Volume 1

More letters of Charles Darwin : a record of his work in a series of hitherto unpublished letters / edited by Francis Darwin ... and A.C. Seward.

  • Charles Darwin
Date:
1903
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: More letters of Charles Darwin : a record of his work in a series of hitherto unpublished letters / edited by Francis Darwin ... and A.C. Seward. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Der F1 (I do not know how to spell the rest of the word). Before we got into our lodgings, we were staying at the Star Hotel in Princes St., where to my surprise I met with an old schoolfellow, whom I like very much ; he is just come back from a walking tour in Switzerland and is now going to study for his [degree ?] The introductory lectures begin next Wednesday, and we were matriculated for them on Saturday ; we pay 10s., and write our names in a book, and the ceremony is finished ; but the Library is not free to us till we get a ticket from a Professor. We just have been to Church and heard a sermon of only 20 minutes. I expected, from Sir Walter Scott’s account, a soul-cutting discourse of 2 hours and a half. I remain yr affectionate son, C. Darwin. To Caroline Darwin. Jan. 6th, 1826. Edinburgh. Many thanks for your very entertaining letter, which was a great relief after hearing a long stupid lecture from Duncan on Materia Medica, but as you know nothing either of the Lectures or Lecturers, I will give you a short account of them. Dr. Duncan is so very learned that his wisdom has left no room for his sense, and he lectures, as I have already said, on the Materia Medica, which cannot be translated into any word expressive enough of its stupidity. These few last mornings, however, he has shown signs of improvement, and I hope he will “go on as well as can be expected.” Plis lectures begin at eight in the morning. Dr. Hope begins at ten o’clock, and I like both him and his lectures ve?y much (after which Erasmus goes to “ Mr. Sizars on Anatomy,” who is a charming Lecturer). At 12 the Hospital, after which I attend Monro on Anatomy. I dislike him and his lectures so much, that I cannot speak with decency about them. Thrice a week we have what is called Clinical lectures, which means lectures on the sick people in the Hospital— 1 “Der F” is doubtless Der Freischiiiz, which appeared in 1820, and of which a selection was given in London, under Weber’s direction, in 1825. The last of Weber’s compositions, “From Chindara’s warbling fount,” was written for Miss Stephens, who sang it to his accompaniment “the last time his fingers touched the key-board.” (See Diet, of Music, “ Stephens ” and “ Weber.”) Letter 1
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