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Darwin in letters, 1867: A civilised dispute
Summary
Charles Darwin’s major achievement in 1867 was the completion of his large work, The variation of animals and plants under domestication (Variation). The importance of Darwin’s network of correspondents becomes vividly apparent in his work on expression in…
Matches: 22 hits
- … of the size of the two-volume work from his publisher, John Murray, he wrote to Murray on 3 …
- … a chapter ‘on Man’. After a few days, he wrote back to Murray proposing that some of the more …
- … suppose abuse is as good as praise for selling a Book’ ( letter to John Murray, 31 January [1867] …
- … to the printer, but without the additional chapter. In a letter written on 8 February [1867] to …
- … books, Descent and Expression . In the same letter, Darwin revealed the conclusion to his …
- … and the tedious work of correction began. Darwin wrote to Murray on 18 March to say that he …
- … variation of animals and plants under domestication . In a letter to his son William dated 27 …
- … of his brother’s embryological papers with his first letter to Darwin of 15 March 1867 , although …
- … Variation . Indeed, he told his publisher, John Murray, in a letter of 4 April [1867] , not to …
- … tell me, at what rate your work will be published’ ( letter from J. V. Carus, 5 April 1867 ). This …
- … & sent to him, he may wish to give up the task’ ( letter to Carl Vogt, 12 April [1867] ). …
- … fit person’ to introduce the work to the German public ( letter from J. V. Carus, 15 April 1867 ). …
- … Vogt should translate my book in preference to you’ ( letter to J. V. Carus, 18 April [1867] ). …
- … varieties at the eye, which resulted in a mottled hybrid ( letter from Robert Trail, 5 April 1867 …
- … seems to me, if true, a wonderful physiological fact’ ( letter to Asa Gray, 15 April [1867] ). …
- … it will be a somewhat important step in Biology’ ( letter to Charles Lyell, 22 August [1867] ). …
- … if you attack it & me with unparalleled ferocity’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 17 November [1867] …
- … it took William Sweetland Dallas to prepare the index. John Murray had engaged Dallas and Darwin …
- … own discretion; anyhow most ought to be introduced’ ( letter to W. S. Dallas, 8 November [1867] ). …
- … noted, ‘I hear he is down on both of us’ ( letter from T. H. Huxley, [before 7 January 1867] ). In …
- … had read it and whether it was worth reading ( letter from J. D. Hooker, 4 February 1867 ). In a …
- … judgement he would subdue; that is yours’ ( letter from J. V. Carus, 5 April 1867 ). Darwin …
Darwin in letters, 1872: Job done?
Summary
'My career’, Darwin wrote towards the end of 1872, 'is so nearly closed. . . What little more I can do, shall be chiefly new work’, and the tenor of his correspondence throughout the year is one of wistful reminiscence, coupled with a keen eye…
Matches: 25 hits
- … What little more I can do, shall be chiefly new work’ ( letter to Francis Galton, 8 November [1872] …
- … anything more on 'so difficult a subject, as evolution’ ( letter to A. R. Wallace, 27 July …
- … to spread my views’, he wrote to his publisher, John Murray, on 30 January , shortly after …
- … The public are accustomed to novels for 1s’, he wrote to Murray on 8 January , but Murray …
- … best efforts, set the final price at 7 s. 6 d. ( letter from R. F. Cooke, 12 February 1872 ) …
- … condition as I can make it’, he wrote to the translator ( letter to J. J. Moulinié, 23 September …
- … translation remained unpublished at the end of the year ( letter from C.-F. Reinwald, 23 November …
- … the new edition in the United States, Darwin arranged with Murray to have it stereotyped. Before the …
- … to the comparative anatomist St George Jackson Mivart ( letter to St G. J. Mivart, 11 January …
- … comparison of Whale & duck most beautiful’ ( letter from A. R. Wallace, 3 March 1872 ) …
- … a person as I am made to appear’, complained Darwin ( letter to St G. J. Mivart, 5 January 1872 ). …
- … Darwin would renounce `fundamental intellectual errors’ ( letter from St G. J. Mivart, 6 January …
- … to think he felt friendly towards me’ ( letter to St G. J. Mivart, 8 January [1872] ). Despite …
- … if only `in another world’ ( letter from St G. J. Mivart, 10 January 1872 ). Darwin, determined …
- … but asked Mivart not to acknowledge it ( letter to St G. J. Mivart, 11 January [1872] ). 'I …
- … selection is somewhat under a cloud’, he wrote to J. E. Taylor on 13 January , and he complained …
- … for myself it is dreadful doing nothing’ ( letter to T. H. Huxley, 22 October [1872] ). He was far …
- … rather than offended by `that clever book’ ( letter to J. M. Herbert, 21 November 1872 ) and …
- … plates with his overseas publishers, and with John Murray’s assistant, the excitable Robert Cooke. …
- … of the booksellers, encouraged an originally cautious John Murray to gamble on the book’s success: & …
- … dishes in his `Literary Banquet’ (letters from John Murray, 6 November [1872] and 9 November …
- … muscles when attending women in labour ( letter from J. T. Rothrock, 25 November 1872 ); others …
- … in those born blind, and filed away other letters, but Murray’s confidence proved misplaced; demand …
