From William Ogle   17 January 1882

Dear M^r. Darwin,

I have given myself the pleasure of sending you a copy of a translation of the “De Partibus” of Aristotle;¹ and I feel some self-importance in thus being a kind of formal introducer of the father of Naturalists to his great modern successor. Could the meeting occur in the actual flesh, what a curious one it would be! I can fancy the old teleologist looking sideways and with no little suspicion at his successor, and much astounded to find that, while there was actually no copy of his own works in the house and while his views were looked on as mere matters of antiquarian curiosity, Democritus whom he thought to have effectually and everlastingly squashed, had come to life again in the man he saw before him!² I have, however, such faith in Aristotle as a real honest hunter after truth, that I verily believe, that, when he had heard all you have to say on your side, he would have given in like a true man, and have burnt all his writings; and this pray do, if it so please you, with the one volume of them which I send you.

Believe me | Yours truly | W. Ogle.