From A. C. Ramsay 3 January 1872
London
3 Jany 1872
My dear Mr Darwin
There are 4 stones down the midle 16 inches square.
3 at the sides 18 in x 8, 1, 12 x 8 in
1, 17 x 2 in, 1, 18 x 14 in 2 24 x 14 in
besides the 2 sides & top & bottom of the paved space, each 7 ft 2 by 3 ft 2.
But perhaps the best mode of estimate is as follows. I measured all the lines of the junction of the stones with the walls that bound the pavement, & of the stones with each other. The result is 39 feet 2 inches of narrow interspaces through which worms could come to the surface taking the whole 7 ft 2 in by 3 ft 2 in into account.1
I am sorry I have delayed a little & hope I am not too late for you. Daylight at this time of the year is rather scarce with me at home except on Sundays & Sir John Lubbocks holidays.2
Yours very sincerely | Andw C Ramsay
Footnotes
Bibliography
Correspondence: The correspondence of Charles Darwin. Edited by Frederick Burkhardt et al. 29 vols to date. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1985–.
Earthworms: The formation of vegetable mould through the action of worms: with observations on their habits. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1881.
ODNB: Oxford dictionary of national biography: from the earliest times to the year 2000. (Revised edition.) Edited by H. C. G. Matthew and Brian Harrison. 60 vols. and index. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2004.
Post Office London directory: Post-Office annual directory. … A list of the principal merchants, traders of eminence, &c. in the cities of London and Westminster, the borough of Southwark, and parts adjacent … general and special information relating to the Post Office. Post Office London directory. London: His Majesty’s Postmaster-General [and others]. 1802–1967.
Summary
Further details and measurements of the stones in the courtyard pavement for CD’s investigation of earthworm action.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-8141
- From
- Andrew Crombie Ramsay
- To
- Charles Robert Darwin
- Sent from
- London
- Source of text
- DAR 176: 18
- Physical description
- ALS 3pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 8141,” accessed on 19 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-8141.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 20
