Ɛpsilon

From C. S. Vesselofski1   3 January 1868

Académie Impériale des Sciences. | Saint-Petersbourg,

ce 22 Décembre 1867/3 Janvier 18682

No. 3315

Le Secrétaire perpétuel de l’Académie

A Monsieur Charles Darwin

Monsieur,

J’ai l’honneur de Vous informer que l’Académie Impériale des Sciences Vous a élu son membre correspondant dans la section biologique.3

En Vous conférant ce titre, l’Académie a voulu Vous témoigner l’estime qu’elle professe pour Vos travaux et elle espère que Vous voudrez bien lui communiquer tout ce qui pourrait l’intéresser dans la branche que Vous cultivez avec tant de supériorité.

En Vous transmettant ci–près le diplôme d’usage,4 je me félicite, Monsieur, d’être en cette circonstance l’organe et l’interprète des sentiments de l’Académie et de pouvoir Vous offrir l’expression de ma considération la plus distinguée. | C. Vesselofski | Secrétaire Perpétu⁠⟨⁠el⁠⟩⁠

LS

1
For a translation of this letter, see Correspondence vol. 16, Appendix I.
2
Vesselofski gives both the Julian (22 December) and Gregorian (3 January) dates.
3
For more on CD’s election as a corresponding member of the Imperial Academy of Sciences at St Petersburg, see Korneyev ed. 1977, pp. 248–51.
4
The diploma, dated 29 December 1867, is transcribed in Correspondence vol. 15, Appendix III.

From C. S. Vesselofski1   3 January 1868

Académie Impériale des Sciences | Saint-Petersbourg

22 December 1867/3 January 18682

No. 3315

The Perpetual Secretary to the Academy   To Mr Charles Darwin

Sir,

I have the honour of informing you that the Imperial Academy of Sciences has elected you as its corresponding member in the biological section.3

In conferring this title, the Academy wished to display the esteem that it has for your work, and it hopes that you will be so good as to communicate whatever might be of interest to it in the branch that you cultivate with such superiority.

In hereby transmitting the customary diploma to you,4 I congratulate myself, Sir, on being the organ and interpreter of the Academy’s feelings in this matter, and on being able to present my most distinguished respects to you. | C. Vesselofski | Perpetual Secretary

LS

1
For a transcription of this letter in its original French, see part I: 6–7.
2
Vesselofski gives both the Julian (22 December) and Gregorian (3 January) dates.
3
For more on CD’s election as a corresponding member of the Imperial Academy of Sciences at St Petersburg, see Korneyev ed. 1977, pp. 248–51.
4
The diploma, dated 29 December 1867, is transcribed in Correspondence vol. 15, Appendix III.

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-5775,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-5775