From G. J. Romanes 22 April [1881]
Summary
Only more sensitive seedlings respond to flashing light.
CD’s letter to Times ["On vivisection", 22 Apr 1881] in every way admirable.
GJR to be Zoological Secretary of Linnean Society.
Has decided on arrangement of material for his books Animal intelligence [1882]
and Mental evolution in animals [1883].
| Author: | George John Romanes |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 22 Apr [1881] |
| Classmark: | E. D. Romanes 1896, p. 116 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13134 |
From J. D. Hooker 29 December 1874
Summary
Explains that his letter had to do with how he should act publicly to Mivart if he retracted. He would not forgive him. If he does not retract, it would no longer be possible to keep him Secretary of the Linnean Society.
Drosophyllum will be sent when weather permits.
| Author: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 29 Dec 1874 |
| Classmark: | DAR 103: 243–4 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-9788 |
To James Murie 14 December [1880]
Summary
Requests G. J. Allman’s address.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | James Murie; Linnean Society |
| Date: | 14 Dec [1880] |
| Classmark: | Linnean Society of London (LL/4) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-12912 |
From J. D. Hooker 21 December 1874
Summary
His view of Huxley’s cutting Mivart without explanation. States his own intentions. Mivart’s apology in October Quarterly Review is abominable.
Has heard of a Drosophyllum in Edinburgh. Is it too late?
| Author: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 21 Dec 1874 |
| Classmark: | DAR 103: 236–8; Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine Archives (Dawson 2.214) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-9768 |
From G. J. Romanes 25 May [1881]
Summary
Suggests CD delay arrangements for his Linnean Society portrait. GJR thinks John Collier would be willing to paint it.
| Author: | George John Romanes |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 25 May [1881] |
| Classmark: | E. D. Romanes 1896, p. 118 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13173 |
Matches: 2 hits
- … had recently become zoological secretary of the Linnean Society (see letter from G. J. …
- … Linnean this afternoon, I was told by Dr. M— that he had obtained your consent to sit for a portrait for the Society. Now, as it appears to me a great favour to ask of you to sit for yet another portrait, the least we can do, if you consent, is to employ a thoroughly good man to paint it. Therefore, if you have not already entered into any definite agreement, I write to suggest a little delay (say of a month), when, as Secretary, …
To George Busk, Linnean Society 30 March [1858]
Summary
Expresses his strong opinion that Huxley’s paper ["Agamic reproduction and morphology of Aphis", Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 22 (1858): 193–220, 221–36] should be published.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | George Busk; Linnean Society |
| Date: | 30 Mar [1858] |
| Classmark: | Linnean Society of London (SP.585c) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2247 |
From George Bentham 25 September 1866
Summary
Replies to CD’s two memoranda, GB explains: 1. That he never said thistles do not produce seeds, but rather that the infinite majority of new plants are propagated from buds
2. That book-borrowing rules of the Linnean Library are not so stringent as the Librarian makes out.
| Author: | George Bentham |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 25 Sept 1866 |
| Classmark: | DAR 160: 158 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5218 |
Matches: 2 hits
- … and Frederick Currey were secretaries of the Linnean Society . CD’s health had generally …
- … Linnean Society. Strict regulations were rendered necessary by the abuse of the privilege on the part of non-scientific or careless fellows but there was always an understanding that these regulations admitted of exceptions in the case of working Naturalists—both as to number of volumes and as to time, and also as to the privilege of borrowing valuable works which we cannot lend out to everybody. The great difficulty is that our Librarian who is in many respects invaluable is sometimes too great a stickler to forms and does not like the responsibility of discretionary power, but in any case of doubtful exception to rules he ought to apply to the Secretary …
From George Bentham [after 29 September 1868]
Summary
Asks CD to sign enclosed certificate first, as he does not know T. H. Farrer personally. [On top part of first two pages of a letter to Hooker from H. C. Rothery about Farrer’s nomination for Linnean Society]
| Author: | George Bentham |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | [after 29 Sept 1868] |
| Classmark: | DAR 102: 237 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6405 |
From J. D. Hooker [25 January 1862]
Summary
Will send an Arethusa; offers other specimens.
Dimorphism.
Falconer contradicts Sumatra and Ceylon elephant story.
Lyell as rabid as ever about America.
| Author: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | [25 Jan 1862] |
| Classmark: | DAR 101: 6–7 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3394 |
From G. H. Lewes [17 November 1868]
Summary
Asks CD to propose him for Linnean Society.
Would like to have Lyell put his objections to GHL’s papers [Fortn. Rev. 9 (1868): 353–73, 611–28; 10 (1868): 61–80, 492–509] in the form of notes, so he can have them before him when he recasts his papers into a book.
| Author: | George Henry Lewes |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | [17 Nov 1868] |
| Classmark: | DAR 106: D3–4 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6462 |
To Frederick Currey 11 March 1871
Summary
Gives his opinion on four papers by J. P. M. Weale.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Frederick Currey |
| Date: | 11 Mar 1871 |
| Classmark: | Linnean Society of London (Report on J. P. Weale Society paper SP1250) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-7568 |
From Raphael Meldola 21 January [1872]
Summary
Discusses his paper on mimicry and natural selection [Land and Water 9 (1871): 321]. Believes natural selection tends to fix mimetic characters rigidly.
| Author: | Raphael Meldola |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 21 Jan [1872] |
| Classmark: | DAR 171: 117 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8170 |
| Darwin, C. R. | (25) |
| Hooker, J. D. | (14) |
| Bentham, George | (3) |
| Romanes, G. J. | (3) |
| Cresy, Edward, Jr | (2) |
| Darwin, C. R. | (28) |
| Hooker, J. D. | (5) |
| Linnean Society | (4) |
| Bentham, George | (2) |
| Busk, George | (2) |
| Darwin, C. R. | (53) |
| Hooker, J. D. | (19) |
| Bentham, George | (5) |
| Linnean Society | (4) |
| Romanes, G. J. | (4) |
Darwin's controversies in Commentary
Darwin in letters, 1877: Flowers and honours
Summary
Ever since the publication of Expression, Darwin’s research had centred firmly on botany. The year 1877 was no exception. The spring and early summer were spent completing Forms of flowers, his fifth book on a botanical topic. He then turned to the…
Matches: 1 hits
- … no little discovery of mine ever gave me so much pleasure as the making out the …
St George Jackson Mivart
Summary
In the second half of 1874, Darwin’s peace was disturbed by an anonymous article in the Quarterly Review suggesting that his son George was opposed to the institution of marriage and in favour of ‘unrestrained licentiousness’. Darwin suspected, correctly,…
Matches: 1 hits
- … In 1874, the Catholic zoologist St George Jackson Mivart caused Darwin and his son George serious …
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: 1 hits
- … The year 1874 was one of consolidation, reflection, and turmoil for Darwin. He spent the early …
