From Otto Zacharias1   7 January 1877

Geestemünde-Bremerhaven | (My new Adress)

7/I 77.

Hochgeehrter Herr!

Ich danke Ihnen zunächst nochmals für die Uebersendung der “Sheets”. Die Lectüre derselben hat mir sehr genussreiche Stunden bereitet.2

Ich habe mich sofort an die Arbeit gemacht und in 3 renommirten Zeitschriften Artikel (Essays) darüber veröffentlicht. Den ersten (the first of them) sende ich zugleith mit diesem Briefe (unter Kreuzband) an Ihre werthe Adresse. Er ist am 1. Jan. d. J. in der wöchentlich (weekly) erscheinenden Zeitschrift “Ausland” publicirt worden.3 Der 2. erscheint in der grossen “Illustrirten Zeitung” (Leipzig) am 13. Jan. u. der dritte am 15. Jan. in der “Gegenwart” (Berlin).4

Norddeutschland, Mittel- u. Süddeutschland werden also fast zu gleicher Zeit mit Ihrem neuen hochinteressanten Werke bekannt. Ich glaubte Ihre grosse Freundlichkeit nicht passender erwiedern zu können, als indem ich die Freunde der Entwickelungstheorie so schnell als möglich in die Lage versetzte, von Ihren neuesten Forschungen Kenntniss zu nehmen.

Prof. Haeckel ist zur Zeit unwohl; er hat sich ueberarbeitet (overworked) und leidet an Nervosität und Schlaflosigkeit. Es geht aber bereits viel besser. Häckels Krankheit ist daran Schuld dass ich nicht—wie bestimmt war—am 1. Jan. mit Heft I. meiner darwinist. Zeitschrift habe hervortreten können.5

Hochachtungsvoll | mit den besten Wünschen | zu Neujahr | Otto Zacharias

P. Scr. Mr. George Darwin wollte gern wissen, wieviel Exemplare seiner Kl. Schrift in Deutschland verkauft seien (Marriage between first Cousins). Mr. Engelmann (the publisher) sagte mir: 250.6

1
For a translation of this letter, see Appendix I.
2
CD sent proof-sheets of Cross and self fertilisation (see Correspondence vol. 24, letter to Otto Zacharias, 5 October [1876])
3
Zacharias sent CD a copy of his essay review, ‘Darwin über Kreuzung und Selbstbefruchtung im Pflanzenreiche’ (Darwin on crossing and self-fertilisation in the plant kingdom; Zacharias 1877a). CD’s annotated copy is in the Darwin Pamphlet Collection–CUL.
4
Zacharias’s review of Cross and self fertilisation entitled ‘Darwins neuestes Werk’ appeared in Die Gegenwart, 13 January 1877, pp. 25–7 (Zacharias 1877b); another review with the same title but different text appeared in Illustrirte Zeitung, 13 January 1877, pp. 29, 32 (Zacharias 1877c).
5
Ernst Haeckel had been an early supporter of Zacharias’s plan to publish a popular journal devoted to Darwinian science (see Correspondence vol. 23, letter from Otto Zacharias, 3 June 1875). Zacharias had planned to call the journal Darwinia, but it eventually apppeared under the title Kosmos in April 1877. Zacharias was not part of the editorial board, although he had served as editor in the planning stages (see Daum 1998, pp. 361–3, 400; see also Nöthlich et al. 2006).
6
George Howard Darwin’s paper ‘Marriages between first cousins in England and their effects’ (G. H. Darwin 1875) had been translated into German with an introduction by Zacharias (G. H. Darwin 1876a). The publisher was Wilhelm Engelmann.

From Otto Zacharias1   7 January 1877

Geestemünde-Bremerhaven | (My new Adress)

7/I 77.

Highly honoured Sir!

First of all I thank you again for sending the “sheets”. Reading them has given me some very enjoyable hours.2

I went to work on them at once and have published articles (essays) on them in 3 prestigious periodicals. The first of these I am sending at the same time as this letter (as printed matter) to your esteemed address. It was published on 1 Jan. of this year in the weekly periodical “Ausland”.3 The 2d appears in the great “Illustrirte Zeitung” (Leipzig) on 13 Jan. & the third on 15 Jan. in the “Gegenwart” (Berlin).4

Northern Germany, Central & South Germany will thus almost simultaneously be acquainted with your highly interesting new work. I felt I could not return your great kindness more fittingly than by making it possible for the friends of the theory of evolution to acquaint themselves with your latest research as quickly as possible.

Prof. Haeckel is unwell at the moment; he has been overworking and suffers from nervousness and sleeplessness. He is already doing much better. Haeckel’s illness is to blame for the fact that I was unable—as agreed—to bring out the 1st issue of my Darwinist periodical on 1 January.5

Respectfully | with the best wishes | for the New Year | Otto Zacharias

P.S. Mr George Darwin wanted to know how many copies of his pamphlet have sold in Germany (Marriage between first Cousins). Mr. Engelmann (the publisher) tells me: 250.6

1
For a transcription of this letter in its original German, see Transcript.
2
CD sent proof-sheets of Cross and self fertilisation (see Correspondence vol. 24, letter to Otto Zacharias, 5 October [1876])
3
Zacharias sent CD a copy of his essay review, ‘Darwin über Kreuzung und Selbstbefruchtung im Pflanzenreiche’ (Darwin on crossing and self-fertilisation in the plant kingdom; Zacharias 1877a). CD’s annotated copy is in the Darwin Pamphlet Collection–CUL.
4
Zacharias’s review of Cross and self fertilisation entitled ‘Darwins neuestes Werk’ appeared in Die Gegenwart, 13 January 1877, pp. 25–7 (Zacharias 1877b); another review with the same title but different text appeared in Illustrirte Zeitung, 13 January 1877, pp. 29, 32 (Zacharias 1877c).
5
Ernst Haeckel had been an early supporter of Zacharias’s plan to publish a popular journal devoted to Darwinian science (see Correspondence vol. 23, letter from Otto Zacharias, 3 June 1875). Zacharias had planned to call the journal Darwinia, but it eventually apppeared under the title Kosmos in April 1877. Zacharias was not part of the editorial board, although he had served as editor in the planning stages (see Daum 1998, pp. 361–3, 400; see also Nöthlich et al. 2006).
6
George Howard Darwin’s paper ‘Marriages between first cousins in England and their effects’ (G. H. Darwin 1875) had been translated into German with an introduction by Zacharias (G. H. Darwin 1876a). The publisher was Wilhelm Engelmann.

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-10775,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-10775