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Darwin Correspondence Project

To Ernst Haeckel   14 May 1876

Down, | Beckenham, Kent.

May 14. 76

My dear Häckel

I have just received your letter, which like so many others from you, is full of kindness towards me.1 The book about the Canary Islands has reached me safely, but I had quite forgotten its existence.2 With respect to Pangenesis, I am sorry that you dissent so strongly from it, as it has lately risen in my estimation; but you are thoroughly right to explain in the clearest & strongest terms, your dissent.3 I shall read your Essay on Perigenesis with very great interest, but I shall not do so just at present, as it will be hard work, and I have not been lately very well, so that I shall soon leave home for some complete rest.4

Believe me | my dear Häckel | Your sincere friend | Charles Darwin

Footnotes

See letter from Ernst Haeckel, 9 May 1876 and n. 9. The book was part one of the third volume of Webb and Berthelot 1836–50.
Haeckel had sent CD a copy of Die Perigenesis der Plastidule, oder die Wellenzeugung der Lebenstheilchen (Perigenesis of the plastidule, or the wave generation of vital particles; Haeckel 1876a), in which he presented a rival theory of heredity to CD’s own theory, pangenesis (see letter from Ernst Haeckel, 9 May 1876 and nn. 2, 3, and 7).
CD and Emma Darwin were going to Hopedene, Surrey, the home of Hensleigh Wedgwood; they were away from 24 May to 10 June 1876 (CD’s ‘Journal’ (Appendix II).

Summary

Book [Webb and Berthelot] has reached CD.

Sorry EH dissents from Pangenesis.

Letter details

Letter no.
DCP-LETT-10506
From
Charles Robert Darwin
To
Ernst Philipp August (Ernst) Haeckel
Sent from
Down
Source of text
Ernst-Haeckel-Haus (Bestand A-Abt. 1:1-52/ 38 [9891])
Physical description
LS 3pp

Please cite as

Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 10506,” accessed on 28 March 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-10506.xml

Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 24

letter