To Charles Lyell [14–28 June 1849]1
The Lodge Malvern
Friday
My dear Lyell
We were uncommonly much obliged to Lady Lyell for her most agreeable letter which told us much which we were very glad & curious to hear. Emma has deputed me to write, for she, poor soul, is in her usual wretched state, which to none of our friends requires any further explanation.—2
I have got your Book3 & have read all first & small part of 2d. Volume (reading is the hardest work allowed here) & greatly I have been interested by it— It makes me long to be a Yankey.— Emma desires me to say that she quite “gloated” over the truth of your remarks on religious progress; lying sick on the sofa it has been the only Book she has much enjoyed for a long time. I delight to think how you will disgust some of the Bigots & Educational Dons.—4 As yet there has not been much geolog. or Nat. Hist. for which I hope you feel a little ashamed. Your remarks on all social subjects strike me as worthy of the Author of the Principles & yet (I know it is prejudice & pride) if I had written the Principles I would never have written any travels—but I believe I am more jealous about the honour & glory of the Principles than you are yourself.— I am delighted to hear that you are going to set to work at new Editions; I daresay it will cost you much work. I was glad to see your remarks on Extermination, & the striking instance of the tree of Bartram.—5
We return home on 30th inst. I have not been quite so well the last week; but I had a few days before that of almost perfect health: the Dr. thinks he can quite cure me, but I must go on with all the processes for several more months & he urges me to keep perfectly idle for some time longer, which is a great bore, though it is wonderful how one gets accustomed to any thing: I have bought a horse & taken to ride.— If I go on very well I shall certainly be at Birmingham;6 but otherwise not, for I am determined to try my best & get decent health again.—
We were grieved to hear of Mrs Lyell’s7 illness & all Lady Lyell’s anxiety—& even you had the audacity to fall sick: it must have been dreadfully vexatious just before your Lecture.—8 I have sent a copy of my Instructions from Admiralty Book9 to Geolog. Soc for you, &, if you look at them, I hope you will approve of prominence I have given to study of active causes.— I have two pamphlets of yours on Instructions at Down, which shall sometime be returned to you.— I shd. have much liked to have heard Murchison on Jura-blocks,10 about which he wrote to me; with Prince Albert, it must have been a grand night.—11 When at Rivermede12 pray remember me most kindly to Mr & Mrs Horner & all the party there.
I shall be astonished if your Book has not an immense sale, for almost everyone is interested about America, & all who are, must enjoy your Book
Yours most sincerely | C. Darwin
Footnotes
Bibliography
Collected papers: The collected papers of Charles Darwin. Edited by Paul H. Barrett. 2 vols. Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press. 1977.
Journal of researches 2d ed.: Journal of researches into the natural history and geology of the countries visited during the voyage of HMS Beagle round the world, under the command of Capt. FitzRoy RN. 2d edition, corrected, with additions. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1845.
Lyell, Charles. 1849. A second visit to the United States of North America. 2 vols. London. [Vols. 4,7]
Woodward, Horace B. 1907. The history of the Geological Society of London. London: Geological Society.
Summary
Mentions illness of Emma Darwin.
Comments on CL’s Second visit to the United States [1849].
His water treatment by J. M. Gully.
CD’s contribution ["Geology"] to J. W. Herschel’s Manual of scientific enquiry [(1849), Collected papers 1: 227–50].
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-1242
- From
- Charles Robert Darwin
- To
- Charles Lyell, 1st baronet
- Sent from
- Malvern
- Source of text
- American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.78)
- Physical description
- ALS 4pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 1242,” accessed on 28 March 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-1242.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 4