. Your honour will soon receive the first and second volume of the second Series of the Atti dell’Accademia. Of the first Series there are not sufficient copies for distribution among the Members. I have however the honour of sending you a copy of the first Volume of the said Series, which may interest you since it contains historical information about the Academy.5

[Enclosure]

VITTORIO EMANUELE II

BY THE GRACE OF GOD AND THE WILL OF THE NATION

KING OF ITALY

We have seen the Statute of the Accademia de’ Lincei of Rome that was approved by Our Decree of 14 February 1875;

We have seen the letter of the President of the said Academy of 16 June 1875;

At the suggestion of our Minister the Secretary of State for public instruction:

We have decreed and we decree:

The nominations, made by the above-mentioned Academy, of the gentlemen:

Charles Robert Darwin (London) | as Foreign Members of the class of physical, mathematical and natural sciences of the Accademia de’ Lincei of Rome are approved.

Our aforesaid Minister has been charged with the execution of this Decree, which will be registered at the State Audit Court.

Granted at Sant’Anna on 2 July 1875

Signed Vittorio Emanuele | signed Ruggiero Bonghi6

Registered at the State Audit Court | on 16 July 1875 | Reg. 432D. at the Court 152 | signed Ayres.7

Certified as similar to the existing Original | in the Archive of the Academy | Rome | The President | per. | P. Volpicelli Secr.8

For the copy from the original Decree | Vo. The Director Head of Division 2ei signed

Footnotes

For a transcription of this letter in its original Italian, see pp. 466–7.
The king of Italy was Victor Emmanuel II.
The minutes and statutes of the Accademia have not been found.
The diploma has not been found.
Issues of the Atti dell’Accademia dei Lincei from 1875–80 are in the collection of unbound journals in the Darwin Library–CUL.
Ruggiero Bonghi was the minister of education from 1874 to 1876 (DBI).
Ayres has not been identified.
Paolo Volpicèlli was a secretary of the Accademia dei Lincei (EI).

Bibliography

DBI: Dizionario biografico degli Italiani. Edited by Alberto M. Ghisalberti et al. 100 vols. Rome: Istituto della Enciclopedia Italiana. 1960–2020.

EI: Enciclopedia Italiana di scienze, lettere ed arti. 36 vols., and 6 appendixes in 21 vols. Rome: Giovanni Treccani. 1929–2001.

Summary

Letter enclosing decree from the Accademia dei Lincei, with signatures dated 2 and 16 July 1875.

Letter details

Letter no.
DCP-LETT-10280F
From
Quintino Sella; Accademia dei Lincei
To
Charles Robert Darwin
Source of text
DAR 229: 43, DAR 230: 44
Physical description
ALS 3pp encl 1p

Please cite as

Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 10280F,” accessed on 20 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-10280F.xml

Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 23

letter