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From Ernst Haeckel1   21 June 1881

Jena

21. Juni 81.

Theurer und hochverehrter Freund!

In Erfüllung eines sehnlichen Wunsches, welchen ich seit 30 Jahren hege, einmal die Wunder der Tropen-Natur zu sehen, beabsichtige ich nächsten Winter in Ceylon zuzubringen. Ich denke, Ende September direct (via Suez, Bombay) nach Colombo zu gehen, 4 Monate (theils in Pt. Galle, theils in Trincomalee) zu arbeiten, und April 1882 zurückzukehren.2 Ich will hauptsächlich Medusen und Radiolarien untersuchen, daneben tüchtig zeichnen und malen.3 Ich habe kürzlich auch Öl-Malen und Photographiren gelernt, und bin zu Allem wohl vorbereitet.

Um die bedeutenden Kosten der Reise zu decken, (besonders auch um Viel dredgen und sammeln zu können) hatte ich gehofft, von der Berliner Academie das “Humboldt-Stipendium” zu bekommen, und meine dortigen Freunde hatten mir letzten Ostern bestimmt versprochen, daraus 15,000 Mk (= 750 £ Strl). für diesen Zweck zu erhalten. In der entscheidenden Sitzung, in voriger Woche, hat jedoch die Academie (mit wenig Stimmen Majorität) beschlossen, diesen Antrag abzulehnen, weil “Professor Haeckel der eifrigste und gefährlichste Apostel der Darwinschen Irrlehren ist, und weil seine zoologischen Arbeiten ohne wahren Werth sind. (!!)4

Ich habe nun heute an Sir John Lubbock und an Prof. Huxley gleichlautende Briefe gerichtet, mit der Bitte, ob sie vielleicht ein Reise-Stipendium (womöglich 400–500 £ Strl) von irgend einer gelehrten britischen Societät (vielleich Royal Society oder British Association) für mich erlangen können.5 Zur Motivirung könnte angeführt werden, dass ich seit 5 Jahren für den “Challenger” gratis arbeite (Die “Deep-Sea-Medusae”, mit 32 Tafeln, sind jetzt fertig; die Radiolaria (mit 120 Tafeln) halb fertig).6 An Sir Wyville Thomson, welcher mir Empfehlungen an den Gouverneur von Ceylon versprochen hat, habe ich ebenfalls geschrieben.7

An Sie, mein hochverehrter Freund, möchte ich nun die freundliche Bitte richten, mein Gesuch womöglich bei Gelegenheit zu unterstützen. Vielleicht können Sie mit Sir John Lubbock darüber conferiren.

Ihr Microscop von Zeiss ist hoffentlich nach Wunsch ausgefallen. Mein Freund, Prof. Abbe, welcher bei Zeiss die feineren optischen Arbeiten beaufsichtigt, hatte mir versprochen, die besten Linsen für Sie auszusuchen, und Mr. Zeiss selbst hat dafür gesorgt.8 Sie sagten Beide selbst, dass für den Namen “Darwin” meine Empfehlung überflüssig sei.

Wenn ich in Ceylon Etwas für Sie sammeln oder besorgen kann, wird es mein grösstes Vergnügen sein!

Hoffentlich geht es Ihnen gut! Mit herzlichsten Grüssen an Sie und an Ihre Familie Ihr | treu ergebener | Ernst Haeckel

1
For a translation of this letter, see Appendix I.
2
Haeckel began his voyage to Ceylon (Sri Lanka) on 8 October 1881 and arrived back in Jena on 21 April 1882 (Haeckel 1883b, pp. 11, 337). Point de Galle (now Galle) is on the southernmost tip of the island; Trincomalee is a port city on the east coast.
3
Medusae are the free-swimming sexual forms of animals of the phylum Cnidaria; Haeckel published extensively on these (Haeckel 1879–81, Haeckel 1882). The order Radiolaria of the phylum Protozoa is composed of a diverse group of unicellular protozoans with siliceous skeletons; Haeckel proposed one of the earliest classification schemes for Radiolaria (Haeckel 1887).
4
The Humboldt-Stiftung für Naturforschung und Reisen (Humboldt Foundation for Scientific Research and Travel) was administered by a group of trustees; for more on the rejection of his application and the supporters and opponents of Haeckel among the trustees, see Richards 2008, p. 345.
5
The letter of 21 June 1881 from Haeckel to Thomas Henry Huxley and Huxley’s reply of 1 July 1881 are reproduced in Uschmann and Jahn 1959–60, pp. 26–7.
6
The scientific results of the dredging expedition of HMS Challenger (1872–6) were published between 1880 and 1895. For Haeckel’s reports on Medusae and Radiolaria, see Haeckel 1882 and Haeckel 1887.
7
Charles Wyville Thomson was chief of the civilian scientific staff of the Challenger expedition. James Robert Longden was governor of Ceylon at this time.
8
See letter to Ernst Haeckel, 9 February 1881. Ernst Abbe was a partner of Carl Zeiss in his optical firm at Jena. The microscope was Stativ IV no. 3650, with condenser (manufactured on 11 November 1880) and included the objectives BB, DD, F, and K (ZEISS Archives). The microscope was for Francis Darwin.