- … ). Plants that move and eat `Now, pray don’t run off on some other track till you have …
- … receive pleasant letters & never answer them’ ( letter to T. H. Huxley, 22 October [1872] ). …
Women as a scientific audience
Summary
Target audience? | Female readership | Reading Variation Darwin's letters, in particular those exchanged with his editors and publisher, reveal a lot about his intended audience. Regardless of whether or not women were deliberately targeted as a…
Matches: 18 hits
- … Were women a target audience? Letter 2447 - Darwin to Murray, J., [5 April 1859] …
- … her to read to check that she can understand it. Letter 7312 - Darwin to Darwin, F. …
- … from all but educated, typically-male readers. Letter 7124 - Darwin to Darwin, H. E …
- … he seeks her help with tone and style. Letter 7329 - Murray , J. to Darwin, [28 …
- … in order to minimise impeding general perusal. Letter 7331 - Darwin to Murray, …
- … he uses to avoid ownership of indelicate content. Letter 8335 - Reade, W. W. to …
- … so as not to lose the interest of women. Letter 8341 - Reade, W. W. to Darwin, …
- … which will make it more appealing to women. Letter 8611 - Cupples, A. J. to …
- … Darwin’s female readership Letter 5391 - Becker, L. E. to Darwin, [6 February …
- … of the Manchester Ladies Literary Society . Letter 6551 - Becker, L. E . to …
- … the chapter on pangenesis, which is a revelation. Letter 6976 - Darwin to Blackwell, A. …
- … Darwin assumes that 'A. B. Blackwell' is a man. Letter 7177 - Cupples, G. to …
- … him to the psychology of Herbert Spencer. Letter 7624 - Bathoe, M . B. to Darwin …
- … his statements on a lack of reasoning in animals. Letter 7644 - Barnard, A. to …
- … during a visit to an asylum with her father. Letter 7651 - Wedgwood, F. J. to …
- … be suitable. Letter 7411 - Pfeiffer, E. J. to Darwin, [before 26 April 1871] …
- … run and asks a number of questions which she hopes aren’t too silly. Letter 10415 - …
- … patience and care. Letter 6110 - Samuelson, J. to Darwin, [10 April 1868] …
Darwin in letters, 1865: Delays and disappointments
Summary
The year was marked by three deaths of personal significance to Darwin: Hugh Falconer, a friend and supporter; Robert FitzRoy, captain of the Beagle; and William Jackson Hooker, director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and father of Darwin’s friend…
Matches: 21 hits
- … The death of Hugh Falconer Darwin’s first letter to Hooker of 1865 suggests that the family …
- … having all the Boys at home: they make the house jolly’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 7 January [1865] …
- … had failed to include among the grounds of the award ( see letter from Hugh Falconer to Erasmus …
- … his letters to Darwin, and Darwin responded warmly: ‘Your letter is by far the grandest eulogium …
- … may well rest content that I have not laboured in vain’ ( letter to Hugh Falconer, 6 January [1865] …
- … always a most kind friend to me. So the world goes.—’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 2 February [1865] …
- … for our griefs & pains: these alone are unalloyed’ ( letter from J. D. Hooker, 3 February 1865 …
- … gas.— Sic transit gloria mundi, with a vengeance’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 9 February [1865] ). …
- … added, ‘I know it is folly & nonsense to try anyone’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 7 January [1865] …
- … ineffective, and Darwin had given it up by early July ( see letter to J. D. Hooker, [10 July 1865] …
- … of anything, & that almost exclusively bread & meat’ ( letter to Asa Gray, 15 August [1865] …
- … better, attributing the improvement to Jones’s diet ( see letter to T. H. Huxley, 4 October [1865] …
- … he was ‘able to write about an hour on most days’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 22 December [1865] ). …
- … willing to bear the expense of the woodcuts ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 7 January [1865] ). After …
- … loathe the whole subject like tartar emetic’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 19 January [1865] ). …
- … species arising’ ( Correspondence vol. 9, letter to J. D. Hooker, 28 September [1861] ). …
- … he praised Scott’s ‘industry & ability’ ( letter from J. D. Hooker, [10 March 1865] ). Scott …
- … can hang on it a good many groups of facts.’ ( Letter to T. H. Huxley, 27 May [1865] .) The …
- … of the only clue at present accessible—and don’t give the Philistines more chances of blaspheming …
- … to humans (see Correspondence vol. 10, letter from J. H. Balfour, 14 January 1862 ). …
- … on the affair, to her mother, ends, ‘I wish people weren’t so foolish’;. In November, Darwin and …
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: 24 hits
- … be done by observation during prolonged intervals’ ( letter to D. T. Gardner, [ c . 27 August …
- … pleasures of shooting and collecting beetles ( letter from W. D. Fox, 8 May [1874] ). Such …
- … And … one looks backwards much more than forwards’ ( letter to W. D. Fox, 11 May [1874] ). …
- … was an illusory hope.— I feel very old & helpless’ ( letter to B. J. Sulivan, 6 January [1874] …
- … inferred that he was well from his silence on the matter ( letter from Ernst Haeckel, 26 October …
