From Charles Darwin to William Kemp   1 November [1843]

Dear Sir

I have been detained from home, otherwise I sh^d have sooner answered your last communication.— I am sorry to say that M^r Babington (who from the testimony of several Botanists, is a first-rate judge in the genus Atriplex) pronounces the plant reared at the Hort. Soc. to be A. angustifolium; I enclose his letter, as you might like to see it.— I am quite puzzled what to recommend you about publication,— b⁠⟨⁠u⁠⟩⁠t first let me say, that, from what I have seen ⁠⟨⁠of⁠⟩⁠ your ardent love of natural science, I would as soon believe myself capable of playing a hoax on the public, as I would believe you to be so.— The most sceptical of the public w^d only suspect an accidental error. For myself I believe the seeds had been deposited, as you describe & that they produced the plants, you sent to Prof. Henslow.— and I think I have shown by my correspondence, that I do not underrate the interest of the fact. But apparently only two kinds of seeds were sown, & with you, the species of Polygonum P. avicularum & P. convulvulus (as Henslow informs me) & one of Atriplex, came up, whereas at the Hort. Soc. another species or variety of Atriplex (for I sh^d have told you, that the Atriplex reared by you is undoubtedly according to Henslow the A. patula) & a Rumex R. acetosella: therefore 3. genera, and 4 or 5 species have come up from 2 kind of seeds.— Moreover unfortunately ⁠⟨⁠these⁠⟩⁠ plants are just those, which might be expected to come up from garden soil. If the Atriplex had turned out a new species that alone w^d have been good evidence; or even if the same variety of this genus had come up with you and at the Hort. Soc, this w^d. have been some evidence. I daresay the Rumex at the Hort. Soc was from a seed in the soil, but the Public (when all the facts are stated, which of course you would ⁠⟨⁠do⁠⟩⁠) would I fear, say it is more probable that the seeds of all these plants were contained in the soil, than that such ancient seeds sh^d retain their vitality.— I believe differently myself; but I declare I do not see, how you can make your case sufficiently clear, to justify its publication.— I take great blame to myself that I did not urge Prof. Lindley to plant the seeds in a circle or in a perfect straight line, for in that case, or had you done so, the evidence w^d have been good for the majority of the plants which came up, though even then not for every individual one.

Let me hear what you think of what I have said.— I have all your papers safe & w^d return them to you at anytime— I assure you, I feel extremely disappointed at the prospect ⁠⟨⁠of⁠⟩⁠ your trouble being thrown away, & at so curious (and as I believe real) fact being lost.— I trust you will credit me, when I say, that I have done as much in endeavouring to obtain information for you, as I could if I had discovered the seeds myself; & that I have advised you to the best of my judgment.—

Believe me, dear Sir | Yours very faithfully | C. Darwin.

[Postmarked ‘1 NO 1 | 1843’