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From T. S. Baynes   8 July 1875

Encyclopædia | Britannica. | 6 North Bridge. | Edinburgh

8. July 1875

Dear Sir,

Will you pardon me if I take the liberty of asking whether you could contribute to the new Edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica a short article on Breeds and Breeding.1 Professor Huxley has suggested headings under which Natural History might be dealt with in the new Edition.2 I enclose a copy of his list, & you will see that the subject of Breeding is among the more general articles which he has suggested. The article should I presume give an outline of the main results of domestication—of the nature & amount of change in animal & vegetable life produced by direct human agency.3

I have just had a conversation with Prof: Huxley4 on the subject, & as the result of it I have decided to apply for your help.

Again apologising for the liberty I have thus taken | I am dear Sir | yours truly | Thos: S. Baynes.

Charles Darwin Esqe.

1
Baynes was general editor of the ninth edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica (1875–89; ODNB).
2
Thomas Henry Huxley advised Baynes on natural science and contributed articles on biology and evolution (EB 9th ed. 1: vii and index). In a prefatory note, Baynes remarked that a central aim of the new edition was to reflect the rapid progress of science during the last quarter century (EB 9th ed. 1: v).
3
The article ‘Breeds and breeding’ was written by Francis Darwin; a note stated that ‘many of the facts and arguments contained in the present article are taken from Mr Darwin’s work, The Variation of Animals and Plants under Domestication 1868, and 2nd ed. 1876’ (EB 9th ed. 4: 244).
4
Huxley was lecturing in Edinburgh (letter from T. H. Huxley, 5 June 1875).

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-10052,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-10052