Ɛpsilon

To Pietro Siciliani1   28 January 1877

Down Beckenham, Kent,

Gennajo 28, 77.

Carissimo Signore,

La ringrazio della sua gentil lettera e del dono ch’ella mi fa della sua Opera intorno alla biologia moderna, e che io ho ricevuto solamente ieri.2

Le osservazioni che leggo nella sua lettera mi hanno recato molto piacere, e mi onorano grandemente.

Per mia disgrazia io non intendo la bella lingua italiana, ma c’è nella mia famiglia chi la conosce, e subito mi farò tradurre parecchie parti dell’opera sua le quali, a quel che vedo, m’interessano in sommo grado. Questo dono mi riesce assai gradito anche perchè mi viene dall’Italia, l’antica madre delle scienze.

Le rendo vivissime grazie, e con rispetto profondo mi dichiaro. | Suo affimo | Carlo Darwin.

1
For a translation of this letter, see Appendix I.
2
Siciliani’s letter has not been found in the Darwin Archive–CUL. CD’s copy of the book, La critica nella filosofia zoologica del XIX secolo (Critique of zoological philosophy in the nineteenth century; Siciliani 1876), inscribed from the author and dated 20 January 1877, is in the Darwin Library–CUL.

To Pietro Siciliani1   28 January 1877

Down Beckenham, Kent,

January 28, 77.

Dear Sir,

I thank you for your courteous letter and the gift you have made me of your work about modern biology, which I received only yesterday.2

The observations which I have read in your letter have given me much pleasure, and have honoured me much.

Unfortunately I do not understand the lovely Italian language, but one of my family is acquainted with it, and soon they will translate the several parts of your work which, from what I see, interest me most. This gift is especially welcome to me because it comes to me from Italy, the ancient mother of knowledge.

I heartily thank you, and assure you of my deep respect. | Yours truly | Charles Darwin.

1
For a transcription of this letter in the Italian of its printed source, see Transcript.
2
Siciliani’s letter has not been found in the Darwin Archive–CUL. CD’s copy of the book, La critica nella filosofia zoologica del XIX secolo (Critique of zoological philosophy in the nineteenth century; Siciliani 1876), inscribed from the author and dated 20 January 1877, is in the Darwin Library–CUL.

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-10819F,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-10819F