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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: 19 hits
- … In May 1881, Darwin, one of the best-known celebrities in England if not the world, …
- … 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 …
- … and new admirers got in touch, and, for all his fears, Darwin found several scientific topics to …
- … Evolution old and new when revising his essay on Erasmus Darwin’s scientific work, and that Darwin …
- … was another source of pleasure in the early months of 1881. This book had been a major undertaking …
- … decided to print ‘500 more, making 2000’ ( letter to H. E. Litchfield, 4 January 1881 ). Unlike …
- … & very surprising the whole case is to me’ (letters to W. E. Darwin, 31 January [1881] and …
- … learnt from its own individual experience ( letter from G. J. Romanes, 7 March 1881 ). The …
- … suggestions of such plants, especially annuals ( letter to W. T. Thiselton-Dyer, 21 March [1881] ) …
- … with you’, a Swedish teacher told him ( letter from C. E. Södling, 14 October 1881 ), while H. M. …
- … little, to the general stock of knowledge’ ( letter to E. W. Bok, 10 May 1881 ). Josef Popper, an …
- … & to acknowledge any criticism’ ( letter to C. G. Semper, 19 July 1881 ). He continued his …
- … of the nature & capabilities of the Fuegians’ ( letter to W. P. Snow, 22 November 1881 ). …
- … , which he thought ‘an excellent Journal’ ( letter to G. J. Romanes, 4 July [1881] ). In these …
- … so atrocious a manner on all physiologists’ ( letter to G. J. Romanes, 18 April 1881 ). A letter …
- … to bear the ‘wear & tear of controversy’ ( letter to G. R. Jesse, 23 April 1881 ). Later in …
- … they would be with a less intelligent man’ ( letter from G. J. Romanes, 1 July [1881] ). Despite …

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: 24 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 …
- … in Down, where his brother Erasmus had been interred in 1881. But some of his scientific friends …
- … 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 …
- … for some hours in a weak solution of C. of Ammonia’. Darwin’s interest in root response and the …
- … London on 6 and 16 March, respectively. In January, Darwin corresponded with George John …
- … vol. 29, letter from Arthur de Souza Corrêa, 28 December 1881 ). Darwin had a long-running …
- … experiments had been conducted to lend support to Darwin’s theory of pangenesis (see …
- … & I am glad to shirk any extra labour’ ( letter to G. J. Romanes, 6 January 1882 ). The …
- … the flowers & experimentising on them’ ( letter to J. E. Todd, 10 April 1882 ). While …
- … last book, Earthworms , had been published in October 1881. It proved to be very popular, with …
- … to have rather the best of the fight’ ( letter from G. F. Crawte, 11 March 1882 ). The battle …
- … and a ‘Glycerin Pepsin mixture’ (letters to W. W. Baxter, 11 March 1882 and 18 March [1882 ]) …
- … he is a good deal depressed about himself’ (letter from H. E. Litchfield to G. H. Darwin, 17 March …
- … plagued with dull aching in the chest’ (Emma Darwin to G. H. Darwin, [ c . 28 March 1882] (DAR 210 …
- … pain entirely yesterday’ (letter from Emma Darwin to G. H. Darwin, 6 April 1882 (DAR 210.3: 46)). …
- … is very calm but she has cried a little’ (letter from H. E. Litchfield to G. H. Darwin, [19 April …
- … overflowing in tenderness’ (letter from Emma Darwin to W. E. Darwin, 10 May 1882 (DAR 219.1: 150)). …
- … Natural History, that I went as Naturalist on the voyage of H.M.S. Beagle round the World & …
- … I cannot tell how or where to begin’ ( letter to T. H. Huxley, 21 [January 1860] ). Darwin’s …
- … of Darwinian theory to flowers and flower-visiting insects; H. Müller 1869)). Darwin was full of …
- … point from its graduated nature: some time ago my son, Mr G. Darwin, advocated that lunacy should at …

Darwin in letters, 1880: Sensitivity and worms
Summary
‘My heart & soul care for worms & nothing else in this world,’ Darwin wrote to his old Shrewsbury friend Henry Johnson on 14 November 1880. Darwin became fully devoted to earthworms in the spring of the year, just after finishing the manuscript of…
Matches: 20 hits
