´

Letter from Charles S. Peirce to his father Benjamin Peirce
(Washington, 20.04.1877)



 
Spanish translation & annotations
Previous/Next

 

Washington Friday
            1877 April [20]

My dearest Father,

I have only this morning received your postcard & am surprised to find your position is of the nature it is. Rood said he understood it is merely a difference of opinion & didn't think it was more. Patterson's writing to me to come on confirmed me in this view. I had however written to Hilgard that I desired not to have my election pressed at this time; but after that he telegraphed that he wanted a list of my papers "anyway" & I wrote him what

 
I informed you. I also gave Mayer a formal message to my friends that I did not want action taken on my election; that that was my desire.

I arrived on Wednesday & went to the public session of the Academy, but said nothing. That afternoon I was elected. Yesterday I went again to the public session & made a few remarks on one of the papers.

After your note, as I care infinitely more about being in sympathy of action with you than anything else of this sort, I shall return without signing the books. I conceive, however, that my position in the scientific world is not such as to make it becoming in me to refuse

 
election to the National Academy; although I shall not attend the meetings.

As to the question at issue between you and the Academy, I have not had enough experience of scientific bodies to be able to form a decided opinion on the subject. If I had to vote about it, I should follow the judgment of others. I dare say however that my opinion might be the same as yours. But the same thing which is a matter of high principle with you, could never be more than an opinion of policy & fineness with me. I care nothing for a republican form of government apart from how it functions.

 

I receive at the same time as your card pleasant letters form Mother & Berts. I am glad to hear that mother is getting better. Love to her & Helen & to all the well? ones too.

You addressed me at 588 instead of 558 & so I didn't at once get the card.

Your loving son

 

Transcription by Sara Barrena (2017)
Una de las ventajas de los textos en formato electrónico respecto de los textos impresos es que pueden corregirse con gran facilidad mediante la colaboración activa de los lectores que adviertan erratas, errores o simplemente mejores transcripciones. En este sentido agradeceríamos que se enviaran todas las sugerencias y correcciones a sbarrena@unav.es
Proyecto de investigación "La correspondencia del tercer viaje europeo de Charles S. Peirce (septiembre-noviembre 1877)"

Fecha del documento:20 de julio 2017
Última actualización: 10 de agosto 2017
[Main Page]