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List of correspondents
Summary
Below is a list of Darwin's correspondents with the number of letters for each one. Click on a name to see the letters Darwin exchanged with that correspondent. "A child of God" (1) Abberley,…

Animals, ethics, and the progress of science
Summary
Darwin’s view on the kinship between humans and animals had important ethical implications. In Descent, he argued that some animals exhibited moral behaviour and had evolved mental powers analogous to conscience. He gave examples of cooperation, even…
Matches: 22 hits
- … Darwin’s view on the kinship between humans and animals had important ethical …
- … a live worm on a hook (‘Recollections’, pp. 358, 388). Darwin’s concern for animals aligned with …
- … and an integral part of medical and veterinary training. Darwin was clearly disturbed by the …
- … about it, else I shall not sleep to-night’ ( letter to E. R. Lankester, 22 March [1871] ). In …
- … to the last hour of his life’ ( Descent 1: 40). Darwin’s closest encounter with …
- … on rabbits. The investigation was partly aimed at testing Darwin’s ‘hypothesis of pangenesis’, which …
- … of different breeds together. Galton reported regularly to Darwin on the results (all negative). He …
- … Society, calling into question the theory of pangenesis. Darwin was taken aback, and swiftly replied …
- … and perseverance’ ( letter to Nature , [before 27 April 1871] ). When Galton could no longer …
- … more influenced by experiments on animals than on plants’, Darwin conceded. ‘I think a large number …
- … ( letter to G. J. Romanes, 18 July 1875 ). Darwin was concerned that the method be painless, …
- … birds can be chloroformed (letter to G. J. Romanes, 27 December 1874 ). In the previous …
- … were analogous to those performed on dogs and other animals. Darwin’s work on insectivorous plants …
- … physiologists, John Scott Burdon Sanderson, Thomas Lauder Brunton, Michael Foster, and Edward …
- … muscular reflex in the leg of a frog. Volume 2 of the Handbook contained several …
- … an acquaintance of the Darwins, and had corresponded with Darwin cordially about his moral theory, …
- … ( letter to F. B. Cobbe, [14 January 1875] ). Darwin’s involvement in the vivisection …
- … of which we can now see the bearings in regard to health &c, I look at as puerile. Darwin …
- … with costly equipment, a supply of animals, etc.. Darwin was concerned that ‘private men’ would be …
- … ( letter to H. E. Litchfield, 4 January [1875] ) Darwin worked closely with Burdon …
- … Physiology as doomed to death in this country. ( letter To T. H. Huxley, 14 January 1875 ) …
- … of experiment amongst people in general’ ( letter from T. L. Brunton, 12 February 1882 ). 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
- … In 1882, Darwin reached his 74th year Earthworms had been published the previous …
- … for scientific colleagues or their widows facing hardship. Darwin had suffered from poor health …
- … of his scientific friends quickly organised a campaign for Darwin to have greater public recognition …
- … Botanical observation and experiment had long been Darwin’s greatest scientific pleasure. The year …
- … to Fritz Müller, 4 January 1882 ). These were topics that Darwin had been investigating for years, …
- … working at the effects of Carbonate of Ammonia on roots,’ Darwin wrote, ‘the chief result being that …
- … contents, if immersed for some hours in a weak solution of C. of Ammonia’. Darwin’s interest in root …
- … Auguste François Marie Glaziou (see Correspondence vol. 28, letter from Arthur de Souza Corrêa …
- … Darwin’s theory of pangenesis (see Correspondence vol. 23 and Variation 2: 357–404), but …
- … witlings of the newspaper press’ ( letter from A. T. Rice, 4 February 1882 ). Rice looked to …
- … our homes, would in this case greatly suffer’ ( letter to C. A. Kennard, 9 January 1882 ). Kennard …
- … judged, intellectually his inferior, please ( letter from C. A. Kennard, 28 January 1882 ). …
- … ( 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 …
- … dull aching in the chest’ (Emma Darwin to G. H. Darwin, [ c . 28 March 1882] (DAR 210.3: 45)). …