- … heart & soul care for worms & nothing else in this world,’ Darwin wrote to his old …
- … to adapt to varying conditions. The implications of Darwin’s work for the boundary between animals …
- … studies of animal instincts by George John Romanes drew upon Darwin’s early observations of infants, …
- … of evolution and creation. Many letters flowed between Darwin and his children, as he took delight …
- … Financial support for science was a recurring issue, as Darwin tried to secure a Civil List pension …
- … with Samuel Butler, prompted by the publication of Erasmus Darwin the previous year. …
- … Charles Harrison Tindal, sent a cache of letters from two of Darwin’s grandfather’s clerical friends …
- … character is of much value to me’ ( letter to C. H. Tindal, 5 January 1880 ). Darwin had employed …
- … to find an ordinary mortal who could laugh’ ( letter from W. E. Darwin to Charles and Emma Darwin, …
- … wants a grievance to hang an article upon’ ( letter from W. E. Darwin, [28 January 1880] ). …
- … , sending one or both to his daughter Henrietta ( letter to H. E. Litchfield, 1 February [1880] ). …
- … he will have the last word’, she warned ( letter from H. E. Litchfield, [1 February 1880] ). ‘He …
- … Darwinophobia? It is a horrid disease’ ( letter from T. H. Huxley, 3 February 1880 ). All …
- … from scientific debate. The matter spilled over into January 1881. With Henrietta’s aid, the advice …
- … I was, also, rarely fit to see anybody’ ( letter to S. H. Haliburton, 13 December 1880 ). …
- … pretended, ‘but the subject has amused me’ ( letter to W. C. McIntosh, 18 June 1880 ). Members of …
- … thus one looks to prevent its return’ ( letter from J.-H. Fabre, 18 February 1880 ). Darwin shared …
- … and letting them out of their respective bags ( letter from G. J. Romanes, [6, 13, or 20] March …
- … received more attention than the baby!’ ( letter from G. J. Romanes, 17 December 1880 , and …
- … biologist of our time’ ( letter from W. D. Roebuck to G. H. Darwin, 25 October 1880 ). The …

Diagrams and drawings in letters
Summary
Over 850 illustrations from the printed volumes of The Correspondence of Charles Darwin have been added to the online transcripts of the letters. The contents include maps, diagrams, drawings, sketches and photographs, covering geological, botanical,…
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: 7 hits
- … Female readership | Reading Variation Darwin's letters, in particular those …
- … a broad variety of women had access to, and engaged with, Darwin's published works. A set of …
- … women a target audience? Letter 2447 - Darwin to Murray, J., [5 April 1859] …
- … that his views are original and will appeal to the public. Darwin asks Murray to forward the …
- … and criticisms of style. Letter 2461 - Darwin to Hooker, J. D., [11 May 1859] …
- … readers. Letter 7124 - Darwin to Darwin, H. E., [8 February 1870] Darwin …
- … lay it down. Letter 13547 - Tanner, M. H. to Darwin, [12 December 1881] …
Darwin as mentor
Summary
Darwin provided advice, encouragement and praise to his fellow scientific 'labourers' of both sexes. Selected letters Letter 2234 - Darwin to Unidentified, [5 March 1858] Darwin advises that Professor C. P. Smyth’s observations are not…
Matches: 12 hits
- … Darwin provided advice, encouragement and praise to his fellow scientific …
- … Selected letters Letter 2234 - Darwin to Unidentified, [5 March 1858] Darwin …
- … on insufficient grounds. Letter 3934 - Darwin to Scott, J., [21 January 1863] …
- … material worthy of publication. Letter 4185 - Darwin to Scott, J., [25 & 28 May …
- … worker you are!”. Letter 7605 - Darwin to Darwin, H. E., [20 March 1871] …
- … “lucid vigorous style”. In consultation with Emma, Darwin offers Henrietta “some little memorial” in …
- … so many observations without aid. Letter 8146 - Darwin to Treat, M., [5 January 1872] …
- … scientific journal”. Letter 8171 - Darwin to Wedgwood, L., [21 January 1872] …
- … stooping over holes for hours which “tried my head”. Darwin notes that Lucy is worth her weight in …
- … the experiment. Letter 9580 - Darwin to Darwin, G. H. D., [1 August 1874] …
- … work”. Letter 11096 - Darwin to Romanes, G. J., [9 August 1877] Darwin points …
