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From C. V. Naudin1   15 April 1882

Villa Thuret | Laboratoire | de | l’enseignement supérieur | Antibes,

le 15 avril 82

Cher et illustre confrère,

Voici une nouvelle provision de graines de Trifolium resupinatum qui m’arrive, et je ne veux pas vous la faire attendre plus long-temps.2 En multipliant les semis, on multiplie les chances de succès. Si aucune des graines que vous avez semées ou que vous sèmerez encore ne réussissent pas, veuillez me le faire savoir en temps convenable, pour que je vous envoie des plantes vivantes.

Ici, comme en Angleterre, tout le monde est indigné des insultes qui, dans ces dernières années, ont été addressées à ce pauvre Decaisne, et qui ont bien probablement abrégé sa vie.3 C’est un exemple déplorable; mais ceux-là n’en sont pas trop étonnés qui ont connu le caractère aggressif de Decaisne, qui s’est fait, par là, des ennemis irréconciliables, malgré d’incontestables qualités.— Quelle belle chose que la tolérance!

Veuillez recevoir, cher et illustre confrère, la nouvelle assurance de mes sentiments les plus sincères, | Ch. Naudin

Notre pauvre ami Charles Martins, est aussi dans un assez triste état de santé!4 Il a été persécuté par les pairs, à Montpellier, et il a dû résigner les fonctions de Professeur à l’Ecole de Médecine, pour revenir habiter Paris. Voilà comme tout passe dans le monde phénoménal où nous sommes, sans savoir un mot de notre Whence et de notre Whither.5

Footnotes

1
For a translation of this letter, see Appendix I.
2
Naudin had sent CD a few seeds of Trifolium resupinatum (Persian clover) in his letter of 8 March 1882. He had been trying to get seeds for CD since August 1881 (see Correspondence vol. 29, letter from C. V. Naudin, 19 August 1881).
3
Joseph Decaisne had died on 8 February 1882. Naudin had been aide-naturaliste at the Muséum d’histoire naturelle, Paris, when Decaisne had been professor of plant cultivation there. In an obituary of Decaisne in Nature, 23 February 1882, pp. 390–1, William Turner Thiselton-Dyer had emphasised Decaisne’s conscientiousness in all aspects of his official duties, as well as his opposition to evolutionary ideas. Decaisne’s persecution was also mentioned in the letter from C. V. Naudin, 8 March 1882.
4
Charles Frédéric Martins had been professor of botany and natural history in the faculty of medicine and director of the botanic garden in Montpellier until he retired in 1879. He was a Protestant supporter of evolution, and fell foul of the ultramontanism prevalent among powerful Catholic factions (see Correspondence vol. 25, letter from C. F. Martins, 7 June 1877 and nn. 5 and 6).
5
John 8: 14: ‘Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.’

Translation

From C. V. Naudin1   15 April 1882

Villa Thuret | Laboratoire | de | l’enseignement supérieur | Antibes,

15 April 82

Dear and illustrious colleague,

Here is a fresh supply of seeds of Trifolium resupinatum that I have got, and I do not want to make you wait too long.2 By multiplying the seedlings, one multiplies the chances of success. If none of the seeds that you have sown or that you will sow do well for you, will you please let me know at a suitable time, so that I may send you some living plants.

Here, as in England, everyone is indignant at insults that, in recent years, have been directed at poor Decaisne, and that very probably shortened his life.3 It is a deplorable situation; but those who knew Decaisne’s aggressive character are not too astonished at it, for in that way, irreconcilable enemies are made, in spite of undeniable qualities. What a beautiful thing tolerance is!

Please receive, dear and illustrious colleague, renewed assurance of my most sincere sentiments, Ch. Naudin

Our poor friend, Charles Martins, is also in an equally sad state of health!4 He has been persecuted by the peers, at Montpellier, and he has had to resign his post of Professor at the School of Medicine, to return to live in Paris. See how everything happens in the phenomenal world where we are, without knowing a word of our Whence and our Whither.5

Footnotes

1
For a transcription of this letter in its original French, see Transcript.
2
Naudin had sent CD a few seeds of Trifolium resupinatum (Persian clover) in his letter of 8 March 1882. He had been trying to get seeds for CD since August 1881 (see Correspondence vol. 29, letter from C. V. Naudin, 19 August 1881).
3
Joseph Decaisne had died on 8 February 1882. Naudin had been aide-naturaliste at the Muséum d’histoire naturelle, Paris, when Decaisne had been professor of plant cultivation there. In an obituary of Decaisne in Nature, 23 February 1882, pp. 390–1, William Turner Thiselton-Dyer had emphasised Decaisne’s conscientiousness in all aspects of his official duties, as well as his opposition to evolutionary ideas. Decaisne’s persecution was also mentioned in the letter from C. V. Naudin, 8 March 1882.
4
Charles Frédéric Martins had been professor of botany and natural history in the faculty of medicine and director of the botanic garden in Montpellier until he retired in 1879. He was a Protestant supporter of evolution, and fell foul of the ultramontanism prevalent among powerful Catholic factions (see Correspondence vol. 25, letter from C. F. Martins, 7 June 1877 and nn. 5 and 6).
5
John 8: 14: ‘Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.’

Summary

Sends more Trifolium resupinatum.

In France as in England there is indignation at the insults Decaisne suffered in the last years of his life.

Charles Martins has lost his Professorship at Montpellier.

Letter details

Letter no.
DCP-LETT-13768
From
Charles Victor Naudin
To
Charles Robert Darwin
Sent from
Villa Thuret, Antibes
Source of text
DAR 172: 12
Physical description
ALS 3pp (French)

Please cite as

Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 13768,” accessed on 19 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-13768.xml

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