To Nature 15 August [1877]
Summary
CD forwards letter from F. J. Cohn [11093] that provides confirmation of observations by Francis Darwin on the contractile filaments protruded from the glands of Dipsacus.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Nature |
| Date: | 15 Aug [1877] |
| Classmark: | Nature, 23 August 1877, p. 339 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-11108 |
Darwin in letters, 1874: A turbulent year
Summary
The year 1874 was one of consolidation, reflection, and turmoil for Darwin. He spent the early months working on second editions of Coral reefs and Descent of man; the rest of the year was mostly devoted to further research on insectivorous plants. A…
Matches: 10 hits
- … of shooting and collecting beetles ( letter from W. D. Fox, 8 May [1874] ). Such reminiscences …
- … one from Charles Lyell ( letter to Smith, Elder & Co., 8 January 1874 , letter to J. D. …
- … ( letter from T. H. Huxley, 14 April 1874 ). The technical nature of Huxley’s argument prompted …
- … much in Switzerland ( letter from Francis and Amy Darwin, 8 August [1874] ). Francis had …
- … a source of inspiration. In April, he wrote a letter to Nature, observing that the flowers of …
- … primroses were abundant in each district ( letter to Nature , 18 April [1874] ). He …
- … M. Story-Maskelyne, 4 May 1874 ). In a second letter to Nature , Darwin summarised the …
- … blindfolded from the moment of being hatched ( letter to Nature , 7 and 11 May [1874] ; …
- … with the contraction of Dionaea leaves in Nature (Burdon Sanderson 1874). Hooker also …
- … ). He featured in the scientific worthies series in Nature ( letter to J. N. Lockyer, 13 May …
Darwin in letters, 1872: Job done?
Summary
'My career’, Darwin wrote towards the end of 1872, 'is so nearly closed. . . What little more I can do, shall be chiefly new work’, and the tenor of his correspondence throughout the year is one of wistful reminiscence, coupled with a keen eye…
Matches: 4 hits
- … shall be chiefly new work’ ( letter to Francis Galton, 8 November [1872] ), and the tenor of his …
- … are accustomed to novels for 1s’, he wrote to Murray on 8 January , but Murray complained that …
- … felt friendly towards me’ ( letter to St G. J. Mivart, 8 January [1872] ). Despite Darwin’s …
- … Mr. Darwin , and Darwin wrote a cutting letter to Nature in Wallace’s defence ( letter to …
Darwin in letters,1870: Human evolution
Summary
The year 1870 is aptly summarised by the brief entry Darwin made in his journal: ‘The whole of the year at work on the Descent of Man & Selection in relation to Sex’. Descent was the culmination of over three decades of observations and reflections on…
Matches: 5 hits
- … more grateful I shall be’ ( letter to H. E. Darwin, [8 February 1870] ). She had previously read …
- … that I shd. turn parson?’ ( letter to H. E. Darwin, [8 February 1870] ). Henrietta disagreed: …
- … as the mind of man!’ ( letter from H. E. Darwin, [after 8 February 1870] ). Darwin was also …
- … he will not succeed’ ( letter to James Crichton-Browne, 8 June [1870] ). Darwin’s queries …
- … into the consideration his intellectual, moral & religious nature I am convinced he differs more …
Darwin in letters, 1881: Old friends and new admirers
Summary
In May 1881, Darwin, one of the best-known celebrities in England if not the world, began writing about all the eminent men he had met. He embarked on this task, which formed an addition to his autobiography, because he had nothing else to do. He had…
Matches: 13 hits
- … letter about Darwin in the St James’s Gazette on 8 December. Krause countered Butler’s …
- … Balfour translated Krause’s account and published it in Nature , and George Romanes wrote such …
- … vol. 28, Appendix VI). When Huxley heard on 8 January that Wallace would receive £200 a year, …
- … totally & entirely’. Wallace also received the news on 8 January (his 58th birthday) and …
- … of leaves that were so original that Darwin sent them to Nature for publication. Darwin, who was …
- … behaviour were trustworthy ( letter to Francis Galton, 8 March [1881] ). Although results from …
- … to me that anyone could watch the movements & doubt its nature. But these doubts have led me to …
- … He was scrupulous in sending any important observations to Nature or incorporating them into his …
