From James Crichton-Browne 2 March 1873
West Riding Asylum, | Wakefield.
2nd. March 1873.
My dear Sir,
If you could see my face at the present moment you would behold a vivid picture of Remorse! I am really ashamed beyond all expression that I have allowed so long a time to elapse without acknowledging the copy of your great work which you were kind enough to send me, and without thanking you for the generous compliment which you paid me in that work.1 You over estimated the value of the trifling services which I was able to render to you and more than requited them, by the use you put them to. I value your good word more than an elaborate eulogium by most other men.
I devoured your book greedily and then I had’nt the decency to thank you for one of the choicest intellectual repasts that I ever enjoyed. But in this manner do I explain my apparently inexcusable negligence. When reading your book I said to myself: ‘How shall I best show Mr. Darwin that I appreciate his kindness in sending me this book—and in approving of my observations? And the answer returned to that question was why by sending him matter which shall be corroborative and illustrative of his thesis. Adopting this view I at once jotted down some examples of hereditarily transmitted movements &c.— and then came the hurry and worry of professional work and I read on but not pen in hand as I had hoped to do. I shall still however send you some notes and then I trust you will again receive me into favour.2
Maudsley asked me to review the book but I could not at that time undertake to do so.3 I propose however, with your approval, to write a paper, for the next volume of the West Riding Asylum Medical Reports—which will be published in July extending and illustrating your views on one or two points, especially with reference to the Insane.4
By this post I forward to you a few photographs of Lunatics taken here which, although not at all good may perhaps have some interest for you.5 I shall be gratified if you will add them to your collection, and should you care to possess them I shall be happy to supply you with many more.
My health is better than it was, but I am not robust.6 My work is more arduous than ever but I shall consider it a relief and a recreation to make any additional observations that you may desire.
With profound respect | I am, | My dear Sir, | Yours very gratefully and faithfully | J. Crichton-Browne
C. Darwin Esq. | &c &c
CD annotations
Footnotes
Bibliography
Correspondence: The correspondence of Charles Darwin. Edited by Frederick Burkhardt et al. 29 vols to date. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1985–.
Crichton-Browne, James. 1873. Nitrite of amyl in epilepsy. West Riding Lunatic Asylum Medical Reports 3: 153–74.
Expression: The expression of the emotions in man and animals. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1872.
Medical directory: The London medical directory … every physician, surgeon, and general practitioner resident in London. London: C. Mitchell. 1845. The London and provincial medical directory. London: John Churchill. 1848–60. The London & provincial medical directory, inclusive of the medical directory for Scotland, and the medical directory for Ireland, and general medical register. London: John Churchill. 1861–9. The medical directory … including the London and provincial medical directory, the medical directory for Scotland, the medical directory for Ireland. London: J. & A. Churchill. 1870–1905.
ODNB: Oxford dictionary of national biography: from the earliest times to the year 2000. (Revised edition.) Edited by H. C. G. Matthew and Brian Harrison. 60 vols. and index. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2004.
Summary
Thanks for Expression. Will write paper on it in next [July] West Riding Asylum Medical Report.
Sends photos of lunatics;
will send notes corroborative of CD’s views, including some on "hereditarily transmitted movements".
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-8795
- From
- James Crichton-Browne
- To
- Charles Robert Darwin
- Sent from
- West Riding Asylum, Wakefield
- Source of text
- DAR 161: 318
- Physical description
- ALS 11pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 8795,” accessed on 19 March 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-8795.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 21