In the February number, 1879, of a well-known German scientific journal, ‘Kosmos,’ Dr. Ernst Krause published a sketch of the life of Erasmus Darwin, the author of the ‘Zoonomia,’ ‘Botanic Garden,’ and other works. This article bears the title of a ‘Contribution to the history of the Descent-Theory;’ and Dr. Krause has kindly allowed my brother Erasmus and myself to have a translation made of it for publication in this country.

As I have private materials for adding to the knowledge of Erasmus Darwin's character, I have written a preliminary notice. These materials consist of a large collection of letters written by him; of his common-place book in folio, in the possession of his grandson Reginald Darwin; of some notes made shortly after his death, by my father, Dr. Robert Darwin, together with what little I can clearly remember that my father said about him; also some statements by his daughter, Violetta Darwin, afterwards Mrs. Tertius Galton, written down at the time by her daughters; and various short published notices. To these must be added the ‘Memoirs of the Life of Dr. Darwin,’ by Miss Seward, which appeared in 1804; and a lecture by Dr. Dowson on “Erasmus Darwin, Philosopher, Poet, and Physician,” published in 1861, which contains many useful references and remarks.