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From Ernest Faivre1   7 April 1868

Lyon

7 Avril 1868

Monsieur,

Je vous Remercie de l’Envoi de votre très important Ouvrage sur les Variations chez les Animaux et les Plantes.2

Je ne vous dis pas que je le lirai mais que je l’étuderai avec tout le soin qu’on doit apporter à une oeuvre de cette nature.

Nous pouvons, Monsieur, differer d’opinion, mais nous ne differons point dans notre désir sincère de pénétrer la Vérité, de la recherche pour elle même, sans complaisance et sans parti Pris.

J’étais bien assuré que tel est votre sentiment, l’orsque j’ai lu la lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’écrire; Elle a été pour moi un Encouragement.3

Je m’estimerais heureux, Monsieur si cette lettre de vous n’etait pas la dernière, et si vous voulez bien me faire connaître encore votre sentiment sur mon modeste travail.

En ce qui me concerne, j’oserai peut être un jour prendre la liberté de vous soumettre mes observations sur votre dernier Écrit.

Veuillez agréer Monsieur, l’Assurance de ma bien Respectueuse Consideration. | Ernest Faivre | Professeur à la faculté des Sciences de Lyon, et Conservateur du Jardin Botanique

1
For a translation of this letter, see Correspondence vol. 16, Appendix I.
2
The reference is to the first volume of the French edition of Variation (Moulinié trans. 1868). Faivre’s name appears on CD’s presentation list for the book (see Correspondence vol. 16, Appendix IV).
3
CD’s letter to Faivre has not been found. In his letter to Ernst Haeckel, 6 February [1868], CD mentioned that he had recently read Faivre 1868, but that Faivre could see no evidence for common descent. CD’s annotated presentation copy of Faivre 1868 is in the Darwin Library–CUL (see Marginalia 1: 225–6).

From Ernest Faivre1   7 April 1868

Lyon

7 April 1868

Dear Sir,

Thank you for sending me your very important Work on the Variations in Animals and Plants.2

I do not say that I shall read it, but rather that I shall study it with all the care that must be brought to a work of this nature.

We may differ in our opinions, dear Sir, but we do not differ at all in our sincere desire to penetrate Truth, or to carry out research for its own sake, without flattery or bias.

I was much assured that this was your sentiment when I read the letter that you did me the honour of writing; It was an Encouragement for me.3

I should consider myself fortunate, my dear Sir, if this letter were not the last from you, and if you would kindly let me know your opinion of my modest work.

For my part, I will perhaps dare to take the liberty one day of submitting my observations on your recent writings.

Please accept, dear Sir, the Assurance of my most Respectful Regards | Ernest Faivre | Professor at the Faculty of Sciences in Lyon and Curator of the Botanical Garden

1
For a transcription of this letter in its original French, see part I: 383.
2
The reference is to the first volume of the French edition of Variation (Moulinié trans. 1868). Faivre’s name appears on CD’s presentation list for the book (see Correspondence vol.16, Appendix IV).
3
CD’s letter to Faivre has not been found. In his letter to Ernst Haeckel, 6 February [1868], CD mentioned that he had recently read Faivre 1868, but that Faivre could see no evidence for common descent. CD’s annotated presentation copy of Faivre 1868 is in the Darwin Library–CUL (see Marginalia 1: 225–6).

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-6102,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-6102