- … in such rubbish’, he confided to Joseph Dalton Hooker ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 18 January [1874] …
- … that Mr Williams was ‘a cheat and an imposter’ ( letter from T. H. Huxley, 27 January 1874 ). …
- … that he was thus free to perform his antics’ ( letter to T. H. Huxley, 29 January [1874] ). This …
- … allowed ‘a spirit séance’ at his home ( letter from T. G. Appleton, 2 April 1874 ). Back …
- … letter to Smith, Elder & Co., 8 January 1874 , letter to J. D. Hooker, 8 January 1874 , and …
- … for misinterpreting Darwin on this point ( letter from J. D. Dana, 21 July 1874 ); however, he did …
- … and disease in the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii; letters from T. N. Staley, 12 February 1874 and …
- … that I have pounded the enemy into a jelly’ ( letter from T. H. Huxley, 14 April 1874 ). The …
- … anatomists; and never mind where it goes’ ( letter from T. H. Huxley, 16 April 1874 ). The …
- … had been in two volumes and had cost twenty-four shillings.) Murray’s partner, Robert Francis Cooke, …
- … anonymous reviews. Its proprietor was none other than John Murray, Darwin’s publisher. So incensed …
- … wording of both the letter to the editor and the letter to Murray to accompany it. The depth of …
- … a new publisher’ and advised that Darwin should not push Murray to the point of cutting off …
- … [6 or 7 August 1874] ). When the letter was finally sent to Murray, Darwin referred only to their …
- … ‘asking a favour ‘. He explained why he had written to Murray and not the editor of the Quarterly …
- … Mivart (see Correspondence vol. 20, letter to St G. J. Mivart, 11 January [1872] ). To Darwin …
- … whether he was the author of the review ( see letter to J. D. Hooker, 14 December 1874 ). Huxley …
- … Mivart had written the article ( enclosure to letter from J. D. Hooker, 21 December 1874 ). Huxley …
- … 15 th he published that shabby rejoinder’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 24 December [1874] ). On …
Darwin in letters, 1871: An emptying nest
Summary
The year 1871 was an extremely busy and productive one for Darwin, with the publication in February of his long-awaited book on human evolution, Descent of man. The other main preoccupation of the year was the preparation of his manuscript on expression.…
Matches: 22 hits
- … on 24 February, and all 2500 copies were sold in a week. ‘Murray says he is “torn to pieces” by …
- … on 28 February . Demand continued throughout the year, and Murray produced three more printings, …
- … do to talk about it, which no doubt promotes the sale’ ( letter from J. D. Hooker, 26 March 1871 ) …
- … £1470 for the first two printings, Darwin wrote to Murray on 20 March 1871 , ‘It is quite a grand …
- … to her liking, ‘to keep in memory of the book’ ( letter to H. E. Darwin, 20 March 1871 ). …
- … and had forsaken his lunch and dinner in order to read it ( letter from James Crichton-Browne, 19 …
- … they believe to be the truth, whether pleasant or not’ (letter from W. W. Reade, 21 February 1871). …
- … and Oldham … They club together to buy them’ ( letter from W. B. Dawkins, 23 February 1871 ). …
- … one’s n th . ancestor lived between tide-marks!’ ( letter from T. H. Huxley, 20 February 1871 ). …
- … habits, furnished with a tail and pointed ears” (letter from Asa Gray, 14 April 1871) …
- … ‘will-power’ and the heavy use of their arms and legs ( letter from C. L. Bernays, 25 February 1871 …
- … in order to make it darker than the hair on his head ( letter from W. B. Tegetmeier, [before 25 …
- … together with an image of an orang-utan foetus ( letter from Hinrich Nitsche, 18 April 1871 ). …
- … of himself, adding that it made a ‘very poor return’ ( letter to Hinrich Nitsche, 25 April [1871] …
- … each night, returning to its allotted space each morning ( letter from Arthur Nicols, 7 March 1871 …
- … a high aesthetic appreciation of beauty ( letter from E. J. Pfeiffer, [before 26 April 1871] ). …
- … a good way ahead of you, as far as this goes’ ( letter to J. B. Innes, 29 May [1871] ). On …
- … windbag full of metaphysics & classics’ ( letter to John Murray, 13 April [1871] ). But …
- … only the ‘most guarded expressions’ ( letter to St G. J. Mivart, 23 January [1871] ). …
- … ‘accursed Popery and fear for his soul’ ( letter from T. H. Huxley and H. A. Huxley, 20 September …
- … years following the publication of Origin of species . Murray convinced him to appear in Vanity …
- … themselves with the reflection that ‘Truth doesn’t die’ ( letter from T. H. Huxley, 28 September …
Darwin in letters, 1858-1859: Origin
Summary
The years 1858 and 1859 were, without doubt, the most momentous of Darwin’s life. From a quiet rural existence filled with steady work on his ‘big book’ on species, he was jolted into action by the arrival of an unexpected letter from Alfred Russel Wallace…
Matches: 22 hits
- … he was jolted into action by the arrival of an unexpected letter from Alfred Russel Wallace. This …
- … has infinitely exceeded my wildest hopes.—’ ( letter to Charles Lyell, 25 [November 1859] ). …
- … to choose from the load of curious facts on record.—’ ( letter to W. D. Fox, 31 January [1858] ). …