From Ernst Haeckel1   21 June 1881

Jena

21. June 81.

Dear and highly esteemed friend!

In fulfilment of an ardent wish of mine, which I have entertained for 30 years, to one day see the wonders of tropical nature, I plan to spend next winter in Ceylon. At the end of September, I intend to go directly (via Suez, Bombay) to Colombo to work for 4 months (partly in Point de Galle, partly in Trincomalee) and to return in April 1882.2 I will study mainly Medusae and Radiolaria, besides drawing and painting a lot.3 I have recently learned oil-painting and photography, and I am well prepared for everything.

To cover the considerable costs of the trip, (in particular, to be able to do a lot of dredging and collecting) I had hoped to receive the “Humboldt-Stipendium” of the Berlin Academy, and my friends there had firmly promised me last Easter that I would receive 15,000 Mark (= 750 £ Strl) from it for this purpose. At the crucial session last week, however, the academy decided (with a bare majority) to turn down this proposal, on the grounds that “Professor Haeckel is the most ardent and most dangerous apostle of the Darwinian heresy, and because his zoological work has no true merit. (!!)4

Now I have today sent identical letters to Sir John Lubbock and to Prof. Huxley, with the request that perhaps they might be able to secure me a travel grant (if possible 400–500 £ Strl) from some learned British society (perhaps Royal Society or British Association).5 In justification, it could be stated that over the past 5 years I have been working free of charge for the “Challenger” (the “Deep-Sea Medusae”, with 32 plates, are now complete; the Radiolaria (with 120 plates) are half-done).6 I have written to Sir Wyville Thomson, who promised me a letter of recommendation to the governor of Ceylon, as well.7

To you, my highly esteemed friend, I would kindly direct my request for your support, should the opportunity arise. Perhaps you could discuss it with Sir John Lubbock.

I hope your microscope from Zeiss has turned out as you wished. My friend, Prof. Abbe, who is supervising the finer optical work at Zeiss, promised me to choose the best lenses for you, and Mr Zeiss has taken care of it personally.8 They both told me that for the name “Darwin” my recommendation was superfluous.

If there is anything that I could collect or get for you in Ceylon, it would be my greatest pleasure!

I hope you are well! With my most cordial greetings to you and to your family Yours | truly devoted | Ernst Haeckel

1
For a transcription of this letter in its original German, see Transcript.
2
Haeckel began his voyage to Ceylon (Sri Lanka) on 8 October 1881 and arrived back in Jena on 21 April 1882 (Haeckel 1883b, pp. 11, 337). Point de Galle (now Galle) is on the southernmost tip of the island; Trincomalee is a port city on the east coast.
3
Medusae are the free-swimming sexual forms of animals of the phylum Cnidaria; Haeckel published extensively on these (Haeckel 1879–81, Haeckel 1882). The order Radiolaria of the phylum Protozoa is composed of a diverse group of unicellular protozoans with siliceous skeletons; Haeckel proposed one of the earliest classification schemes for Radiolaria (Haeckel 1887).
4
The Humboldt-Stiftung für Naturforschung und Reisen (Humboldt Foundation for Scientific Research and Travel) was administered by a group of trustees; for more on the rejection of his application and the supporters and opponents of Haeckel among the trustees, see Richards 2008, p. 345.
5
The letter of 21 June 1881 from Haeckel to Thomas Henry Huxley and Huxley’s reply of 1 July 1881 are reproduced in Uschmann and Jahn 1959–60, pp. 26–7.
6
The scientific results of the dredging expedition of HMS Challenger (1872–6) were published between 1880 and 1895. For Haeckel’s reports on Medusae and Radiolaria, see Haeckel 1882 and Haeckel 1887.
7
Charles Wyville Thomson was chief of the civilian scientific staff of the Challenger expedition. James Robert Longden was governor of Ceylon at this time.
8
See letter to Ernst Haeckel, 9 February 1881. Ernst Abbe was a partner of Carl Zeiss in his optical firm at Jena. The microscope was Stativ IV no. 3650, with condenser (manufactured on 11 November 1880) and included the objectives BB, DD, F, and K (ZEISS Archives). The microscope was for Francis Darwin.

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-13213,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-13213