- … Letter 13414 - Darwin to Harrison, L., [18 October 1881] Darwin advises his niece’s …

Darwin and the Church
Summary
The story of Charles Darwin’s involvement with the church is one that is told far too rarely. It shows another side of the man who is more often remembered for his personal struggles with faith, or for his role in large-scale controversies over the…
Matches: 22 hits
- … The story of Charles Darwin’s involvement with the church is one that is told far too rarely. It …
- … unique window into this complicated relationship throughout Darwin’s life, as it reveals his …
- … belief (and doubt) than many non-conformist denominations. Darwin’s parents attended a Unitarian …
- … the necessary studies to be a clergyman. During Darwin’s lifetime, the vast majority of the …
- … income was essential to enjoy a gentlemanly lifestyle. For Darwin, who could rely on the financial …
- … compatible with the pursuit of scientific interests. Indeed, Darwin’s Cambridge mentor, John Stevens …
- … (Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine (1887): 321). Darwin started on his journey around the world …
- … it even through a grove of Palms.—’ (letter to Caroline Darwin, 25–6 April [1832] ). Darwin’s …
- … British Museum or some other learned place’ (letter from E. A. Darwin, 18 August [1832] ). …
- … sort of scene I never ought to think about—’ (letter to W. D. Fox, [9–12 August] 1835 ). Darwin’s …
- … from the late 1830s, and in correspondence with his fiancée, Emma Wedgwood, in 1838 and 1839, as can …
- … within six years of his return from the Beagle voyage, Darwin moved to Down House, in the …
- … where their children Mary and Charles were buried; later Darwin’s brother Erasmus, Emma’s sister …
- … of Emma, whose religious scruples are discussed here. But Darwin’s correspondence reveals his own …
- … Although he was not the principal landowner in Down, Darwin was a gentleman of means, and clearly …
- … made inroads on Anglican authority in the countryside. The Darwin family took an interest in, and …
- … an excellent Guardian [of the Poor Fund]’ (letter to J. W. Lubbock, 28 March [1854] ). Despite …
- … complications he left behind (letter from S. J. O’H. Horsman, 2 June [1868] ). Among the reasons …
- … is an interesting letter from Darwin to the evangelist J. W. C. Fegan. Darwin whole-heartedly …
- … (letter to J. W. C. Fegan, [December 1880 – February 1881] ). Indeed, the Darwin family even …
- … Victorian clergy. London: Croom Helm. Keppel, T. E. 1887. The country parson as he was, and as …
- … Press in association with Nova Pacifica. Paz, D. G., ed. 1995. Nineteenth-century English …

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: 25 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 …
- … ). The death of a Cambridge friend, Albert Way, caused Darwin’s cousin, William Darwin Fox, to …
- … pleasures of shooting and collecting beetles ( letter from W. D. Fox, 8 May [1874] ). Such …
- … one looks backwards much more than forwards’ ( letter to W. D. Fox, 11 May [1874] ). …
- … Andrew Clark, whom he had been consulting since August 1873. Darwin had originally thought that …
- … ( letter to B. J. Sulivan, 6 January [1874] ). Darwin mentioned his poor health so frequently in …
- … 1874 ). Séances, psychics, and sceptics Darwin excused himself for reasons of …
- … Erasmus’s house. The event was led by the medium Charles E. Williams, and was attended by George …
- … Williams was ‘a cheat and an imposter’ ( letter from T. H. Huxley, 27 January 1874 ). Darwin …
- … he was thus free to perform his antics’ ( letter to T. H. Huxley, 29 January [1874] ). This did …
- … allowed ‘a spirit séance’ at his home ( letter from T. G. Appleton, 2 April 1874 ). Back …
- … sweetly all the horrid bother of correction’ ( letter to H. E. Litchfield, 21 [March 1874] ). The …
- … I have pounded the enemy into a jelly’ ( letter from T. H. Huxley, 14 April 1874 ). The technical …
- … and never mind where it goes’ ( letter from T. H. Huxley, 16 April 1874 ). The second …
- … conciseness & clearness of your thought’ ( letter from G. H. Darwin, 20 April 1874 ). …
- … the spread of various mental and physical disorders (G. H. Darwin 1873b). In July 1874, an anonymous …
