Ɛpsilon

To François Jules Pictet de la Rive   11 November [1859]

Down Bromley, Kent [Ilkley]

Nov. 11th

Sir

I have taken the liberty to send you, as a mark of my respect, a copy of my work (as yet only an abstract) on the Origin of Species.— As it is evident from your great work on Palæontology1 that you have profoundly reflected on this subject,2 I have thought that you might perhaps like to read my book, which I venture to assure you is the result of long-continued & conscientious labour.— I beg you not to think me so presumptuous as to suppose that my work will alter your general conclusions; but it may possibly lead you to reflect further on the side opposed to your view. If you should be induced to read my volume, I venture to state, that it is so much condensed, that it will not be intelligible, unless it be read straight through.—

With much respect & with apologies for troubling you with this note, which does not require any answer, I have the honour to remain | Sir | Your faithful servant | Charles Darwin

1
CD possessed copies of Pictet de la Rive 1844--6 (vols. 1 and 3 only) and the second edition, Pictet de la Rive 1853--7. His annotated copies of these volumes are in the Darwin Library--CUL. Pictet de la Rive is cited by CD in Origin, p. 305, and, on different points, in his species book (Natural selection, pp. 370, 514).
2
CD was obviously struck by Pictet de la Rive’s discussion of the species question, and he wrote in his copy (Pictet de la Rive 1853--7, 1: 77): ‘It is not surprising that Geologist shd talk so, but it is astonishing that Naturalist shd. do so.—’ CD also scored Pictet de la Rive’s comments on successive creation and wrote: ‘like Vestiges’ (ibid., 1: 87).

Manuscript Alterations and Comments

1.8 to state] ‘to’ interl

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-2518,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-2518