From Athénaïs Michelet1 16 November 1872
Paris
16 Nov 72
Monsieur
Après la lettre de mon mari, que depuis si longtemp il désirait vous écrire,2 je ne me sens le droit de prendre la plume que pour vous remercier du bon souvenir que vous m’avez gardé et de l’envoi de la petite brochure.—3 Mes bons amis, les chats ne sont pas contents. C’est la seconde fois que je les quitte et sans savoir quand je les retrouverai.—4
Mon mari qui a pris toutes ses forces pour vous écrire, a été tout le mois d’octobre profondément malade. J’ai veillé, j’ai lutté contre la nature qui semble aimer autant à détruire qu’à créer.— Aujourd’hui, je garde cette amélioration acquise si péniblement avec un soin jaloux; j’y mets tous mes instans.—
Cela fait tomber la plume des doigts. Je ne sais la reprendre que pour vous dire encore ma respectueuse et vive sympathie | A Michelet.
Footnotes
Bibliography
Correspondence: The correspondence of Charles Darwin. Edited by Frederick Burkhardt et al. 29 vols to date. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1985–.
Translation
From Athénaïs Michelet1 16 November 1872
Paris
16 Nov 72
Sir
After my husband’s letter to you, which he has wanted to write for so long,2 I feel I only have the right to take up the pen in order to thank you for remembering me so kindly and for sending the little pamphlet.—3 My good friends the cats are not happy. This is the second time I have left them without knowing when I shall return to them again.—4
My husband, who used up all his strength writing to you, has been seriously ill all through the month of October. I have stood by, I have struggled against nature who seems to enjoy destruction as much as creation.— Today I am guarding that improvement, gained with such difficulty, with jealous care; I am devoting my every moment to it.—
That makes the pen fall from one’s fingers. I am only able to take it up again in order to reiterate my respectful and lively sympathy | A Michelet.
Footnotes
Bibliography
Correspondence: The correspondence of Charles Darwin. Edited by Frederick Burkhardt et al. 29 vols to date. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1985–.
Summary
The Michelets are ill and dispirited.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-8629
- From
- Adèle-Athénaïs Mialaret (Athénaïs) Michelet
- To
- Charles Robert Darwin
- Sent from
- Paris
- Source of text
- DAR 171: 172
- Physical description
- ALS 4pp (French)
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 8629,” accessed on 20 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-8629.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 20
