Ɛpsilon

From C. I. F. Major1   6 February 1873

Pise

6 févr. 1873

Très honoré Monsieur,

Après avoir reçu des refus de deux éditeurs, je suis depuis plusieurs semaines sans réponse définitive d’un troisième auquel j’ai envoyé votre ouvrage pour qu’il en prît connaissance. Dans cet état de choses et eu égard à votre honorée du 31 janv., je crois de mon devoir de renoncer, et je le fais avec grand regret, à la traduction projètée.2 Ce qui me fait surtout de la peine c’est de n’avoir pas pu contribuer pour ma part à faire connaître vos écrits en Italie. Tant mieux si un autre réussit mieux que moi dans l’entreprise.

Je dois, en outre, vous exprimer mes regrets de vous avoir tant dérangé inutilement, bien que contre ma volonté.

J’espère que pendant de longues années encore les forces ne vous manqueront pas de donner au monde scientifique de nouveaux écrits—et je vous prie d’agréer l’expression de haute estime et de vénération que je professe pour vous.

C. I. Forsyth Major.

1
For a translation of this letter, see Appendix I.
2
Major had asked CD for German and Italian translation rights for Expression and CD had evidently agreed to Major’s proposal for an Italian translation (Correspondence vol. 20, letters from C. I. F. Major, 18 October 1872 and 17 November 1872). CD’s letter of 31 January 1873 has not been found, but in a letter to John Murray of 11 November 1872 (Correspondence vol. 20), CD wrote that he had got into some confusion with two men who wanted to bring out an Italian translation of Expression. Expression was translated into Italian by Giovanni Canestrini and Francesco Bassani (Canestrini and Bassani trans. 1878); CD’s correspondence with them on this topic started in 1875.

From C. I. F. Major1   6 February 1873

Pisa

6 Feb. 1873

Most honoured Sir

After receiving a rejection from two editors, I have remained for several weeks without a definitive reply from a third to whom I had sent your work so that he could acquaint himself with it. Given that state of affairs, and in consideration of your honoured letter of 31 Jan., I think it my duty to renounce (and I do so with great regret) the planned translation.2 What pains me most is not being able to contribute on my own behalf to making your writings known in Italy. So much the better if somebody else succeeds better than I in the venture.

I ought, besides, to express my regrets for having disturbed you so unnecessarily, though against my will.

I hope that for long years to come you will not lack the strength to present the scientific world with new writings—and please believe me with great esteem and veneration very truly yours.

C. I. Forsyth Major.

1
For a transcription of this letter in its original French, see Transcript.
2
Major had asked CD for German and Italian translation rights for Expression and CD had evidently agreed to Major’s proposal for an Italian translation (Correspondence vol. 20, letters from C. I. F. Major, 18 October 1872 and 17 November 1872). CD’s letter of 31 January 1873 has not been found, but in a letter to John Murray of 11 November 1872 (Correspondence vol. 20), CD wrote that he had got into some confusion with two men who wanted to bring out an Italian translation of Expression. Expression was translated into Italian by Giovanni Canestrini and Francesco Bassani (Canestrini and Bassani trans. 1878); CD’s correspondence with them on this topic started in 1875.

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-8759,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-8759