282 FERTILISATION [1878. 



put together. I have sometimes feared that I was in error 

 when I said that C. K. Sprengel did not fully perceive that 

 cross-fertilisation was the final end of the structure of flowers ; 

 but now this fear is relieved, and it is a great satisfaction to 

 me to believe that I have aided in making his excellent book 

 more generally known. Nothing has surprised me more 

 than to see in your historical sketch how much I myself have 

 done on the subject, as it never before occurred to me to 

 think of all my papers as a whole. But I do not doubt that 

 your generous appreciation of the labours of others has led 

 you to over-estimate what I have done. With very sincere 

 thanks and respect, believe me, 



Yours faithfully, 



Charles Darwin. 



P.S. — I have mentioned your book to almost every one 

 who, as far as I know, cares for the subject in England ; and 

 I have ordered a copy to be sent to our Royal Society. 



[The next letter, to Dr. Behrens, refers to the same subject 

 as the last :] 



C. Darwin to W. Behrens. 



Down, August 29 [1878]. 

 DEAR Sir, — I am very much obliged to you for having sent 

 me your ' Geschichte der Bestaubungs-Theorie,' * and which 

 has interested me much. It has put some things in a new 

 light, and has told me other things which I did not know. 

 I heartily agree with you in your high appreciation of poor 

 old C. Sprengel's work ; and one regrets bitterly that he did 

 not live to see his labours thus valued. It rejoices me also 

 to notice how highly you appreciate H. M tiller, who has 

 always seemed to me an admirable observer and reasoner. 

 I am at present endeavouring to persuade an English 

 publisher to bring out a translation of his ' Befruchtung.' 



* Progr. der K. Gewerbschule zu Elberfeld, 1877, 1878. 



