To William Bowman 16 May [1869–81]
Summary
"I shall not be in London on Monday, but I have written to my Brother to ask him to aid you"
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | William Bowman, 1st baronet |
Date: | 16 May [1869-81] |
Classmark: | George Houle Autographs (dealer) (Catalogue 61, March 1992) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13781 |
To ? 2 May [1869 or later]
Summary
"When a man has laboured hard in science & has proved that he is capable of original research, he may [some]times indulge in speculation [&] the public will indulge him. But even in this case it is a common error to speculate too largely, for speculation is far easier than observation or experiments . . ."
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Unidentified |
Date: | 2 May [1869-82] |
Classmark: | Sotheby’s (dealers) (28 March 1983) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13866A |
From Francis Darwin [before 8 May 1869]
Summary
Reports what he must pay for university courses. Forgets what CD wants to know about vermiform appendage.
Author: | Francis Darwin |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | [before 8 May 1869] |
Classmark: | DAR 274.1: 12 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6519F |
To Linnean Society, President and Council [10 May 1869]
Summary
Referee report on paper by Richard Spruce on sacs in Melastoma [see 6690]. CD says RS’s suggestions that sacs are inherited is not supported and should be deleted.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | William Hellier Baily |
Date: | [10 May 1869] |
Classmark: | Linnean Society of London |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6722 |
From J. J. Weir [1–13] May 1869
Summary
South Down sheep: variability in colouring and patterning of lambs compared with constancy of adult coat.
Author: | John Jenner Weir |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | [1–13] May 1869 |
Classmark: | DAR 181: 79 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6723 |
From A. W. Bennett 3 May 1869
Summary
Sends CD some notes [missing] on the mode of fertilisation of winter-flowering plants, and outlines his conclusions regarding the different types of winter-flowerers and the means by which they are fertilised.
Author: | Alfred William Bennett |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 3 May 1869 |
Classmark: | DAR 76: B176–7 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6724 |
To Charles Lyell 4 May [1869]
Summary
Asks for a photograph of CL to be used by a society [in Serbia].
Comments on article by Wallace ["Sir Charles Lyell on geological climates and the Origin", Q. Rev. 126 (1869): 359–94].
Has finished new edition of Origin [5th (1869)]
and is back at work on sexual selection [Descent].
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Charles Lyell, 1st baronet |
Date: | 4 May [1869] |
Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.369) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6725 |
To J. V. Carus 4 May 1869
Summary
Discusses changes in 5th edition of Origin owing to new evidence. CD now places more value on action of external conditions; thinks lapse of time [required for development of species] not so great as some geologists have thought, and single variations [saltations] of even less importance compared with individual differences.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Julius Victor Carus |
Date: | 4 May 1869 |
Classmark: | Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin – Preußischer Kulturbesitz (Slg. Darmstaedter Lc 1859: Darwin, Charles, Bl. 41–42) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6726 |
From T. H. Farrer 5 May 1869
Summary
Justifies his use of term "degraded" by comparing contrivances for cross-fertilisation in different species of Viola.
Author: | Thomas Henry Farrer, 1st baronet and 1st Baron Farrer |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 5 May 1869 |
Classmark: | DAR 111: A79–80 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6727 |
From Charles Lyell 5 May 1869
Summary
Recalls Cuvier’s reaction to Principles of geology.
Comments on Wallace’s article in the Quarterly Review [see 6684].
Not opposed to ARW’s idea that Supreme Will might direct variation.
Quotes passage in letter from ARW arguing for causes other than selection in determining human abilities.
Discusses excavation of lakes by glaciers.
J. P. Lesley does not believe ice-sheets involved in eroding Appalachians.
Author: | Charles Lyell, 1st baronet |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 5 May 1869 |
Classmark: | Lyell 1881, 2: 441; DAR 85: A100–1 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6728 |
From J. D. Caton 5 May 1869
Summary
Females have no preference for particular males in deer and elk. Observations on sexual behaviour and characteristics of elk, deer, bison, and other animals.
