Charles Marsh Beadnell an Ernst Haeckel, London, 16. Februar 1914
H.M.S. SHANNON,
SECOND CRUISER SQUADRON.
Cruising.
Care of General Post Office.
London.
February 16. 1914.
To His Excellency.
Professor Ernst Haeckel.
Dear Prof Haeckel,
Permit me to have the honour of offering you my heartiest congratulations on this your eightieth birthday. It is indeed given to few to keep on the weather side – if I may be allowed a nautical expression – of old Father Time to the extent of four score years, but it is the privelege of the exceptionally few to be able, like yourself, truthfully to say, that over three fourths of those four score years have been spent in a a never-ceasing effort to emancipate Man from the shackles of ignorance, bigotry and superstition regarding himself and environment.
You will, I am sure, be interested to hear that the || autographed pictured of yourself which you were so very kind to give me in July of the year before last, adorns my cabin in H.M.S. „Shannon“, the flag ship of the 2nd Cruiser Squadron. Besides being one of my most treasured possessions I regard it as a „mascot“ which will, I trust, ever keep the two greatest nations on earth in the amicable relationship with one another in which now, happily, they are. I need not add that, besides your portrait, your very thoughts are also „serving afloat“ for I never allow myself to be parted from such classics as „The Evolution of Man“, „The Riddle of the Universe“, „Pedigree of Man“ and „Last words on Evolution“.
I look back to July 26. 1912. when I explored your phylogenetical museum and had the pleasure of chatting with you in your house, as one of the red letter days of my life.
I trust that your leg is better; and now, Dear Prof Haeckel, Au Revoir, may you live many, many more years to enjoy that peace and repose which your life of meritorious toil has so well earned.
Sincerely Yours,
C. Marsh. Beadnell.
(Fleet Surgeon, Royal Navy.
a gestr.: xxx