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 |
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 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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
To Gardeners’ Chronicle 9 May [1869]
Summary
In response to a query from a Mr D. T. Fish, CD reaffirms his view of the efficiency of worms in bringing up in their intestines fine soil from below the surface. Reports on observations, during the past 25 years, which confirm his views.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Gardeners’ Chronicle |
Date: | 9 May [1869] |
Classmark: | Gardeners’ Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette (1869): 530 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6738 |
To Linnean Society, President and Council 10 May 1869
Summary
Recommends publication of Mrs Barber’s paper on a rare case of fertilisation of a plant by one kind of insect alone, with access of others prevented by a mechanical obstacle [Mary Elizabeth Barber, "On the fertilisation and dissemination of Duvernoia adhatodoides", J. Linn. Soc. Lond. (Bot.) 11 (1869): 469–72].
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | William Hellier Baily |
Date: | 10 May 1869 |
Classmark: | Linnean Society of London (SP.57) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6740 |
To George Bentham 10 May [1869]
Summary
Sends a letter (and seeds) from Fritz Müller about a strange monstrous form of Begonia found wild in Brazil. Asks GB whether it is worth communicating to Linnean Society.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | George Bentham |
Date: | 10 May [1869] |
Classmark: | Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (Bentham Correspondence, Vol. 3, Daintree–Dyer, 1830–1884, GEB/1/3: f. 680) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6743 |
To J. J. Weir 13 May [1869]
Summary
Comments on paper by JJW ["On insects and insectivorous birds", Trans. R. Entomol. Soc. Lond. (1869): 21–6]. JJW’s verification of A. R. Wallace’s suggestion regarding inheritance is quite a discovery.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Jenner Weir |
Date: | 13 May [1869] |
Classmark: | DAR 148: 321 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6746 |
To Charles Lyell 20 May 1869
Summary
Cites article by David Forbes dealing with the geology of the S. American Cordillera ["Geology of Bolivia and South Peru", Q. J. Geol. Soc. Lond. 17 (1861): 7–62].
Discusses the flexures of the Cordillera, the age of the mountains, and basaltic dikes in granite areas.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Charles Lyell, 1st baronet |
Date: | 20 May 1869 |
Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.370) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6751 |
To J. J. Weir 20 May [1869]
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Jenner Weir |
Date: | 20 May [1869] |
Classmark: | DAR 148: 322 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6753 |
To John Wheldon 20 May [1869]
Summary
Orders two second-hand books from a dealer’s catalogue.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Wheldon |
Date: | 20 May [1869] |
Classmark: | Yale University Medical Historical Library, Harvey Cushing / John Hay Whitney Medical Library (tipped into Rare Book QH9 D25 867M) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6753F |
To James Crichton-Browne 22 May 1869
Summary
Thanks for MS observations on expression. Discusses hair standing on end in terror and rage. Asks JC-B to observe contraction of platysma myoides. "Your description of the grinning and exposure of the canine teeth under furious rage is excellent. I presume that you would not object to my quoting it." Asks about contraction of "grief muscles". Comments on blushing. Offers to send book by G. B. A. Duchenne [Mécanisme de la physionomie humaine (1862)].
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | James Crichton-Browne |
Date: | 22 May 1869 |
Classmark: | DAR 143: 327 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6755 |
To George Maw 22 May [1869]
Summary
Thanks GM for specimens of Drosophyllum.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | George Maw |
Date: | 22 May [1869] |
Classmark: | Royal Horticultural Society, Lindley Library (MAW/1/17) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6756 |
To J. D. Caton 24 May 1869
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Dean Caton |
Date: | 24 May 1869 |
Classmark: | DAR 143: 255 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6757 |
To J. J. Weir 27 May [1869]
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Jenner Weir |
Date: | 27 May [1869] |
Classmark: | DAR 148: 323 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6759 |
To John Higgins 27 May 1869
Summary
Acknowledges receipt of £263 13s. 8d.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Higgins |
Date: | 27 May 1869 |
Classmark: | Dominic Winter Auctioneers (dealers) (10 April 2019, lot 138) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6759F |
Weir, J. J. | (3) |
Baily, W. H. | (2) |
Lyell, Charles | (2) |
Bentham, George | (1) |
Bowman, William | (1) |
Darwin, C. R. | |
Weir, J. J. | (3) |
Baily, W. H. | (2) |
Lyell, Charles | (2) |
Bentham, George | (1) |
Bowman, William | (1) |
Brusina, Spiridion | (1) |
Carus, J. V. | (1) |
Caton, J. D. | (1) |
Crichton-Browne, James | (1) |
Farrer, T. H. | (1) |
Gardeners’ Chronicle | (1) |
Higgins, John | (1) |
Hooker, J. D. | (1) |
Huxley, T. H. | (1) |
Maw, George | (1) |
Unidentified | (1) |
Wheldon, John | (1) |