- … over the ‘scurrilous libel’ on his son ( letter to G. H. Darwin, [27 July 1874] ). George, …
- … scurrilous accusation of [a] lying scoundrel’ ( letter to G. H. Darwin, 1 August [1874] ). He …
- … with Murray on the outcome ( enclosure to letter from G. H. Darwin, 6 [August] 1874 ): …
- … direct to the Editor & it had been refused’ ( letter from G. H. Darwin, [6 or 7 August 1874] ) …
- … failure of observations in New Zealand (see G. B. Airy ed. 1881). Darwin’s third son Francis …
- … the subject & that must be enough for me’ ( letter to W. D. Fox, 11 May [1874] ). …
- … artificial gastric juice for about a week ( letter from E. E. Klein, 14 May 1874 ). John Burdon …

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: 25 hits
- … The year 1871 was an extremely busy and productive one for Darwin, seeing the publication of his …
- … book out of my head’. But a large proportion of Darwin’s time for the rest of the year was devoted …
- … way, and the initial reception of the book in the press. Darwin fielded numerous letters from …
- … offered sharp criticism or even condemnation. Darwin had expected controversy. ‘I shall be …
- … a bare-faced manner.”‘ The most lively debate centred on Darwin’s evolutionary account of the …
- … taste. Correspondence with his readers and critics helped Darwin to clarify, and in some cases …
- … year was the preparation of his manuscript on expression. Darwin continued to investigate the …
- … also brought a significant milestone for the family, as Darwin’s eldest daughter Henrietta was …
- … during several past years, has been a great amusement’. Darwin had been working fairly continuously …
- … work on species theory in the late 1830s. In recent years, Darwin had collected a wealth of material …
- … to human evolution was comparatively small, reflecting Darwin’s aim of showing kinship with animals …
- … he is “torn to pieces” by people wanting copies’, Darwin wrote to his son Francis on 28 February …
- … her liking, ‘to keep in memory of the book’ ( letter to H. E. Darwin, 20 March 1871 ). …
- … to be the truth, whether pleasant or not’ (letter from W. W. Reade, 21 February 1871). The geologist …
- … Oldham … They club together to buy them’ ( letter from W. B. Dawkins, 23 February 1871 ). Thomas …
- … . ancestor lived between tide-marks!’ ( letter from T. H. Huxley, 20 February 1871 ). Asa Gray …
- … to make it darker than the hair on his head ( letter from W. B. Tegetmeier, [before 25 April 1871] …
- … a high aesthetic appreciation of beauty ( letter from E. J. Pfeiffer, [before 26 April 1871] ). …
- … most deep and tender religious feeling’ ( letter from F. E. Abbot, 20 August 1871 ). The Anglican …
- … only the ‘most guarded expressions’ ( letter to St G. J. Mivart, 23 January [1871] ). …
- … Abraham Dee Bartlett, Albert Günther, George Busk, T. H. Huxley, Osbert Salvin, and William Henry …
- … and misquoting of both Darwin and Catholic theology (T. H. Huxley 1871). Huxley judged Mivart to be …
- … Popery and fear for his soul’ ( letter from T. H. Huxley and H. A. Huxley, 20 September 1871 ). …
- … who was ‘as good as twice refined gold’ ( letter to H. E. Litchfield, 4 September [1871] ). …
- … up to the last with quinine & sherry’ ( letter from H. E. Litchfield to Charles and Emma Darwin …

Darwin in letters, 1837–1843: The London years to 'natural selection'
Summary
The seven-year period following Darwin's return to England from the Beagle voyage was one of extraordinary activity and productivity in which he became recognised as a naturalist of outstanding ability, as an author and editor, and as a professional…
Matches: 25 hits
- … The seven-year period following Darwin's return to England from the Beagle voyage was one …
- … the publication of the Zoology of the voyage of H.M.S. Beagle , for which he described the …
- … a family Busy as he was with scientific activities, Darwin found time to re-establish family …
- … close contact. In November 1838, two years after his return, Darwin became engaged to his cousin, …
- … daughter, Anne Elizabeth, moved to Down House in Kent, where Darwin was to spend the rest of his …
- … his greatest theoretical achievement, the most important of Darwin’s activities during the years …