- … as evidence for what actually occurred in nature ( see letter to Asa Gray, 4 April [1858] , and …
- … throwing away what you have seen,’ he told Hooker in his letter of 8 [June 1858] , ‘yet I have …
- … his work was interrupted by the arrival of the now-famous letter from Alfred Russel Wallace, …
- … selection. Darwin’s shock and dismay is evident in the letter he subsequently wrote to Charles Lyell …
- … Even his terms now stand as Heads of my Chapters.’ ( letter to Charles Lyell, 18 [June 1858] ). …
- … his material would require a ‘small volume’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 12 October [1858] ). Begun …
- … appropriated the other’s ideas (see letters to J. D. Hooker, 2 March [1859] , 11 March [1859] …
- … Lyell, 28 March [1859] ). Lyell suggested the firm of John Murray, publishers of the second edition …
- … of Lyell’s works, and well-known for its scientific list. Murray agreed to publish Darwin’s book …
- … , for his opinion. Elwin’s long and considered reply to Murray is published in this volume. Despite …
- … to the original plan of his book (see letter from Elwin to Murray, 3 May 1859 , and letter to …
- … In particular, he was anxious about the prospects of Murray recovering his expenses and even offered …
- … to Charles Lyell, 28 March [1859] , and to John Murray, 10 September [1859] ), but finally …
- … is whether the rag is worth anything?’ ( letter to T. H. Huxley, 2 June [1859] ). But as critical …
- … about the fine points of Darwin’s theory ( see letter to J. D. Hooker, 6 May 1859 ). Among the …
- … Priests at me & leaves me to their mercies’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, [22 November 1859] ). …
- … this Essay & that you were the man.’ ( letter to T. H. Huxley, 28 December [1859] ). …
- … comments in notices of and letters about his book. He told Murray, ‘I fear all Reviews of my present …
- … young & rising naturalists on our side.—’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 14 December [1859] ). …
Origin
Summary
Darwin’s most famous work, Origin, had an inauspicious beginning. It grew out of his wish to establish priority for the species theory he had spent over twenty years researching. Darwin never intended to write Origin, and had resisted suggestions in 1856…
Matches: 18 hits
- … make a large-sized pamphlet. ’ On the 4 October, in a letter to T. C. Eyton explaining his change …
- … buoyed up in January 1859, when he received a (now lost) letter from Wallace, expressing …
- … younger men converts. My neighbour & excellent naturalist J. Lubbock is enthusiastic convert. …
- … late March, Lyell had a word with his own publisher, John Murray, who had already published the …
- … light of this, Darwin asked Lyell whether he should ‘tell Murray that my Book is not more un …
- … ’ Even before seeing Darwin’s manuscript, Murray objected to the terms ‘abstract’ and ‘ …
- … ’, he told Lyell. On 31 March 1859, Darwin wrote to Murray describing his work on the origin of …
- … length, and the terms he expected; he also acknowledged that Murray wished to see the manuscript …
- … I publish for Sir Charles Lyell ’. Darwin was uneasy. Murray, he thought, should see the manuscript …
- … origin of all animate forms.’ Moreover, Darwin warned Murray, ‘ it would be a stigma on my work …
- … Reading Darwin’s first three chapters was sufficient for Murray to confirm his offer on 10 April …
- … old draft ‘ the loss would have killed me! ’ Although Murray was committed to publishing Origin, …
- … his friend George Frederick Pollock. The former, in a long letter to Murray, believed that Darwin …
- … the latter not only recommended publication but advised Murray to increase the print run from 500 to …
- … are very heavy,—as heavy as possible ’, he told Murray on 14 June. He tried to make the text ‘clear …
- … As the trade publication day of 22 November approached, Murray sent Darwin a bound ‘specimen copy’ …
- … & proud at the appearance of my child ’, and agreed to Murray’s proposed price. According to …
- … I will attend to. ’ Darwin was confounded to hear from Murray on 24 November that the ‘whole …
Women’s scientific participation
Summary
Observers | Fieldwork | Experimentation | Editors and critics | Assistants Darwin’s correspondence helps bring to light a community of women who participated, often actively and routinely, in the nineteenth-century scientific community. Here is a…
Matches: 27 hits
- … Observers Women: Letter 1194 - Darwin to Whitby, M. A. T., [12 August …
- … silkworm breeds, or peculiarities in inheritance. Letter 3787 - Darwin, H. E. to …
- … observations of cats’ instinctive behaviour. Letter 4258 - Becker, L. E. to Darwin, …
- … to artificially fertilise plants in her garden. Letter 4523 - Wedgwood, L. C. to …
- … be made on seeds of Pulmonaria officinalis . Letter 5745 - Barber, M. E. to …
- … Expression from her home in South Africa. Letter 6736 - Gray, A. & J. L …
- … Expression during a trip to Egypt. Letter 7223 - Darwin to Wedgwood, L. C., …
- … expression of emotion in her pet dog and birds. Letter 5817 - Darwin to Huxley, T. …
- … is making similar observations for him. Letter 6535 - Vaughan Williams , M. S. …
- … of a crying baby to Darwin's daughter, Henrietta. Letter 7179 - Wedgwood, …