- … there proves that I took a very erroneous view of the nature & capabilities of the Fuegians’ ( …
- … scientific material Darwin received, he subscribed to Nature , which he thought ‘an excellent …
- … now wish that I had not done so’ ( letter to J. V. Carus, 8 December 1881 ). The …
- … problem: he had been asked to review Wiesner’s book for Nature . ‘It might be an opportunity of …
- … response to Wiesner’s book appeared in the issue of Nature published the day after Darwin’s …
Women’s scientific participation
Summary
Observers | Fieldwork | Experimentation | Editors and critics | Assistants Darwin’s correspondence helps bring to light a community of women who participated, often actively and routinely, in the nineteenth-century scientific community. Here is a…
Matches: 8 hits
- … Letter 6736 - Gray, A. & J. L to Darwin, [8 & 9 May 1869] Jane Loring Gray, …
- … Letter 7223 - Darwin to Wedgwood, L. C., [8 June 1867 - 72] Darwin asks his niece, …
- … responds to a letter of Darwin’s which was published in Nature with some observations of her …
- … Letter 5602 - Sutton, S. to Darwin, [8 August 1867] Sutton, the keeper of the …
- … Letter 4235 - Becker, L. E. to Darwin, [8 July 1863] Lydia Becker sends Darwin a …
- … Letter 12745 - Darwin to Wedg wood, K. E. S., [8 October 1880] Darwin asks his …
- … . Letter 9485 - Treat, M. to Darwin, [8 June 1874] Mary Treat details her …
- … . Letter 7124 - Darwin to Darwin, H. E., [8 February 1870] Darwin seeks …
Darwin’s reading notebooks
Summary
In April 1838, Darwin began recording the titles of books he had read and the books he wished to read in Notebook C (Notebooks, pp. 319–28). In 1839, these lists were copied and continued in separate notebooks. The first of these reading notebooks (DAR 119…
Matches: 21 hits
- … 39. tom. 4. p. 273. Latreille Geographie des Insectes 8 vo p 181 [Latreille 1819]. see p. …
- … de Serres Cavernes d’Ossements 7 th Ed. 10 8 vo . [Serres 1838] good to trace Europ. forms …
- … 1838] Atlas de la Geographie des trois Regnes de la nature. Paris. 6: folio par Céran de …
- … 1840] [DAR *119: 13] Tucker’s light of Nature [Tucker 1768–78] Johnson …
- … 1834] recommended by Sir. J. Mackintosh J. Long Moral Nature of Man [Long 1747] Novum Organum …
- … by Loudon [Loudon 1831]. Book I. ch. 7 & Book II. Ch. 8. Book. VII. ch 8, 11. read 1 st …
- … Lacordaire Introduction Entomologique [Lacordaire 1834–8]: Reptiles [Duméril and Bibron 1834–54]: …
- … [Morton 1839] (Preface) Royal Soc. Aspects of Nature Humboldt [A. von Humboldt 1849]— (d[itt …
- … Mem. of Helvetic Soc. of Neuchatel on Jura. 1846, or 7, or 8 [?Marcou 1845]. 46 Morris good …
- … History of Brazil [R. Southey 1810–19]. Aspects of Nature. Humboldt [A. von Humboldt 1849]. …
- … 1838] Walter Scott’s life [Lockhart 1837–8] 1 st 2 nd & 7 th vols. …
- … Lardners 2 nd vol March 16 Gardner’s Music of nature [Gardiner 1832] Life of Haydn …
- … increase of Hab. earth [Linnaeus 1781a]. Wilcke on Police of Nature [Wilcke 1781]. Hoffberg on …
- … May 7 th Skimmed a little of Tucker’s light of nature [Tucker 1768–78]. intolerably prolix …
- … on Travel [Linnaeus 1759]. Biberg on œconomy of nature [Biberg 1759]. Barck on foliation of …
- … 1805] very poor. 20 th Botanic Garden & Temple of Nature [E. Darwin] 1789–91 and 1803] …
- … (d[itt]o) 20 th Reflections on the Study of Nature by Linnæus. (translated) [Linnaeus 1785 …
- … All. Very little —— 29. Humboldt Tableau de la Nature [A. von Humboldt 1808] —— …
- … references to Domestic Birds &c read Belon Hist de la nature des Oiseaux 1555 [Belon 1555 …
- … 2] 1852. Feb. 24 th . Humboldts Aspects of Nature [A. von Humboldt 1849].— …
- … [G. Head 1837] good —— 11. Oersted’s Soul of Nature [Ørsted 1847] (dreadful) —— 24 th …
Interview with Randal Keynes
Summary
Randal Keynes is a great-great-grandson of Charles Darwin, and the author of Annie’s Box (Fourth Estate, 2001), which discusses Darwin’s home life, his relationship with his wife and children, and the ways in which these influenced his feelings about…
Matches: 13 hits
- … and the ways in which these influenced his feelings about nature and religion. …
- … we have the metaphysical notebooks, which are about human nature; we don't have notebooks on …
- … might have ideas that would be of value on species and human nature. He always felt there were many …
