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Doedes

Leeuwarden  June 25 1882.

Dear Sir,

I had not the slightest idea, I should hurt your feelings by publishing your father's letter. I am not aware, that I had "neither a moral nor a legal right" to publish it (in Holland at least). My only intention has been to throw some light upon a question, which interests so many of my countrymen. In doing so, I was full of real veneration for your great father.

I sent you copy of the two letters. The first is in the possession of my friend Dr. Costerus, but was not to be found now. However, I copied it, when we first received it; and I know that the copy is accurate. The second letter belongs to me and is so much valued by me, that I don't like to run the risk of its getting lost.

Your father probably did not keep our letters; otherwise I should wish to beg you, not to publish them verbally (if you intend to do it at all), as they were written in very bad English.

[57v]

In Holland "Professor" is a title which is only put before the name of teachers at a university. I used the word, because I know, that in England it is used for teachers at lower schools too. In Holland not.

Yours truly

N.D. Doedes.

Darwin, C. R. 1882. [Letter to N. D. Doedes on 2 April 1873 on Darwin's religious views]. In N. D. Doedes, Darwin's geloof aan God. De Nederlandsche Spectator no. 23 (10 June): 158-159. PDF F3334

Darwin, C. R. 1883. [Letters to Mengden and Doedes on Darwin's religious views]. Karl Blind, Darwin's Ansichten. Neue Freie Presse [Vienna] (12 January): 1. Image PDF F2530

Darwin, C. R. 1883. [Letter to Doedes on Darwin's religious views, 1873]. Rutland Daily Herald [Rutland, Vermont] (23 February): 2. Text F2531