To W. E. Darwin [23 October – 20 November 1859]
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | William Erasmus Darwin |
Date: | [23 Oct – 20 Nov 1859] |
Classmark: | DAR 210.6: 48 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2497 |
To W. E. Darwin [14 October 1859]
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | William Erasmus Darwin |
Date: | [14 Oct 1859] |
Classmark: | DAR 210.6: 49 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2498 |
To James Paget [15 October – 19 November 1859]
Summary
Thanks JP for bearing in mind his strong wish to learn any facts on inheritance at corresponding ages, and on correlation of growth.
JP’s case of teeth affected by syphilitic parents seems very curious. Would like to hear a few particulars when they meet.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | James Paget, 1st baronet |
Date: | [15 Oct – 19 Nov 1859] |
Classmark: | Wellcome Collection (MS.5703/27) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2500 |
To W. D. Fox [6 October 1859]
Summary
First impressions of the water-cure establishment are not favourable – "I always hate everything new".
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | William Darwin Fox |
Date: | [6 Oct 1859] |
Classmark: | Christ’s College Library, Cambridge (MS 53 Fox 123) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2502 |
To Charles Lyell 11 October [1859]
Summary
CL’s comments on Origin. Mentions corrections to last chapter suggested by CL.
Comments on lack of peculiar bird species on Madeira and Bermuda. Emphasises importance of American types in Galapagos.
Denies necessity of continued creation of primitive "Monads".
Denies need for new powers and any principle of improvement.
Discusses gradations of intellectual powers.
Adaptive inferiority and extinction of groups of species and genera.
Asserts that climate is less important than the struggle with other organisms.
Suggests an experiment involving primroses and cowslips.
The chapter on hybridisation.
Rudimentary organs.
Gives opinion of Lamarck’s work.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Charles Lyell, 1st baronet |
Date: | 11 Oct [1859] |
Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.172) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2503 |
To J. D. Hooker 15 October [1859]
Summary
Book finished some two weeks.
Feeling much better at Ilkley.
Lyell thinks favourably of book but "staggered" at lengths to which CD goes.
Which continental botanists should receive presentation copies?
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
Date: | 15 Oct [1859] |
Classmark: | DAR 115: 23 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2504 |
To T. H. Huxley 15 October [1859]
Summary
Origin is finished.
Asks for names of foreign speculative naturalists.
Hopes THH will think he is on right road despite errors.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Thomas Henry Huxley |
Date: | 15 Oct [1859] |
Classmark: | Imperial College of Science, Technology, and Medicine Archives (Huxley 5: 70) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2505 |
To John Murray 15 October [1859]
Summary
Discusses presentation copies [of the Origin].
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 15 Oct [1859] |
Classmark: | DAR R 143 (with R. F. Cooke correspondence) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2506 |
To Charles Lyell 20 October [1859]
Summary
Comments on CL’s letters.
Discusses foreign animals naturalised in Australia and elsewhere.
Affirms man’s capacity to survive in Eocene climate.
Comments on American types.
Denies necessity for "continued intervention of creative power".
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Charles Lyell, 1st baronet |
Date: | 20 Oct [1859] |
Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.173) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2507 |
To John Murray 20 October [1859]
Summary
Cannot suggest an appropriate device or ornament for cover [of Origin].
Will send a list for distribution of author’s copies as soon as JM tells him approximate trade price.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 20 Oct [1859] |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42152 ff.94–95) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2508 |
To J. D. Hooker [23 October 1859]
Summary
Congratulates JDH on finishing his introductory essay [to Flora Tasmaniae].
Lyell’s position on mutability appears more positive in his letters to JDH than in those to CD. Considers JDH a convert.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
Date: | [23 Oct 1859] |
Classmark: | DAR 115: 24 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2509 |
To Charles Lyell 25 October [1859]
Summary
Discusses P. S. Pallas’ theory of origin of domestic dog breeds. CD believes domestic dogs descended from more than one aboriginal wild species but ultimately "we believe all canine species have descended from one parent and the only question is whether the whole or only part of difference in our domestic breeds has arisen since man domesticated them".
Races of man offer great difficulty. The doctrine of Pallas and Agassiz that there are several species "does not help us" in the least.
Hopes Henry Holland will not review Origin.
CD’s and CL’s difference on "principle of improvement" and "power of adaptation" is profound. Improvement in breeds of cattle requires neither. Urges him to reread first four chapters of Origin carefully. Natural selection is not to be contrasted with "improvement": every step involves improvement in relation to the conditions of life. There is no need for a "principle" to intervene.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Charles Lyell, 1st baronet |
Date: | 25 Oct [1859] |
Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.174) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2510 |
To J. D. Hooker [27 October or 3 November 1859]
Summary
More detailed comments on JDH’s introductory essay [to Flora Tasmaniae]. Remarks on struggle of vegetation are admirable.
JDH will receive Origin in about ten days.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
Date: | [27 Oct or 3 Nov] 1859 |
Classmark: | DAR 115: 25 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2512 |
To Charles Lyell 31 [October 1859]
Summary
Further discussion of origin of domestic dog breeds.
Effects of crossing separate races.
Comments on rate of artificial and natural selection.
The origin of pigeon breeds.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Charles Lyell, 1st baronet |
Date: | 31 [Oct 1859] |
Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.175) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2513 |
To Elizabeth Drysdale [22 or 29 October 1859]
Summary
Declines an invitation to visit [Moor] Park.
He hopes that Dr Lane is arranging things to his satisfaction.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Elizabeth Pew, Lady Drysdale; Elizabeth Copland, Lady Drysdale; Elizabeth Drysdale, Lady Drysdale |
Date: | [22 or 29] Oct 1859 |
Classmark: | John Wilson (dealer) (Catalogue 88); Clive Farahar & Sophie Dupré (dealers) (Catalogue 55); B & L Rootenberg (dealers) (May 1991) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2498A |
Lyell, Charles | (4) |
Hooker, J. D. | (3) |
Darwin, W. E. | (2) |
Murray, John (b) | (2) |
Copland, Elizabeth | (1) |
Darwin, C. R. | |
Lyell, Charles | (4) |
Hooker, J. D. | (3) |
Darwin, W. E. | (2) |
Murray, John (b) | (2) |
Copland, Elizabeth | (1) |
Drysdale, Elizabeth | (1) |
Fox, W. D. | (1) |
Huxley, T. H. | (1) |
Paget, James | (1) |
Pew, Elizabeth | (1) |