WCP1906

Letter (WCP1906.1796)

[1]

Down.

Bromley.

Kent. S.E.

Sept 16 [1868]1

My dear Wallace

The Beetles have arrived & cordial thanks: I never saw such wonderful creatures in my life. I was thinking of something quite different. I shall wait till my son Frank2 returns, before soaking & examining them.

I long to steal the Box, but return it by this Post, like a too honest man. —

[2] I am so much pleased about the male musk Callichroma; for by odd chance I told Frank a week ago that next spring he must collect at Cambridge lots of Cerambyx moschatus3 for as sure as life he w[ould]d find the odour sexual!

You will be pleased to hear that I am undergoing [3] severe distress about the protection & sexual selection: this morning I oscillated with joy towards you: this evening I have swung back to [my] old position, out of which I fear I shall never get. —

I did most thoroughily [sic] enjoy my talk with you three gentlemen & especially with you, & to my great surprise it has not knocked [4] me up. — Pray give my kindest remembrances to Mrs Wallace, & if my wife were at home she would cordially join in this.4

Yours very sincerely | Ch. Darwin [signature]

I have had this morning [a] capital letter from Walsh5 of Illinois; but details too long to give.

1
Year based on the reference to ARW's visit: See endnote 4.
2
Darwin, Francis ("Frank") (1848-1925). 3rd son of Charles Robert Darwin.
3
The beetle Cerambyx moschatus releases a strong musky odour as a sexual attractant.
4
ARW, his wife Annie, John Jenner Weir, and Edward Blyth had visited Down House over the weekend of 12 and 13 Sept. 1868. Note 5, <http://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/entry-6368> [accessed 7 June 2019].
5
Walsh, Benjamin Dann (1808-1869) British-born American entomologist.

Editorial information

Status: Edited (but not proofed) transcription [Letter (WCP1906.1796)]

For more information about the transcriptions and metadata, see https://wallaceletters.myspecies.info/content/epsilon

Revision history

Transcribed by Darwin Correspondence Project [2012-10-19] Transcription checked by Lucas, Paula [2019-12-20]

Published letter (WCP1906.5993)

[1] [p. 222]

Down, Bromley, Kent, S.E. September 16, 1868.

My dear Wallace, — The beetles have arrived, and cordial thanks: I never saw such wonderful creatures in my life. I was thinking of something quite different. I shall wait till my son Frank returns, before soaking and examining them. I long to steal the box, but return it by this post, like a too honest man.

I am so much pleased about the male musk Callichroma; for by odd chance I told Frank a week ago that next spring he mast collect at Cambridge lots of Cerambyx moschatus, for as sure as life he would find the odour sexual!

You will be pleased to hear that I am undergoing severe distress about protection and sexual selection: this morning I oscillated with joy towards you; this evening I have [2] swung back to the old position, out of which I fear I shall never get.

I did most thoroughly enjoy my talk with you three gentlemen, and especially with you, and to my great surprise it has not knocked me up. Pray give my kindest remembrances to Mrs. Wallace, and if my wife were at home she would cordially join in this. — Yours very sincerely, CH. DARWIN.

I have had this morning a capital letter from Walsh of Illinois; but details too long to give.

Editorial information

Status: Draft transcription [Published letter (WCP1906.5993)]

For more information about the transcriptions and metadata, see https://wallaceletters.myspecies.info/content/epsilon

Revision history

Transcribed by Congerton, John [2019-12-17]

Please cite as “WCP1906,” in Beccaloni, G. W. (ed.), Ɛpsilon: The Alfred Russel Wallace Collection accessed on 20 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/wallace/letters/WCP1906