Ɛpsilon

From F. M. Balfour   13 January [1881]1

Trinity College | Cambridge.

Jan 13. 1880

My dear Mr Darwin

I shall have the greatest pleasure in translating Krause’s letter for Nature. I only wish that I could have the pleasure of writing such a review of Butler’s book as it merits. His attack on you is in my opinion one of the most dastardly things I have ever seen in print.2 The impudence of the man is to me something astounding; I order to prove you guilty of unfairness towards him, he distorts & twists your meaning in a manner, wh. even a political opponent would hardly have ventured to do upon the Eastern Question.3

I enjoyed my visit to Down immensely;4 & have to thank you for inviting me there so often.

Your’s very truly | F. M. Balfour

1
The year is established by the relationship between this letter and the letter to F. M. Balfour, 12 January 1881.
2
CD had asked Balfour to translate Ernst Krause’s response to Samuel Butler for Nature (see letter to F. M. Balfour, 12 January 1881 and n. 2). For Butler’s attack on CD, see Butler 1880, pp. 58–62, and the letter to Leslie Stephen, 11 January 1881 and n. 3.
3
The ‘eastern question’ refers to the instability of the Ottoman Empire in the Balkans, and to recent debates over British involvement to oppose Russian influence in the region; on the eastern question in British politics, see Ković 2010.
4
Balfour had visited Down House from 8 January 1881 (Emma Darwin’s diary (DAR 242)).

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-13011,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-13011