- … get one of the cleverer sort of young London Doctors such as Brunton or Pye Smith to put himself in …
- … can be placed to look after your machinery (I daren’t say automaton ) critically’ ( letter from …
- … grant us this our modest request!’ ( letter from J. L. Ambrose, 3 April 1882 ). Darwin immediately …
- … to some Estancia,’ wrote Hughes, ‘as the scenery &c. will amply repay your trouble’ ( letter …
- … where he had witnessed an earthquake in 1835 ( letter from R. E. Alison, [March–July 1835 ]). …
- … will be months before I am able to work’ ( letter to A. R. Wallace, [ c . 10 April 1864] ). To …

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: 20 hits
- … 1874 was one of consolidation, reflection, and turmoil for Darwin. He spent the early months working …
- … dispute over an anonymous review that attacked the work of Darwin’s son George dominated the second …
- … and traveller Alexander von Humboldt’s 105th birthday, Darwin obliged with a reflection on his debt …
- … by observation during prolonged intervals’ ( letter to D. T. Gardner, [ c . 27 August 1874] ). …
- … from W. D. Fox, 8 May [1874] ). Such reminiscences led Darwin to the self-assessment, ‘as for one …
- … from his silence on the matter ( letter from Ernst Haeckel, 26 October 1874 ). Séances, …
- … Mr Williams was ‘a cheat and an imposter’ ( letter from T. H. Huxley, 27 January 1874 ). Darwin …
- … 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 …
- … and disease in the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii; letters from T. N. Staley, 12 February 1874 and …
- … Descent was published in November 1874 ( letter from R. F. Cooke, 12 November 1874 ). Though …
- … on subsequent print runs would be very good ( letter from R. F. Cooke, 12 November 1874 ). …
- … in a few hours dissolve the hardest cartilage, bone & meat &c. &c.’ ( letter to W. D. …
- … of various substances on his behalf. Thomas Lauder Brunton sent the results of his experiments on …
- … whether at the ‘close of the putrefaction of flesh, skin &c, any substance is produced before …
- … details of an Australian variety of sundew ( letter from T. C. Copland, 23 June 1874 ). …
- … W. Pennypacker, 14 September 1874 ). Thomas Lauder Brunton sent Darwin examples of busts …
- … the face, with a physiological explanation ( letter from T. L. Brunton, [29] October [1874] ). …
- … Sharpe for promotion at the British Museum ( letter to R. B. Sharpe, 24 November [1874] ). He …
- … head that M r Spencer’s terms of equilibration &c always bother me & make everything less …

Darwin in letters, 1881: Old friends and new admirers
Summary
In May 1881, Darwin, one of the best-known celebrities in England if not the world, began writing about all the eminent men he had met. He embarked on this task, which formed an addition to his autobiography, because he had nothing else to do. He had…
Matches: 26 hits
- … In May 1881, Darwin, one of the best-known celebrities in England if not the world, began …
- … ‘more confined & easy subjects’. A month earlier, on 23 February , he had told his valued …
- … a very old man, who probably will not last much longer.’ Darwin’s biggest fear was not death, but …
- … sweetest place on this earth’. From the start of the year, Darwin had his demise on his mind. He …
- … provision for the dividing of his wealth after his death. Darwin’s gloominess was compounded by the …
- … Lord how he will hate you’, Darwin warned Romanes on 28 January . In the end, not only the …
- … efforts that secured it (see Correspondence vol. 28, Appendix VI). When Huxley heard on 8 …
- … January, the publishers decided to print ‘500 more, making 2000’ ( letter to H. E. Litchfield, 4 …
- … particularly pleased Darwin because, he told Candolle on 24 January , ‘I have often been annoyed …
- … the sale of books being ‘a game of chance’ ( letter to R. F. Cooke, 12 April 1881 ). On 18 May …
- … of such plants, especially annuals ( letter to W. T. Thiselton-Dyer, 21 March [1881] ). Darwin …
- … he would feel ‘less sulky in a day or two’ ( letter to R. F. Cooke, 29 July 1881 ). The degree of …
- … falls at this late period of the season’ ( letter from R. F. Cooke, 30 July 1881 ). Darwin gave in …
