Ɛpsilon

From J. C. Houzeau   24 February 1873

Ross’ View— St. Andrew, | Gordon Town P.O. | JAMAICA.

February, 24, 1873.

Charles Darwin, M.A., F.R.S., &c.

Sir—

I return my heartfelt thanks for the present with which you honoured me of your recent book, on “The expression of the emotions in man and animals.”1 Circumstances that would be of very little interest to you, prevented me from doing it sooner.

I will not tresspass upon your time. Allow me however to take this opportunity for calling your attention to the importance of saving from utter destruction some at least of the anthropoid quadrumans. The still living specimens of those types are to be found in countries over which England has directly or indirectly a control. Could not some means be devised to tame and study, in their own climate, a number of those apes, with a view to ascertain to what extent they can be instructed and developed. Should they, for instance, be taught to speak (though imperfectly), as does not appear entirely hopeless from facts I related in my “Etudes sur les facultés mentales des animaux,” vol. II, p. 288 & 308–311, what important bearing would not have this point on the question of development?2 Shall these little families be allowed to become extinct, without a more thorough inquiry being made into their capabilities, on the spot where they live, and where alone they can preserve their health and thereby show all their powers.

I venture this suggestion, for, should no stock be saved by domestication, the anthropoids will soon partake of the fate of the “Dronte,” the “Rytina,” &c,3 and the loss to the student of nature will be irreparable.

Be kind enough to excuse my bad English, and believe me, Sir, your most obedient Servt. | J. C. Houzeau.

CD annotations

2.8 “Etudes … 308–311, 2.9] double scored pencil
Top of letter: ‘Descent’4blue crayon; ‘(See 2d Page)’ pencil
1
Houzeau’s name was on CD’s presentation list for Expression (Correspondence vol. 20, Appendix IV). CD had sent the book to Houzeau’s brother, Auguste Houzeau de Lehaie, in Belgium and it was sent on to Houzeau in Jamaica (Correspondence vol. 20, letter from Auguste Houzeau de Lehaie, 4 November 1872).
2
CD had been sent a copy of Houzeau’s studies on the mental faculties of animals (Houzeau 1872; see Correspondence vol. 20, letter from Auguste Houzeau de Lehaie, 4 November 1872, and n. 2). In Houzeau 1872, 2: 288 and 308–11, Houzeau discussed the apes’ lack of language as an obstacle to greater communication with them and related an example of a chimpanzee who appeared to understand verbal instructions in the absence of any other cues.
3
Dronte: dodo (Raphus cucullatus); rytina: Steller’s sea cow (Hydrodamalis gigas, formerly Rhytina stelleri).
4
Although CD cited Houzeau 1872 frequently in Descent 2d ed., he did not refer to Houzeau on the communication of apes (see n. 2, above).

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-8785,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-8785