Ɛpsilon

From Henri Louis Frédéric de Saussure1   17 January 1863

Genève.

17 janv 63.

Monsieur

J’ai bien reçu votre lettre du 8e Janv. et vous en suis bien reconnaissant.2

Le travail sur le mexique contiendra qque géologie et pourra vous intéresser par la suite.3 Quant ‘a celui des oiseaux il y en a qques exemplaires chez Rothschild ‘a Paris (14 rue de Buci)4   Il est presque épuisé.

Dans ce moment j’ai divers travaux sur le chantier, mais il en est un qui m’occupe depuis longtemps et qui vous interessera. C’est la filiation des genres, des espèces et des moeurs dans les guêpes.5 Il y a dans ce groupe des transitions singulières et des transformations spécifiques et morales évidentes.

J’avais pensé que ma carte du Mexique devrait intéresser dans ce moment et j’en ai fait un depôt chez Stanford, 6 Charing Cross.6 Mais il parait qu’en Angleterre on se soucie peu de ce pays car cette carte a bien de la peine ‘a se vendre quoique fort belle et d’une exécution soignée, et ajoutant bien des choses a la géographie de ces contrées.

Je reste Monsieur votre très dévoué | H. de Saussure

Oserais-je vous prier de faire parvenir la ci-jointe lettre au British Museum.7 Elle n’est pas pressée et vos courses vous conduisent sans doute ‘a cet etablissement.

1
For a translation of this letter, see Correspondence vol.11, Appendix I.
2
CD’s letter has not been found.
3
The reference is to the first volume of Saussure 1858–71, a memoir on the natural history of Mexico, the Antilles, and the United States.
4
Saussure 1858. CD’s lightly annotated copy of Saussure 1858 is in the Darwin Pamphlet Collection–CUL. Saussure refers to the Paris publisher, Jules Rothschild.
5
Saussure had already published a major study on wasps (Saussure 1852–8); his synopsis of American wasps formed the fourth part of Saussure 1858–71.
6
Saussure 1862. The London bookseller, stationer, and map engraver, Edward Stanford, was an agent for ordnance maps, geological survey maps, and Admiralty charts (Post Office London directory 1861).
7
The enclosed letter has not been found.

From Henri Louis Frédéric de Saussure1   17 January 1863

Geneva.

17 Jan 63.

Sir

I have indeed received your letter of 8th Jan. and would like to thank you for it.2

The work on Mexico will contain some geology and therefore might eventually be of interest to you.3 As for the one on birds, there are some copies of it at Rothchild’s in Paris (14 rue de Buci)4   It is almost sold out.

I am currently working on various projects, but there is one which has been occupying me for a long time and which will be of interest to you. It concerns the descent of genera, species and social behaviour in wasps.5 In this group there are peculiar transitions and specific and obvious behavioural changes.

I had thought that my map of Mexico would be of interest at this time and have deposited some copies with Stanford, 6 Charing Cross. 6 But it seems that in England no one cares much for that country, as the map is selling badly, even though it is very beautiful and has been put together with great care, and adds a great many details to the geography of the area.

I remain, my dear sir, most faithfully yours | H. de Saussure

May I ask you to forward the enclosed letter to the British Museum.7 There is no hurry and your work probably takes you to that establishment.

1
For a transcription of this letter in the original French, see Correspondence vol.11, p. 54.
2
CD’s letter has not been found.
3
The reference is to the first volume of Saussure 1858–71, a memoir on the natural history of Mexico, the Antilles, and the United States.
4
Saussure 1858. CD’s lightly annotated copy of Saussure 1858 is in the Darwin Pamphlet Collection–CUL. Saussure refers to the Paris publisher, Jules Rothschild.
5
Saussure had already published a major study on wasps (Saussure 1852–8); his synopsis of American wasps formed the fourth part of Saussure 1858–71.
6
Saussure 1862. The London bookseller, stationer, and map engraver, Edward Stanford, was an agent for ordnance maps, geological survey maps, and Admiralty charts (Post Office London directory 1861).
7
The enclosed letter has not been found.

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-3923,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-3923