- … identifications of his bird and fossil mammal specimens, Darwin arrived at the daring and momentous …
- … in species. With this new theoretical point of departure Darwin continued to make notes and explore …
- … present in the version of 1859. Young author Darwin’s investigation of the species …
- … the Beagle had returned to England, news of some of Darwin’s findings had been spread by the …
- … great excitement. The fuller account of the voyage and Darwin’s discoveries was therefore eagerly …
- … suitable categories for individual experts to work upon, Darwin applied himself to the revision of …
- … third volume of the Narrative of the surveying voyage of H.M.S. Adventure and Beagle. Darwin’s …
- … and natural history of the various countries visited by H.M.S. Beagle . Also in November 1837, …
- … to the Society of 9 March 1838), had been developed by Darwin from a suggestion made by his uncle, …
- … the publication of the Zoology of the voyage of H.M.S. Beagle from February 1838 to October 1843 …
- … Fossil Mammalia , by Richard Owen; Mammalia , by G. R. Waterhouse; Birds , by John Gould; …
- … variety of publications. The beetles were described by F. W. Hope, G. R. Waterhouse, and C. C. …
- … distribution and classification (see Henslow 1837a and 1838; W. J. Hooker and G. A. W. Arnott 1836, …
- … Lyell’s sister-in-law, Katharine Lyell, between 1875 and 1881, when she was collecting material for …
- … convince anyone that he had a sound solution to what J. F. W. Herschel in a letter to Lyell had …
- … clearly under sub-laws.039; To his cousin, W. D. Fox, [25 January 1841] , he wrote: & …
- … on the practice of systematists. As the correspondence with G. R. Waterhouse during the 1840s shows, …
- … the same, though I know what I am looking for039; ( Letter to G. R. Waterhouse, [26 July 1843] ) …
- … to Caroline Darwin, 13 October 1834 , and letter from R. E. Alison, 25 June 1835 ). Henry …
People featured in the German and Austrian photograph album
Summary
Biographical details of people from the Habsburg Empire that appeared in the album of German and Austrian scientists sent to Darwin on 12 February 1877. We are grateful to Johannes Mattes for providing these details and for permission to make his…
Matches: 11 hits
- … in the album of German and Austrian scientists sent to Darwin on 12 February 1877. We are …
- … p. 9. N.N.: Die Spielhölle in der Kärntnerstraße. In: Neues Wiener Blatt 270 (2 nd …
- … official ( Oberhüttenverwalter ) in Idrija. E. Tietze: Jahresbericht für 1912. In: …
- … Gesellschaft in Wien 65, 1915. p. 321–328. G. B. de Toni: Albert Grunow. In: Annalen des …
- … he became commander of the uniform depot in Brno (ca. 1881) and moved back to Vienna after …
- … Akademie in Vienna and published the books “Darwin und der Darwinismus” (1869) and “Leitfaden der …
- … See name register . Jeitteles, L. H. See name register . …
- … member of the Imperial Academy of Sciences (1892). W. Kühnelt: Marenzeller Emil von. In: …
- … Tagblatt 335 (6 th December) 1924. p. 9. H. Leitner: Bericht des Generalsekretärs in …
- … of the Zoological-Botanical Society in Vienna. W. Heß: Rogenhofer, Alois. In: Allgemeine …
- … at the Technical College in Vienna, extraordinary professor (1881), full professor (1884) and …
People featured in the Dutch photograph album
Summary
Here is a list of people that appeared in the photograph album Darwin received for his birthday on 12 February 1877 from scientific admirers in the Netherlands. Many thanks to Hester Loeff for identifying and researching them. No. …
People featured in the Dutch photograph album
Summary
List of people appearing in the photograph album Darwin received from scientific admirers in the Netherlands for his birthday on 12 February 1877. We are grateful to Hester Loeff for providing this list and for permission to make her research available.…
Matches: 4 hits
- … List of people appearing in the photograph album Darwin received from scientific admirers in …
- … Died just a few months after the album was sent to Charles Darwin at the age of 53 …
- … Geologist, Economist an Darwinist. Corresponded with Darwin and translated The descent of Man in …
- … 13 August 1816 Rauwerd 6 December 1881 Den Haag …