- … of wormholes. Letter 8611 - Cupples, A. J. to Darwin, E., [8 November1872] …
- … Letter 9426 - Story-Maskelyne , T. M. to Darwin, [23 April 1874] Thereza …
- … buds and flowers. Letter 9616 - Marshall, T. to Darwin, [September 1874] …
- … Letter 4436 - Darwin to Hooker, J. D., [26-27 March 1864] Darwin thanks Hooker for …
- … and orangs. Letter 5705 - Haast, J. F. J. von to Darwin, [4 December 1867] …
- … in a marble tablet”. Letter 6815 - Scott, J. to Darwin, [2 July 1869] John …
- … in a tin box. Letter 9616 - Marshall, T. to Darwin, [September 1874] …
- … Men: Letter 385 - Wedgwood, S. E. & J. to Darwin, [10 November 1837] …
- … Hall, Staffordshire. Letter 1219 - Hooker, J. D. to Darwin, [3 February 1849] …
- … - Henslow, G. to Darwin, [11 November 1865] J. S. Henslow’s son, George, passes on the …
- … Letter 1113 - Darwin to Whitby, M. A. T., [2 September 1847] Darwin questions Mrs. …
- … Men: Letter 1836 - Berkeley, M. J. to Darwin, [7 March 1856] Clergyman and …
- … to feed to them. Letter 2069 - Tenant, J. to Darwin, [31 March 1857] James …
- … challenging ideas. Letter 2447 - Darwin to Murray, J., [5 April 1859] …
- … it. Letter 3896 - Darwin to Huxley, T. H, [before 25 February 1863] Darwin …
- … daughter, Henrietta. Letter 4010 - Huxley, T. H. to Darwin, [25 February 1863] …
- … Letter 1113 - Darwin to Whitby, M. A. T., [2 September 1847] Darwin asks Mrs. Whitby …
Darwin in letters, 1868: Studying sex
Summary
The quantity of Darwin’s correspondence increased dramatically in 1868 due largely to his ever-widening research on human evolution and sexual selection.Darwin’s theory of sexual selection as applied to human descent led him to investigate aspects of the…
Matches: 22 hits
- … in satisfying female preference in the mating process. In a letter to Alfred Russel Wallace in 1864, …
- … of changing the races of man’ (Correspondence vol. 12, letter to A. R. Wallace, 28 [May 1864] ). …
- … book would take the form of a ‘short essay’ on man ( letter to Ernst Haeckel, 3 July 1868 ). But …
- … as well say, he would drink a little and not too much’ ( letter to Albert Günther, 15 May [1868] ) …
- … . Having been advertised by the publisher John Murray as early as 1865, the two-volume work appeared …
- … increased the amount of work substantially. Darwin asked Murray to intervene, complaining on 9 …
- … would be a great loss to the Book’. But Darwin’s angry letter to Murray crossed one from Dallas to …
- … of labour to remuneration I shall look rather blank’ ( letter from W. S. Dallas, 8 January 1868 ). …
- … a cheque to Dallas for £55 s ., and recommended to Murray that Dallas receive additional payment. …
- … if I try to read a few pages feel fairly nauseated’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 3 February [1868] ). …
- … of the book were sold within a month of its release, and Murray made immediate arrangements for a …
- … reviews. On 7 August 1868 , he wrote him a lengthy letter from the Isle of Wight on the formation …
- … in the British Museum, agreed about the authorship. John Murray thought it was by Gray himself, but …
- … would strike me in the face, but not behind my back’ ( letter to John Murray, 25 February [1868] ) …
- … ignorant article… . It is a disgrace to the paper’ ( letter from A. R. Wallace, 24 February [1868] …
- … a scamp & I begin to think a veritable ass’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 1 September [1868] ). …
- … added, ‘for it is clear that I have none’ ( letter to J. J. Weir, 30 May [1868] ). Sexual …
- … classes, a dim ray of light may be gained’ ( letter to H. T. Stainton, 21 February [1868] ). From …
- … of Hooker’s distributed it in Japan ( letter from J. D. Hooker, 5 September 1868 ); Edward Wilson, …
- … the previous year by James Philip Mansel Weale ( letter to J. D. Hooker, [20 May 1868] ). …
- … sacrificed to Public life.’ Farrer replied: ‘You don’t know how kind I think your note. This …
- … life time— I am preparing to go into opposition— I can’t stand it’. Diplomas and honorary …
The full edition is now online!
Summary
For nearly fifty years successive teams of researchers on both sides of the Atlantic have been working to track down all surviving letters written by or to Charles Darwin, research their content, and publish the complete texts. The thirtieth and final…
Matches: 6 hits
- … life, will be published in early 2023 and all the letter texts – more than 15000 between 1822 and …
- … ‘ My course is nearly run. ’ Letter to Lawson Tait, 13 February 1882 In …
- … convinced of the truth of Evolution as I am. ’ Letter to John Murray, 21 January 1882 …
- … than for 3 weeks & have had as yet no pain. ’ Letter to T. H. Huxley, 27 March 1882 …
- … all that with my children it is worth having .’ Letter from Emma Darwin to J. D. Hooker, …
- … greatest friend outside the family, on 20 April: this letter concludes the correspondence for 1882. …
Darwin in letters, 1875: Pulling strings
Summary
‘I am getting sick of insectivorous plants’, Darwin confessed in January 1875. He had worked on the subject intermittently since 1859, and had been steadily engaged on a book manuscript for nine months; January also saw the conclusion of a bitter dispute…
Matches: 18 hits