- … [For more on this correspondence, see our Design in Nature section.] I think the first …
- … and how they found some reconciliation. 8. The morality and truth of scripture …
- … so maybe if you could talk a bit more about that? Also, the nature of this painful void? …
- … of belief? I think you also suggested it was about the nature of belief itself and whether belief is …
- … uncaring creator; his view that the manifold suffering in nature is purposeless? Randal …
- … experience. 14. Darwin's opinion of human nature Dr White: …
- … because of this, he makes this a general feature of human nature, sympathy. There are sources for …
- … Randal Keynes: I think he thought very well of human nature. I think he thought we were basically …
- … That, I think, is the foundation of his belief in human nature and co-operation, and I think that he …
- … and I think, yes, at heart, he had faith in human nature. Dr White: That's a good …
Darwin’s queries on expression
Summary
When Darwin resumed systematic research on emotions around 1866, he began to collect observations more widely and composed a list of queries on human expression. A number of handwritten copies were sent out in 1867 (see, for example, letter to Fritz Muller…
Matches: 4 hits
- … corporal punishment and not the susceptibilities of a moral nature.” Darwin did not typically …
- … online ahead of schedule as part of the “Darwin and Human Nature” project, funded by the Arts and …
- … Gray, Asa 8 & 9 May 1869 Florence, Italy (about …
- … Lubbock, E.F. [1867-8?] Lombard Street, London? …
New material added to the American edition of Origin
Summary
A ‘revised and augmented’ American edition of Origin came on the market in July 1860, and was the only authorised edition available in the US until 1873. It incorporated many of the changes Darwin made to the second English edition, but still contained…
Matches: 17 hits
- … Darwin sent this off to Gray enclosed in his letter of [8 or 9 February 1860]. He had earlier sent …
- … 1 February [1860]). A month later, in his letter of 8 March [1860], Darwin sent Gray several …
- … he seems to attribute all the beautiful adaptations in nature,—such as the long neck of the giraffe …
- … in accordance with external circumstances, as food, the nature of the habitat and the meteoric …
- … and beautiful co-adaptations, which we see throughout nature;—I cannot see that we thus gain any …
- … selection. But he does not show how selection can act under nature. He believes, like Dean Herbert, …
- … qu’il doit remplir dans l’organisme général de la nature, fonction qui est pour lui sa raison d’être …
- … affected by circumambient molecules of a particular nature, and thus have given rise to new forms. …
- … or revelation as it is opposed to the general analogy of nature. If, on the other hand, we view …
- … liable to extermination from accidental fluctuations in the nature of seasons and in the number of …
- … and to seize on every ill-occupied place in the economy of nature, that it is quite possible for …
- … would be of actual disservice, as being of a more delicate nature, and more liable to be put out of …
- … propagated for a succession of generations in a state of nature, modification might be effected …
- … Page 79, 2 six lines from bottom, after word ‘‘nature,’’ insert parenthesis—reading the whole …
- … great and sudden transition would in fact be effected in the nature of the plant. Pages 293 …
- … spread over New Zealand, &c., &c. Page 417, 8 25th line, after ‘‘facts above …
- … edition of Origin , p. 44. 2 Origin , p. 83. 3 Origin , pp. 187–8. …
Darwin in letters, 1856-1857: the 'Big Book'
Summary
In May 1856, Darwin began writing up his 'species sketch’ in earnest. During this period, his working life was completely dominated by the preparation of his 'Big Book', which was to be called Natural selection. Using letters are the main…
Matches: 5 hits
- … to provide an illustration of how selection might work in nature ( letter from Charles Lyell, 1–2 …
- … he remarked to Hooker ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 8 September [1856] ). I mean to make my …
- … my Book as perfect as ever I can.’ ( letter to W. D. Fox, 8 February [1857] ). Darwin also …
