To Georg von Seidlitz   1 April 1872

Down, | Beckenham, Kent.

Ap 1. 1872

Dear Sir

I am much indebted to you for yr kindness in having sent me copies of your Literatur & Tables sur Descendenztheorie, taken from yr work, Die Darwinsche Theorie.1 I read this some little time since with very great interest, as it seemed to me very well done, though taking too favourable a view of my work; it contained a considerable amount of matter new to me.

I know that I intended to write to you on the subject, but as I have to write many letters I cannot remember whether I ever did so.2

With the papers just recd there came an essay on my last book, written I suppose by your father, & I particularly request that you will present my sincere thanks for his kindness.3

I beg leave to remain | dear Sir | yours faithfully & obliged | Ch. Darwin

LS

1
CD refers to a thirty-page bibliography of works dealing with Darwinian theory (‘Literatur’), together with additional copies of a table describing various transmutation theories including his own. These are bound together with CD’s annotated copy of Die Darwin’sche Theorie (G. Seidlitz 1871) in the Darwin Library–CUL (see Marginalia 1: 753).
2
There was no earlier letter to Seidlitz (see letter from Georg von Seidlitz, 22 April 1872).
3
An offprint of Karl von Seidlitz’s review of the German translation of Descent (K. Seidlitz 1871; Carus trans. 1871–2) is in the Darwin Pamphlet Collection–CUL. Karl von Seidlitz had corresponded with CD in 1869 (Correspondence vol. 17, letter from Karl von Seidlitz, 22 March 1869).

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-8266F,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-8266F