# From John Beddoe   [22 August – 12 September 1869]1

Professor Christison,2 | Arroquhar, by Glasgow

My dear Sir

Your letter has followed me hither, where I am enjoying a holyday—3 And by the same post I have received the result of the last examination of data—4 It is vexatiously subversive of my former inferences, & really looks very much as if the gradual darkening of colour were the real cause, or main cause at least, of the whole set of phenomena—5 Now that I have got a trustworthy amanuensis6 I will have the 35–45 women abstracted from the books which furnished the original data for my paper of 1863;7 and when I get the result you shall have it at once—8

Yours very faithfully | John Beddoe

## [Enclosure]

 July 13th 1863 to Aug 6. 1869 Women between 35 and 45 Single Married Red Fair Brown Dk. B. Black Red Fair Brown Dk. B. Black or or Lt. B. Lt. B. 3$\frac{1}{2}$ 2 8$\frac{1}{2}$ 13 5 14$\frac{1}{2}$ 28$\frac{1}{2}$ 95$\frac{1}{2}$ 60 26$\frac{1}{2}$ Total 32 Total 225 Women between 25 and 45 11$\frac{1}{2}$ 17$\frac{1}{2}$ 51$\frac{1}{2}$ 44 5$\frac{1}{2}$ 23 83$\frac{1}{2}$ 218$\frac{1}{2}$ 310$\frac{1}{2}$ 42$\frac{1}{2}$ Total 130 Total 678

## Footnotes

The date is established by the relationship between this letter and the letters from John Beddoe, 21 August 1869 and 13 September 1869.
Robert Christison.
CD’s letter has not been found.

## Bibliography

Beddoe, John. 1863. On the supposed increasing prevalence of dark hair in England. Anthropological Review 1: 310–12.

## Summary

Results of CD’s examination of data subvert JB’s former inferences. Will send abstracts from the data for his paper on colour of hair of single and married women 35 to 45 years old ["On the supposed increasing prevalence of dark hair in England", Anthropol. Rev. 1 (1863): 310–12].

## Letter details

Letter no.
DCP-LETT-6809
From
John Beddoe
To
Charles Robert Darwin
Sent from
Arrocuhar
Source of text
DAR 85: A13–14
Physical description
2pp inc , table, G.H. Darwin notes 2pp †