Author: | John Dean Caton |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 5 May 1869 |
Classmark: | DAR 83: 170–1 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6729 |
To T. H. Farrer 6 May [1869]
Summary
Dislikes the use of the term "degradation" as applied to the closed flowers of Viola species. Species with such self-fertilising flowers also have flowers adapted for crossing. The development of closed flowers adapted to ensure a sufficient stock of seed is progressive.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Thomas Henry Farrer, 1st baronet and 1st Baron Farrer |
Date: | 6 May [1869] |
Classmark: | Linnean Society of London (LS Ms 299/1) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6730 |
To J. D. Hooker [before 7 May 1869]
Summary
Asks whether in Slavonic races the hair of the beard and head are different colours.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
Date: | [before 7 May 1869] |
Classmark: | DAR 94: 133 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6731 |
From T. H. Huxley 7 May 1869
Summary
H. M. S. Nassau, surveying Magellan Straits, has found fossils at Gallegos River. They have been sent to THH by R. O. Cunningham [naturalist of H. M. S. Nassau]. Skull of entirely new ungulate mammal.
Author: | Thomas Henry Huxley |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 7 May 1869 |
Classmark: | DAR 166: 319 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6732 |
From Harrison William Weir 7 May 1869
Summary
Daisies.
A tame rabbit with a litter of 18.
Author: | Harrison William Weir |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 7 May 1869 |
Classmark: | DAR 181: 71 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6733 |
From George Bentham 7 May 1869
Summary
The Linnean Society Council wants CD to review two papers, with reference to their value for publication.
Author: | George Bentham |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 7 May 1869 |
Classmark: | DAR 160: 162 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6734 |
To T. H. Huxley 8 May [1869]
Summary
Thanks for [D. D. Cunningham’s] letter. Had hoped for a better haul but delighted to hear of the curious fossil.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Thomas Henry Huxley |
Date: | 8 May [1869] |
Classmark: | Imperial College of Science, Technology, and Medicine Archives (Huxley 5: 268) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6735 |
From Asa Gray and Jane Loring Gray 8 and 9 May 1869
Summary
Sorry to hear of CD’s accident.
Recounts his travels.
Jane Gray writes a description of the Arabs.
Author: | Asa Gray; Jane Loring Gray |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 8 and 9 May 1869 |
Classmark: | DAR 165: 167—8 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6736 |
To Spiridion Brusina 8 May [1869]
Summary
Sends photograph of Sir C. Lyell and Professor Owen, generally considered our most distinguished [British] naturalists. Includes the requested photograph of himself [see 6720].
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Spiridion Brusina |
Date: | 8 May [1869] |
Classmark: | Archives of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts (XV-48/AI 340) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6736A |
From David Taylor Fish to Gardeners’ Chronicle 8 May 1869
Summary
Discusses CD’s paper ‘Formation of mould’ and CD’s views on earthworms.
Author: | David Taylor Fish |
Addressee: | Gardeners’ Chronicle |
Date: | 8 May 1869 |
Classmark: | Gardeners’ Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette (1869): 501 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6736F |
letter | (43) |
Darwin, C. R. | (21) |
Weir, J. J. | (3) |
Baily, W. H. | (2) |
Gardeners’ Chronicle | (2) |
Lyell, Charles | (2) |
Baily, W. H. | (2) |
Beck, John | (1) |
Bennett, A. W. | (1) |
Bentham, George | (3) |
Bowman, William | (1) |
Brusina, Spiridion | (1) |
Carus, J. V. | (1) |
Caton, J. D. | (2) |
Crichton-Browne, James | (1) |
Darwin, C. R. | (42) |
Darwin, Francis | (1) |
Farrer, T. H. | (3) |
Fish, D. T. | (1) |
Gardeners’ Chronicle | (2) |
Gray, Asa | (2) |
Gray, J. L. | (1) |
Hellins, John | (1) |
Higgins, John | (1) |
Hooker, J. D. | (1) |
Huxley, T. H. | (2) |
Lyell, Charles | (3) |
Maudsley, Henry | (1) |
Maw, George | (2) |
Reuter, Adolf | (1) |
Rérolle, Louis | (1) |
Tait, W. C. | (1) |
Unidentified | (1) |
Weir, H. W. | (1) |
Weir, J. J. | (5) |
Wheldon, John | (1) |