- … and variation. This was the origin and function of sex in nature. Darwin had always been intrigued …
- … and his indomitable will to succeed in wresting facts out of nature. Having long argued against the …
Cross and self fertilisation
Summary
The effects of cross and self fertilisation in the vegetable kingdom, published on 10 November 1876, was the result of a decade-long project to provide evidence for Darwin’s belief that ‘‘Nature thus tells us, in the most emphatic manner, that she abhors…
Matches: 7 hits
- … project to provide evidence for Darwin’s belief that ‘‘Nature thus tells us, in the most emphatic …
- … no idea when it will be published’ ( To J. V. Carus, 8 May [1873] ). Hermann Müller also wrote …
- … ). In September, Darwin wrote a long letter to Nature commenting on a seemingly unrelated …
- … exposed to slightly different conditions of life’ ( To Nature , 20 September [1873] ). Just as …
- … crossed over the self-fertilised’ ( To G. H. Darwin, 8 January [1876] ). George explained the …
- … by other plants with which they grow mingled in a state of nature’ ( To J. H. Gilbert, 16 February …
- … your Cross & Self Fertilization & about to review it for “Nature”— he gloats over it' ( …
Henrietta Darwin's diary
Summary
Darwin's daughter Henrietta kept a diary for a few momentous weeks in 1871. This was the year in which Descent of Man, the most controversial of her father's books after Origin itself, appeared, a book which she had helped him write. The small…
Matches: 6 hits
- … done before. Her faith in God comes entirely from her inner nature— Now she can trace him in the …
- … kno goodness how can we recognise in which part of our nature God is revealed— If our judgement is …
- … wills are free? If these questions are hopeless Huxleys 8 advice is good—turn our eyes from …
- … remember that family life will stretch & exercise my whole nature. I will try to keep …
- … [ iron ] side which it is perfectly true is in my nature. & I am selfish—even now I am …
- … remarks on fanaticism has not been identified. 8 Thomas Henry Huxley . 9 …
The writing of "Origin"
Summary
From a quiet rural existence at Down in Kent, filled with steady work on his ‘big book’ on the transmutation of species, Darwin was jolted into action in 1858 by the arrival of an unexpected letter (no longer extant) from Alfred Russel Wallace outlining a…
Matches: 6 hits
- … been celebrated as a classic example of divine design in nature. Darwin hypothesised that the …
- … work that related to his chapter on variation under nature. Having learned in the summer of 1857 …
- … could be trusted as evidence for what actually occurred in nature (see letter to Asa Gray, 4 April …
- … what you have seen,’ he told Hooker in his letter of 8 [June 1858] , ‘yet I have been forced to …
- … hurry in world about my M.S.’ In his letter to Hooker of 8 June [1858] , he indicates that this …
- … the story was not deleted (see Correspondence vol. 8, letters to Asa Gray, 28 January [1860] …
Darwin in letters, 1868: Studying sex
Summary
The quantity of Darwin’s correspondence increased dramatically in 1868 due largely to his ever-widening research on human evolution and sexual selection.Darwin’s theory of sexual selection as applied to human descent led him to investigate aspects of the…
Matches: 7 hits
- … I shall look rather blank’ ( letter from W. S. Dallas, 8 January 1868 ). Darwin sympathised, …
- … from the Maryport Weekly Advertiser headed ‘Freak of Nature’, describing a cross between a …
- … and fastest males. The ‘quieter’ and ‘more retired’ nature of females was remarked upon by other …
- … enemies of Nat. Selection’ ( letter from A. R. Wallace, 8 [April] 1868 ). Researching …
- … cry (letters to W. E. Darwin, [15 March 1868] and 8 April [1868] ). Such facts proved …
- … omnipotent and omniscient Creator’ ( letter to Asa Gray, 8 May [1868] ). Others were concerned …
- … accounted for many of the hitherto inexplicable phenomena of nature, & that instead of lessening …
Dramatisation script
Summary
Re: Design – Adaptation of the Correspondence of Charles Darwin, Asa Gray and others… by Craig Baxter – as performed 25 March 2007
Matches: 16 hits
- … exhausting. And I am actually forced always to go to bed at 8 o’clock completely tired. …
- … attention. He opens the letter. DARWIN: 8 April 25 th 1855. My dear [Dr Gray] …
