From Ernst Krause1   19 April 1880

Berlin N.O. Friedenstrasse 10. II

den 19.4.80.

Hochverehrter Herr!

Endlich bin ich im Stande, Ihnen die deutsche Ausgabe des Erasmus Darwin vorzulegen.x)2 Ich fürchte sehr, dass Ihnen die Ausdehnung des Stoffes nicht ganz gefallen wird, namentlich was die zahlreichen Anmerkungen betrifft. Ich habe dabei einerseits die Bedürfnisse und Gewohnheiten des deutschen Publikums im Auge gehabt und andrerseits den Wunsch des Verlegers, nicht unter einer gewissen Seitenzahl zu bleiben, da Bücher zwischen 100–200 Seiten sich notorisch in Deutschland am schlechtesten verkaufen pflegen. Unter den Anmerkungen möchte ich Ihre Aufmerksamkeit auf No. 92 (p. 231) zu richten mir erlauben, in welcher nachgewiesen wird, dass eine Theorie der Pangenesis von Hippocrates beinahe mit denselben Worten aufgestellt worden ist, wie von Ihnen.3

Indem ich Sie bitte, die Arbeit mit nachsichtigen Augen aufzunehmen, zeichne ich, hochverehrter Herr | In herzlicher Verehrung | Ihr dankbar ergebenster | Ernst Krause

x) Ich sende sie hierneben unter Kreuzband.

CD annotations

Verso of letter: ‘In conclusion let me thank you [‘most’ del] cordially for your uniform & most k. consideration for every one of my wishes, & still more so for placing my grandfathers merit [‘on a [illeg]’ interl & del] on a sure & lasting foundation.’4 ink
1
For a translation of this letter, see Appendix I.
2
Krause 1880; CD’s copy has not been found in the Darwin Archive.
3
Krause referred to the Greek physician Hippocrates (Krause 1880, p. 231). CD had been informed about similarities between his theory and that of Hippocrates by William Ogle (see Correspondence vol. 16, letter to William Ogle, 6 March [1868]). For a discussion of the theories of heredity of Hippocrates and CD, see Dictionary of the history of ideas 2: 622–4.
4
CD’s annotation is a note for his reply to Krause of 21 April 1880.

From Ernst Krause1   19 April 1880

Berlin N.O. Friedenstrasse 10. II

19.4.80.

Most esteemed Sir!

I am finally able to present you with the German edition of Erasmus Darwin.x)2 I fear very much that you will not entirely like the expansion of the material, in particular the numerous notes. In doing this, I have taken care on the one hand of the needs and habits of the German audience, on the other hand of the wish of the publisher to not fall below a certain number of pages, since in Germany books of between 100–200 pages notoriously tend to sell worst of all. Among the notes, allow me to direct your attention to No. 92 (p. 231), in which it is demonstrated that a theory of pangenesis had been put forward by Hippocrates in almost the same wording as yours.3

Begging you to receive this work with indulgence, I remain, most esteemed Sir | With heartfelt respect | Yours most gratefully devoted | Ernst Krause

x) I am sending it herewith as printed matter.

1
For a transcription of this letter in its original German, see pp. 179–80.
2
Krause 1880; CD’s copy has not been found in the Darwin Archive.
3
Krause referred to the Greek physician Hippocrates (Krause 1880, p. 231). CD had been informed about similarities between his theory and that of Hippocrates by William Ogle (see Correspondence vol. 16, letter to William Ogle, 6 March [1868]). For a discussion of the theories of heredity of Hippocrates and CD, see Dictionary of the history of ideas 2: 622–4.

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-12583,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-12583