- … On 8 January , he told Hooker: ‘I will write a savage letter & that will do me some good, if I …
- … Hooker also directed some of his anger toward John Murray, the publisher of the Quarterly Review …
- … that I should give the cold shoulder to the Editor … Poor Murray shuddered again & again’ ( …
- … of the book’s appeal to readers, for he warned Murray on 29 April that it might ‘sell very …
- … offered to pay the costs for printing an additional 250 ( letter to John Murray, 3 May 1875 ). …
- … very much obliged to you For now of course we shan’t Be taken in or done for By …
- … & bless the day That ever you were born (letter from E. F. Lubbock, [after 2 …
- … plants 2d ed. was delayed until November, allowing Murray to advertise it at his annual sale. In …
- … that the originally red half has become wholly white’ ( letter from G. J. Romanes, [before 4 …
- … pp. 188–90). He drew attention to this discussion in a letter to George Rolleston, remarking on 2 …
- … Darwin wrote, ‘I beg ten thousand pardon & more’ ( letter to Francis Darwin, [ c . February …
- … signed himself, ‘Your affect son … the proofmaniac’ ( letter from Francis Darwin, 1 and 2 May [1875 …
- … both critical and reverential. On 16 July he received a letter from an advocate of women’s …
- … her presentation copy of Insectivorous plants ( letter to D. F. Nevill, 15 July [1875] ). Such …
- … of my house within the short time I can talk to anyone’ ( letter to John Lubbock, 3 May [1875] ). …
- … and had agreed to see him at Down with Thiselton-Dyer ( letter to W. T. Thiselton-Dyer, 7 July 1875 …
- … lay of hair in eyelashes and on arms, a typically lengthy letter full of personal observations, …
- … examination it was pronounced to be of a ‘high type’ ( letter from Woodward Emery, 17 September …
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: 12 hits
- … it for publication in the next issue of the Quarterly ( letter from G. H. Darwin, 29 July 1874 …
- … paper, which Darwin pointed out was not the kind of thing Murray would be likely to wish to …
- … them explicitly, he might be thought to endorse them ( letter from G. H. Darwin, 5 August 1874 ). …
- … of encouraging licentiousness. A postscript to Darwin’s letter, which may belong to another letter, …
- … on board Darwin’s comments and sent a fair copy of his letter with his letter of 6 [August] 1874 …
- … dangerous and pernicious. Darwin thanked Murray for sending him the issue of the …
- … of words having been used in a Pickwickian sense’ ( letter to John Murray, 18 October 1874 ). In …
- … Huxley’s protégé, and Huxley’s reaction was savage ( letter to G. H. Darwin, [6 December 1874] ). …
- … have Mivart admit his authorship of the attack on George ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 14 December 1874 …
- … attacked a friend of mine.’ ( Enclosure to letter from J. D. Hooker, 21 December 1874 .) A reply …
- … devoid of all the instincts of a gentleman’ ( letter from T. H. Huxley, 23 December 1874 ). …
- … from John Tyndall, 28 December 1874 , and letter from J. D. Hooker, 29 December 1874 ). …
Darwin in letters, 1862: A multiplicity of experiments
Summary
1862 was a particularly productive year for Darwin. This was not only the case in his published output (two botanical papers and a book on the pollination mechanisms of orchids), but more particularly in the extent and breadth of the botanical experiments…
Matches: 21 hits
- … but really I do think you have a good right to be so’ ( letter from J. D. Hooker, [15 and] 20 …
- … species. Darwin attempted to dissuade him from this view ( letter to T. H. Huxley, 14 [January 1862 …
- … partially sterile together. He failed. Huxley replied ( letter from T. H. Huxley, 20 January 1862 …
- … and pronounced them ‘simply perfect’, but continued ( letter to T. H. Huxley, 18 December [1862] ) …
- … resigned to their difference of opinion, but complained ( letter to T. H. Huxley, 28 December [1862 …
- … letters, Darwin, impressed, gave him the commission ( see letter to John Scott, 11 December [1862] …
- … protégé, telling Hooker: ‘he is no common man’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 12 [December 1862] ). …
- … Towards the end of the year, he wrote to Hooker ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 12 [December 1862] ): …
- … and added, ‘new cases are tumbling in almost daily’ ( letter to Asa Gray, 22 January [1862] ). In …
- … hopeful, became increasingly frustrated, telling Hooker ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 7 March [1862] ) …
- … from his ‘ enormous labour over them’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 14 [October 1862] ; see ML 2: …
- … out of four or five sets of experiments’ ( letter to M. T. Masters, 24 July [1862] ). The …
- … case warranted a paper for the Linnean Society ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 6 October [1862] ). …
- … the least , whether the Book will sell’ ( letter to John Murray, 9 [February 1862] ). To his son, …
- … about anything I published’, he told Hooker ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 15 [May 1862] ). But he did …
- … the book, it was, after all, ‘a success’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 30 [June 1862] ). a …
