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Darwin Correspondence Project

From E. M. Heckel1     27 December 1876

Grenoble

le 27 Xbre. 1876

Monsieur,

J’ai recu et lu déja votre tres remarquable livre sur la fécondation croisée et directe dans le regne végétal:2   permettez moi de vous remercier de ce gracieux envoi et de vous dire, Monsieur, que ce nouveau travail a excité en moi, comme toutes vos oeuvres, une admiration profonde pour votre génie—

Il me parait que les consequences de ces recherches sont pleines d’intérêt autant pour les philosophes que pour les practiciens (horticulteurs, agriculteurs), et qu’il y a portant le plus grand urgence à mettre votre livre a la portée de tous ceux qui en France, (et ils sont nombreux) peuvent avoir profit à tous lire. Je viens donc Monsieur vous demander l’autorisation de traduire votre dernièr livre, et si vous le permettez, d’y ajouter quelques annotations. J’ai en effet recueilli dans mes voyages de circomnavigation quelques observations sur la fecondations croisee et directe, qui ne font que corroborer les vôtres et que je serais heureux de placer sous le patronage de votre grand nom.3

Veuillez, je vous prie, Monsieur, quelle que soit votre decision me honorer d’une réponse et dans le cas de l’affirmative permettez moi de vous demander la faveur de soumettre mon manuscrit avant la publication, car je serai aussi bien assuré de ne pas avoir faussé vos savantes interpretations.

Veuillez agreer, Monsieur, mes salutations les plus respectueuses | Dr. E. Heckel | professeur de botanique à la Faculté des Sciences de Grenoble (Isère)

P.S. Je me suis dejá adressé à Mr Reinwald qui est n’hésitant à entreprendre la publication que je lui propose, mais que j’en suis sûr, Monsieur n’hesitera plus après un mot de vous autorisant la traduition d’un livre qui est le complément indispensable de la Fécondation des Orchidées4

Footnotes

For a translation of this letter, see Appendix I.
Heckel’s name is on CD’s presentation list for Cross and self fertilisation (see Appendix III).
Heckel’s French translation of Cross and self fertilisation (Heckel trans. 1877) was published in 1877. He added a translator’s introduction and additional footnotes signed ‘(Traducteur.)’.
Charles-Ferdinand Reinwald, CD’s French publisher, had published a translation of Orchids (Rérolle trans. 1870).

Bibliography

Cross and self fertilisation: The effects of cross and self fertilisation in the vegetable kingdom. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1876.

Orchids: On the various contrivances by which British and foreign orchids are fertilised by insects, and on the good effects of intercrossing. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1862.

Translation

From E. M. Heckel1     27 December 1876

Grenoble

27 December 1876

Sir

I have received and already read your very remarkable book on cross- and self-fertilisation in the vegetable kingdom:2 allow me to thank you for kindly sending it and to tell you, Sir, that this new work, like all your writings, has aroused in me deep admiration for your genius—

It seems to me that the results of this research are full of interest as much for philosophers as for practitioners (horticulturalists, agriculturalists) and that it brings to bear the greatest urgency to put your book within reach of all those in France, (and they are numerous) who can profit from reading everything. Therefore, Sir, I ask you for authorisation to translate your latest book, and if you will permit, to add some annotations. I have in fact collected in my circumnavigatory travels some observations on cross- and self-fertilisation, which can only corroborate your own and which I would be happy to place under the patronage of your great name.3

Would you please Sir, whatever you decide, honour me with a reply and in the case of an affirmative one grant me the honour of submitting my manuscript before publication, for I will be sufficiently reassured that I have not distorted your wise interpretations.

I remain, Sir, most respectfully yours | Dr. E. Heckel | Professor of Botany in the Faculty of Sciences at Grenoble (Isère)

P.S. I have already approached Mr Reinwald who is hesitant about undertaking the publication I suggested to him, but I am sure he will not hesitate any longer after a word from you authorising the translation of a book which is the indispensible complement to the Fécondation des Orchidées4

Footnotes

For a transcription of this letter in its original French, see p. 403.
Heckel’s name is on CD’s presentation list for Cross and self fertilisation (see Appendix III).
Heckel’s French translation of Cross and self fertilisation (Heckel trans. 1877) was published in 1877. He added a translator’s introduction and additional footnotes signed ‘(Traducteur.)’.
Charles-Ferdinand Reinwald, CD’s French publisher, had published a translation of Orchids (Rérolle trans. 1870).

Bibliography

Cross and self fertilisation: The effects of cross and self fertilisation in the vegetable kingdom. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1876.

Orchids: On the various contrivances by which British and foreign orchids are fertilised by insects, and on the good effects of intercrossing. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1862.

Summary

Has read and greatly admires CD’s latest book, Cross and self-fertilisation; seeks permission to translate it into French and to add some annotations. [EMH’s translation was published in 1877.]

Letter details

Letter no.
DCP-LETT-10735
From
Édouard Marie (Édouard) Heckel
To
Charles Robert Darwin
Sent from
Grenoble
Source of text
DAR 166: 128
Physical description
ALS 2pp (French)

Please cite as

Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 10735,” accessed on 29 March 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-10735.xml

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

letter