RECORD: Darwin, C. R. 1913. [Letter to J. D. Hooker, 1858]. In C. K. Shorter, George Borrow and his circle. Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, pp. 317-18.
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 11.2022. RN1
NOTE: See record in the Freeman Bibliographical Database, enter its Identifier here.
George Henry Borrow was a well-known writer who had lived and travelled in Spain. Darwin cited Borrow in Origin, p. 35: "It is known that the English pointer has been greatly changed within the last century, and in this case the change has, it is believed, been chiefly effected by crosses with the fox-hound; but what concerns us is, that the change has been effected unconsciously and gradually, and yet so effectually, that, though the old Spanish pointer certainly came from Spain, Mr. Borrow has not seen, as I am informed by him, any native dog in Spain like our pointer." and Variation 1: 42: "Our pointers are certainly descended from a Spanish breed, as even their names, Don, Ponto, Carlos, &c., would show: it is said that they were not known in England before the Revolution in 1688;82 but the breed since its introduction has been much modified, for Mr. Borrow, who is a sportsman and knows Spain intimately well, informs me that he has not seen in that country any breed 'corresponding in figure with the English pointer; but there are genuine pointers near Xeres which have been imported by English gentlemen.'" The letter is published with important editorial notes in Correspondence vol. 13, Supplement.
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At one moment of the correspondence we obtain an interesting glimpse of a great man of science. Mr.
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Darwin sent the following inquiry through Dr. Hooker, afterwards Sir Joseph Hooker, and it reached Borrow through his friend Thomas Brightwell:
Is there any Dog in Spain closely like our English Pointer, in shape and size, and habits, — namely in pointing, backing, and not giving tongue. Might I be permitted to quote Mr. Borrow's answer to the query? Has the improved English pointer been introduced into Spain?
C. Darwin.
FACSIMILE OF A COMMUNICATION FROM CHARLES DARWIN TO GEORGE BORROW.
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Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 28 November, 2022