- … natural selection. He made the point to Hooker ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 14 March [1862] ): ‘I …
- … Darwin a few of their letters; Darwin remarked ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 26 [March 1862] ): ‘It is …
- … 3/4 hour, night & day’ that saved the boy ( letter to M. T. Masters, 24 July [1862] ). By …
- … by … particularly active young wolves’ ( letter from T. H. Huxley, 9 October 1862 ). Darwin …
- … views, though not to natural selection ( see letter from T. H. Huxley, 13 January 1862 ). Darwin …
Darwin in letters, 1882: Nothing too great or too small
Summary
In 1882, Darwin reached his 74th year Earthworms had been published the previous October, and for the first time in decades he was not working on another book. He remained active in botanical research, however. Building on his recent studies in plant…
Matches: 21 hits
- … ‘I feel a very old man, & my course is nearly run’ ( letter to Lawson Tait, 13 February 1882 ) …
- … fertility of crosses between differently styled plants ( letter from Fritz Müller, 1 January 1882 …
- … François Marie Glaziou (see Correspondence vol. 28, letter from Arthur de Souza Corrêa, 20 …
- … quite untirable & I am glad to shirk any extra labour’ ( letter to G. J. Romanes, 6 January …
- … probably intending to test its effects on chlorophyll ( letter to Joseph Fayrer, 30 March 1882 ). …
- … we know about the life of any one plant or animal!’ ( letter to Henry Groves, 3 April 1882 ). He …
- … of seeing the flowers & experimentising on them’ ( letter to J. E. Todd, 10 April 1882 ). …
- … later write differently about evolution’ ( letter to John Murray, 21 January 1882 ). The author …
- … their burrows ( Correspondence vol. 29, letter from J. F. Simpson, 8 November 1881 ). He …
- … the summit, whence it rolls down the sides’ ( letter from J. F. Simpson, 7 January 1882 ). The …
- … on it, which would have pleased me greatly’ ( letter from J. H. Gilbert, 9 January 1882, and …
- … witlings of the newspaper press’ ( letter from A. T. Rice, 4 February 1882 ). Rice looked to …
- … ( letter from John Collier, 22 February 1882 ; T. H. Huxley 1881, pp. 199–245). Huxley used …
- … to William Jenner, 20 March [1882] ; see also letter from T. L Brunton, 12 February 1882 , and …
- … can be placed to look after your machinery (I daren’t say automaton ) critically’ ( letter from …
- … were more automata in the world like you’ ( letter to T. H. Huxley, 27 March 1882 ). Darwin …
- … desires, grant us this our modest request!’ ( letter from J. L. Ambrose, 3 April 1882 ). Darwin …
- … were never very violent’ ( letter from Emma Darwin to J. D. Hooker, [20 April 1882] ). In …
- … pigeon breeder: ‘Skins are on their road to me sent by Mr. Murray from Persia, & I hope to get …
- … circle; I cannot tell how or where to begin’ ( letter to T. H. Huxley, 21 [January 1860] ). Darwin …
- … of your objections to my views, when we meet’ ( letter to J. S. Henslow, 29 January [1860] ). …
Cross and self fertilisation
Summary
The effects of cross and self fertilisation in the vegetable kingdom, published on 10 November 1876, was the result of a decade-long project to provide evidence for Darwin’s belief that ‘‘Nature thus tells us, in the most emphatic manner, that she abhors…
Matches: 19 hits
- … produced by a cross between two distinct plants’ ( To J. D. Hooker, 17 March [1867] ). He noted …
- … of France where Moggridge lived for part of the year ( To J. T. Moggridge, 1 October [1867] ). …
- … to impotence when taken from the same plant!’ ( To J. D. Hooker, 21 May [1868] ) Pollen tubes, or …
- … the season it becomes capable of self-fertilisation’ ( To J. D. Hooker, 23 July [1871] ). Darwin …
- … with choosing which taxonomic system to follow ( To J. D. Hooker, 17 February 1873 ). Despite also …
- … [1873] ). In April 1873, the publisher John Murray announced in the Athenæum that a …
- … plagued by foreign Translators, Reviewers, &c.’ ( To John Murray, 4 May [1873] ). In reply to …
- … & I have no idea when it will be published’ ( To J. V. Carus, 8 May [1873] ). Hermann Müller …
- … and not on ‘the evil effects of Interbreeding’ ( To J. V. Carus, 2 August [1873] ). In …
- … & Trimorphic plants with new & related matter. ( To J. V. Carus, 19 March [1874] ). A year …
- … ‘I have to add new researches on this subject. ( To J. V. Carus 7 February 1875 ). In fact, …
- … planned to publish his earlier papers in the same book ( To J. V. Carus, 25 December 1875 ). …
- … with which they grow mingled in a state of nature’ ( To J. H. Gilbert, 16 February 1876 ). Darwin …
- … with a recipe for treating soil to remove nutrients ( From J. H. Gilbert, 4 March 1876 ). In June …
- … page, & which will be published early in November’ ( To J. V. Carus, 27 September 1876 ). The …
- … expect that more than 6 or 700 would sell.’ ( To John Murray, 15 November 1876 ). In fact, Murray …
- … A. R. Wallace, 13 December 1876 ). No reply to this letter has been found, but Darwin had long …
- … to review it for “Nature”— he gloats over it' ( From J. D. Hooker, 27 January 1877 ). Darwin …
- … ( From R. F. Cooke, 16 March 1877 ). In November 1877, Murray suggested stereotyping the book, but …
Darwin's in letters, 1873: Animal or vegetable?
