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From Alphonse de Candolle1   9 July 1881

Genève

9 Juillet 1881.

Mon cher Monsieur

C’est bien de notre part que vous avez recu le volume 3 des Monographiae, quoique dans ce cas nous ayons été les éditeurs non les auteurs.2 Malgré la nature purement descriptive de l’ouvrage, j’ai pensé qu’il pourrait vous servir quelquefois pour les noms les plus corrects à adopter.

Je comprends votre admiration pour les lacs d’Angleterre. Ils sont charmants—dans la bonne saison—et bien plus intéressants que ceux d’Ecosse.3

Hier je suis entré dans l’ancienne campagne de Sismondi, et me trouvant à l’endroit d’où Madame Darwin avait dessiné la vue, j’ai été frappé de la vérité de son dessin. Cela m’a rappelé la journée si agréable que j’ai passée à Beckenham.4

Mes hommages, je vous prie, à Madame Darwin, compliments à Monsieur Francis5 et croyez moi, toujours, mon cher Monsieur, | Votre très dévoué | Alph. de Candolle

1
For a translation of this letter, see Appendix I.
2
See letter to Alphonse de Candolle, 6 July [1881]. CD had received the third volume of Monographiæ phanerogamarum (Monographs on the phanerogams), edited by Alphonse de Candolle and his son Casimir (A. de Candolle and Candolle eds. 1878–96).
3
The Darwins had been in the Lake District for about five weeks (see CD’s ‘Journal’ (Appendix II)).
4
Emma Darwin (then Wedgwood) and her sister Frances had stayed with their aunt and uncle Jessie and Jean-Charles Léonard de Sismondi in Geneva and Chêne between November 1826 and June 1827 (Emma Darwin (1904), 1: 245–74; Healey 2001, p. 105); they had made a shorter visit with other members of their family in 1825 (Healey 2001, pp. 96–7). Candolle visited Down on 27 September 1880 (see Correspondence vol. 28, letter from Asa Gray, 30 September 18[80] and n. 2).

From Alphonse de Candolle1   9 July 1881

Geneva

9 July 1881.

My dear Sir

It is good for us that you have received volume 3 of the Monographiae, although in this case we have been the editors not the authors.2 Despite the purely descriptive nature of the work, I thought that it could sometimes supply you with the most correct names to use.

I understand your admiration for the English Lakes. They are charming—at the right time of year—and much more interesting than those of Scotland.3

Yesterday I went into the old country of Sismondi, and finding myself near where Mrs Darwin had sketched the view, I was struck by the verisimilitude of her drawing. That reminded me of the very pleasant day which I spent at Beckenham.4

My greetings, I beg you, to Mrs Darwin, compliments to Mr Francis5 and believe me always, my dear Sir, | Your most devoted | Alph. de Candolle

1
For a transcription of this letter in its original French, see Transcript.
2
See letter to Alphonse de Candolle, 6 July [1881]. CD had received the third volume of Monographiæ phanerogamarum (Monographs on the phanerogams), edited by Alphonse de Candolle and his son Casimir (A. de Candolle and Candolle eds. 1878–96).
3
The Darwins had been in the Lake District for about five weeks (see CD’s ‘Journal’ (Appendix II)).
4
Emma Darwin (then Wedgwood) and her sister Frances had stayed with their aunt and uncle Jessie and Jean-Charles Léonard de Sismondi in Geneva and Chêne between November 1826 and June 1827 (Emma Darwin (1904), 1: 245–74; Healey 2001, p. 105); they had made a shorter visit with other members of their family in 1825 (Healey 2001, pp. 96–7). Candolle visited Down on 27 September 1880 (see Correspondence vol. 28, letter from Asa Gray, 30 September 18[80] and n. 2).

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-13239,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-13239