- … with you’, a Swedish teacher told him ( letter from C. E. Södling, 14 October 1881 ), while H. M. …
- … to possibilities for women, judging from her organization &c’. When Darwin replied the following …
- … ‘bread-winners’ ( Correspondence vol. 30, letter to C. A. Kennard, 9 January 1882 ). …
- … publication & to acknowledge any criticism’ ( letter to C. G. Semper, 19 July 1881 ). He …
- … had incidentally patted one of the Fuegians on the shoulder (l etter from B. J. Sulivan, 18 March …
- … to bear the ‘wear & tear of controversy’ ( letter to G. R. Jesse, 23 April 1881 ). Later in …
- … everyone else’s judgment on the subject ( letter to A. R. Wallace, 12 July 1881 ). However, some …
- … if it were ‘not absurd for one with no pretensions’ (l etter from W. E. Darwin, 13 January [1881 ] …
- … that she could teach Bernard ‘what religion she liked’ (l etter from Francis Darwin, 23 [May 1881] …
- … do not be disappointed if the sale is small’ ( letter to R. F. Cooke, 5 October 1881 ). The …
- … proved ‘the greatness of their power’ ( letter from M. C. Stanley, 16 October 1881 ). Hooker …
- … men the true methods of investigation’ ( letter from C. V. Riley, 18 December 1881 ). …
- … the terms of the 1876 Cruelty to Animals Act ( letter to T. L. Brunton, 19 November 1881 ). Darwin …

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: 28 hits
- … evolution, sexual selection, and the expression of emotions, Darwin was able to devote 1873 almost …
- … (1875) and Cross and self fertilisation (1876). Darwin’s son Francis became increasingly …
- … career to become his father’s scientific secretary. Darwin had always relied on assistance from …
- … Francis’s decision. A large portion of the letters Darwin received in 1873 were in response …
- … the previous year. As was typical, readers wrote to Darwin personally to offer suggestions, …
- … some of which were incorporated in a later edition. Darwin also contributed to discussions in the …
- … Francis Galton’s work on inherited talent, which prompted Darwin to reflect on the traits and …
- … Station at Naples. Plants that eat and feel? Darwin had resumed experiments on the …
- … 12 January [1873] ). Drosera was the main focus of Darwin’s study of insectivorous plants, a …
- … of the Handbook ‘s other contributors, Thomas Lauder Brunton, a specialist in pharmacology, and …
- … flower would become modified & correlated” ( letter to T. H. Farrer, 14 August 1873 ). …
- … so more places will be created” ( letter to E. A. Darwin, 20 September 1873 ). Erasmus, who had …
- … fit for continuous work” ( letter from E. A. Darwin, 25 September [1873] ). Shortly afterwards, …
- … my own ignorance before hand” ( letter to George Cupples, 28 April [1873] ). Readers039; …
- … fly at the Empr’s throat like a bulldog” ( letter from L. M. Forster to H. E. Litchfield, 20 …
- … finger rubbing had been mentioned in Expression , pp. 265–6, informed Darwin that his newest …
- … & decay with the reverse—” ( letter from William Main, 2 April 1873 ). The zoologist Henry …
- … to have a second dose” ( letter from Robert Swinhoe, 26 March 1873 ). One of the leading …
- … without instruction or previously acquired knowledge” (A. R. Wallace 1870, p. 204). Moggridge …
- … could be transmitted to its offspring ( letter from J. T. Moggridge, 1 February 1873 ). …
- … of a fellow species” ( letter to Nature , [before 24 July 1873] ). Character and genius …
- … investing money very well” ( letter to Francis Galton, 28 May 1873 ). Among character traits, he …
- … it would offend his father ( enclosure to letter from T. H. Huxley, 3 December 1873 ). In …
- … happiness to us to the last day of our lives” ( letter to T. H. Huxley, 23 April 1873 ). Huxley …
- … believes whether or not they are sound” ( letter to A. R. Wallace, 17 November 1873 ). But no …
- … unorthodoxy, troubling and potentially undermining (J. R. Moore 1985, pp. 471–2). A courted …
- … must rest contented with past memories” ( letter to A. A. L. P. Cochrane, [after 7 June 1873] ). …
- … a personification of Natural Filosofy” ( letter from J. C. Costerus and N. D. Doedes, 18 March 1873 …