Summary
Having laboured for nearly five years on human evolution, sexual selection, and the expression of emotions, Darwin was able to devote 1873 almost exclusively to his beloved plants. He resumed work on the digestive powers of sundews and Venus fly traps, and…
Matches: 24 hits
- … I omitted to observe, which I ought to have observed” ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 12 January [1873] …
- … work your wicked will on it—root leaf & branch!” ( letter from J. D. Hooker, 12 January 1873 ) …
- … parts of the flower would become modified & correlated” ( letter to T. H. Farrer, 14 August …
- … it again, “for Heaven knows when it will be ready” ( letter to John Murray, 4 May [1873] ). …
- … we take notes and take tracings of their burrows” ( letter from Francis Darwin, 14 August [1873] ) …
- … in importance; and if so more places will be created” ( letter to E. A. Darwin, 20 September 1873 …
- … our unfortunate family being fit for continuous work” ( letter from E. A. Darwin, 25 September …
- … on any point; for I knew my own ignorance before hand” ( letter to George Cupples, 28 April [1873] …
- … “he would fly at the Empr’s throat like a bulldog” ( letter from L. M. Forster to H. E. Litchfield, …
- … force & truth of the great principle of inheritance!” ( letter to F. S. B. F. de Chaumont, 3 …
- … the heavy breathing that accompanied sexual intercourse? (letter from ?, [1873?]). The Scottish …
- … with up lines; & sadness & decay with the reverse—” ( letter from William Main, 2 April …
- … with the advance of civilisation and good breeding ( letter from Henry Reeks, 3 March 1873 ). …
- … have never felt an inclination to have a second dose” ( letter from Robert Swinhoe, 26 March 1873 …
- … of an orbital one produces snapping of the jaws” ( letter from James Crichton-Browne, 16 April 1873 …
- … that illustrated the physiognomy of the disease ( letter to James Crichton-Browne, 30 December 1873 …
- … could be transmitted to its offspring ( letter from J. T. Moggridge, 1 February 1873 ). …
- … it would offend his father ( enclosure to letter from T. H. Huxley, 3 December 1873 ). In …
- … fund was first suggested in early April by Katharine Murray Lyell in conversation with Emma Darwin, …
- … friend— but he is a deal too sharp” ( letter from J. D. Hooker, [7 April 1873] ). A group …
- … happiness to us to the last day of our lives” ( letter to T. H. Huxley, 23 April 1873 ). Huxley …
- … forced him to take periodic breaks from work ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 21 February [1873] ). They …
- … edition was called for. There were commercial advantages for Murray in bringing out a substantially …
- … new facts which I have to compare & judge of” ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 20 December [1873] ). …
Darwin in letters,1866: Survival of the fittest
Summary
The year 1866 began well for Charles Darwin, as his health, after several years of illness, was now considerably improved. In February, Darwin received a request from his publisher, John Murray, for a new edition of Origin. Darwin got the fourth…
Matches: 22 hits
- … Pound foolish, Penurious, Pragmatical Prigs’ ( letter from J. D. Hooker, [29 December 1866] ). But …
- … able to write easy work for about 1½ hours every day’ ( letter to H. B. Jones, 3 January [1866] ). …
- … once daily to make the chemistry go on better’ ( letter from H. B. Jones, 10 February [1866] ). …
- … see you out with our beagles before the season is over’ ( letter from John Lubbock, 4 August 1866 …
- … vigour into scientific work, remarking to Fox, ‘I don’t believe in your theory of moderate mental …
- … production of which Tegetmeier had agreed to supervise ( letter to W. B. Tegetmeier, 16 January …
- … of “Domestic Animals & Cult. Plants” to Printers’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 24 December [1866] …
- … On 21 February Darwin received notification from John Murray that stocks of the third edition of …
- … good deal I think, & have come to more definite views’ ( letter to T. H. Huxley, 22 December …
- … ‘I quite follow you in thinking Agassiz glacier-mad’ ( letter to Charles Lyell, 8[–9] September …
- … more than the belief of a dozen physicists’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, [28 February 1866] ). Darwin …
- … me to worship Bence Jones in future—’ ( letter from J. D. Hooker, 13 May 1866 ). Darwin himself …
- … then went for ¾ to Zoolog. Garden!!!!!!!!!’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, [28 April 1866] ). …
- … interview with Mogg’, she wrote in May, ‘He didn’t scold me at all about fusca & lutea & we …
- … come & pay a morning call but that most likely you wdn’t see him & he said he shd be …
- … It is rather horrible to have another self fertiliser, isn’t it?’), as well as the role that she and …
- … much to see him, though I dread all exertion’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, [12 May 1866] ). Darwin’s …
- … weak in his Greek, is something dreadful’ ( letter to T. H. Huxley, 22 December [1866] ). …
- … & admit how little is known on the subject’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 3 and 4 August [1866] ). …
- … see how differently we look at every thing’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 5 August [1866] ). Yet both …
- … same thing in a different light from you’ ( letter from J. D. Hooker, 7 August 1866 ). The two …
- … ‘business would be totally paralysed’. Similarly, John Murray gave as a reason for his decision to …
4.7 'Vanity Fair', caricature
Summary
< Back to Introduction A letter to Darwin from his publisher John Murray of 10 May 1871 informed him, ‘Your portrait is earnestly desired – by the Editor of Vanity Fair. I hope Mr Darwin may consent to follow the example of Murchison – Bismark [sic] …
Matches: 4 hits
- … < Back to Introduction A letter to Darwin from his publisher John Murray of 10 May …
- … and the versatile French painter James Tissot. John Murray evidently thought that Pellegrini would …
- … from Monkeys’, and below Owen ‘What a pity you didn’t spring a little further.’ …
- … Vanity Fair , no. 152 (30 Sept. 1871), p. 107. Letter from John Murray to Darwin, 10 May 1871 (DCP …
Darwin in public and private
Summary
Extracts from Darwin's published works, in particular Descent of man, and selected letters, explore Darwin's views on the operation of sexual selection in humans, and both his publicly and privately expressed views on its practical implications…
Matches: 10 hits
- … pp. 371 – 372. Selected letters Letter 1113 - Darwin to Whitby, M. A …
- … to determine the heritability of dark eyebrows. Letter 489 – Darwin to …
- … her presence will have on his life and character. Letter 5670f - Darwin to Kingsley …
- … from a single hermaphroditic progenitor. Letter 7123 - Darwin to Darwin, H. E., …
- … on the mental powers of man and lower animals. Letter 7329 – Murray, J. to Darwin, [28 …
- … in order to minimise impeding general perusal. Letter 8146 – Darwin to Treat, M., …
- … her on the publication of her work on Drosera. Letter 10546 – Darwin to Editor of …
- … of experimentation to the progress of physiology. Letter 10746 – Darwin to Dicey, E …
- … inability to cope well with the sight of blood. Letter 11267f – Darwin, S. to …
- … take lessons in housekeeping from Mrs Cutting. Letter 13607 – Darwin to Kennard, C …
