From C. W. Hamilton 21 February 1879
40 Dominick st | Dublin
Feby 21. 1879
Sir
I almost feel that you will not consider me intrusive in asking you to look over this note—as far as I can find out nothing of this kind has been noticed before & what I have seen must either be otherwise explained or deemed a matter of Considerable importance—1 my accuracy can be very easily tested as there is nothing to do but to cut a twig, smear a glass slide as thinly as possible to spread the little bubbles of gum, & touch them with a solution of Sulphid Iron—which acting on the tannin brings out the forms to a certain degree in a few minutes but more perfectly after some hours. Since I sent this note to the press I think I have had abundant Confirmation of the fact that the arrangement of this substance of the so called Resin takes Vegetable forms Take for instance this one from P. Douglassii2
where the plates of the hexagonal Chrystal like form seem to develop into the Common branch like form sketched then take this lying close by
When the side forms open out into circular forms bending in different directions surely this is not Chrystallization?
Now again in the living P. Insignis3 I find curious forms in the centre of the Channel leading from the Pith to the outburst of branch or Leaf
and again in the Sap what I have drawn above— roughly from more accurate sketches—can it be that these forms are merely Chrystals though imitating so Closely the forms we meet in the growing plant?
With many apologies for venturing to Consult such a Philosopher believe me with great respect | Yours faithfully | Charles W Hamilton
Footnotes
Summary
Encloses a press clipping [missing] of his observations [on stem structure?].
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-11898
- From
- Charles William Hamilton
- To
- Charles Robert Darwin
- Sent from
- Dublin
- Source of text
- DAR 166: 91
- Physical description
- ALS 4pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 11898,” accessed on 27 July 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-11898.xml