- … opposed to this, said he did not believe it, for ‘Nature never lied’. I am just in this predicament …
- … from imperfect or conjectural data, confident that he reads Nature through and through, and without …
- … therefore they ought, if they behaved properly – and as ‘nature does not lie’ – to go together. …
- … had shown me several of your letters (not of a private nature) and these gave me the warmest feeling …
- … There is a moral or metaphysical part of nature as well as a physical. A man who denies this is deep …
- … grade must ensue, which… may be likened to the conflict in Nature among races in the struggle for …
- … Gray makes a public statement. GRAY: 89 Organic Nature abounds with …
- … contented to view this wonderful universe and especially the nature of man, and to conclude that …
- … 100 It is very easy to assume that, because events in Nature are in one sense accidental, and …
- … 102 So long as gradatory, orderly, and adapted forms in Nature argue design – and at least while …
- … ordained. 183 The old argument of design in nature, as given by Paley, which formerly seemed …
- … operation of, an intelligent First Cause. The Ordainer of Nature. Darwin and Gray have for …
- … horrid scare 10 days ago, in the form of a Telegram from ‘Nature’ to the effect that Asa Gray was …
- … 7 C DARWIN TO JD HOOKER 11 JANUARY 1844 8 C DARWIN TO A GRAY, 25 APRIL 1855 …
3.16 Oscar Rejlander, photos
Summary
< Back to Introduction Darwin’s plans for the illustration of his book The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals (1872) led him to the Swedish-born painter and photographer, Oscar Gustaf Rejlander. Rejlander gave Darwin the notes that he had…
Darwin in letters, 1864: Failing health
Summary
On receiving a photograph from Charles Darwin, the American botanist Asa Gray wrote on 11 July 1864: ‘the venerable beard gives the look of your having suffered, and … of having grown older’. Because of poor health, Because of poor health, Darwin…
Matches: 7 hits
- … leaves produce tendrils’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, [8 February 1864] ). Darwin’s excitement …
- … the relationship between species and varieties, and the nature of hybridity. Darwin noticed that the …
- … to confirm the statement in his 1862 book on orchids that nature ‘abhors self-fertilisation’ ( …
- … very careful treatment’ ( letter from J. D. Hooker, 8 April 1864 ). Nevertheless, Hooker solicited …
- … 1864 ). Theological statements of a more public nature captured the attention of Darwin and …
- … latest ‘outburst of bigotry’ ( letter to Hugh Falconer, 8 November [1864] ). Although …
- … publication of Huxley’s Evidence as to man’s place in nature and Lyell’s Antiquity of man , …
Darwin and Fatherhood
Summary
Charles Darwin married Emma Wedgwood in 1839 and over the next seventeen years the couple had ten children. It is often assumed that Darwin was an exceptional Victorian father. But how extraordinary was he? The Correspondence Project allows an unusually…
Vivisection: first sketch of the bill
Summary
Strictly Confidential Mem: This print is only a first sketch. It is being now recast with a new & more simple form – but the substance of the proposed measure may be equally well seen in this draft. R.B.L. | 2 586 Darwin and vivisection …
Matches: 7 hits
- … make painful experiments only for research. “ 8. —Animals to be killed after painful …
- … any other time, to subject an animal to an experiment of a nature to cause pain for the purpose of …
- … under this act to subject any animal to any experiment of a nature to cause pain, unless such animal …
- … during the whole continuance of the experiment, unless the nature of the experiment be such that …
- … Animals to be killed after painful experiments. 8.—Every animal subjected to an …
- … and any person who shall perform an experiment of such nature as aforesaid, and who shall not cause …
- … conditions and restrictions contained in sections numbered 8, 9, 10, 11, of the said act. …
2.6 Adolf von Hildebrand bust
Summary
< Back to Introduction In 1873, the German biologist Anton Dohrn commissioned a plaster bust of Darwin for the ‘fresco room’ of his new research centre, the Stazione Zoologica in Naples. It was a fitting memorial of a long association between the two…
