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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: 11 hits

  • …   On 6 March 1868, Darwin wrote to the entomologist and accountant John Jenner Weir, ‘If any
  • and sexual selection. In  Origin , pp. 8790, Darwin had briefly introduced the concept of
  • or in satisfying female preference in the mating process. In a letter to Alfred Russel Wallace in
  • to the stridulation of crickets. At the same time, Darwin continued to collect material on
  • and his immediate circle of friends and relations. In July 1868 Darwin was still anticipating that
  • which was devoted to sexual selection in the animal kingdom. Darwin described his thirst for
  • as early as 1865, the two-volume work appeared in January 1868. A final delay caused by the indexing
  • would be a great loss to the Book’. But Darwins 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 ). …
  • if I try to read a few pages feel fairly nauseated’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 3 February [1868] ). …
  • and had himself watched elephants cry (letters to W. E. Darwin, [15 March 1868] and 8 April

Darwin’s queries on expression

Summary

When Darwin resumed systematic research on emotions around 1866, he began to collect observations more widely and composed a list of queries on human expression. A number of handwritten copies were sent out in 1867 (see, for example, letter to Fritz Muller…

Matches: 26 hits

  • When Darwin resumed systematic research on emotions around 1866, he began to collect
  • handwritten copies were sent out in 1867 (see, for example, letter to Fritz Muller, 22 February
  • was the collection of observations on a global scale. Darwin was especially interested in peoples
  • cultural and conventional, or instinctive and universal. Darwin used his existing correspondence
  • and with the mouth a little drawn back at the corners?” Darwins questionnaire was an extension of
  • was also carefully devised so as to prevent the feelings of Darwins remote observers from colouring
  • in Ceylon, wrote the botanist George Thwaites on 22 July 1868 , “all endeavour to drill their
  • Scottish botanist John Scott wrote from Calcutta, 4 May 1868 : “Shame isexpressed by an
  • Correspondence about Darwins Questionnaire (click on the letter dates to see the individual letters
  • Correspondent Letter date Location
  • Africa)? ] mentioned in JPM Weale letter, but Bowker's answers not found
  • Fuegians Brooke, C.A.J. 30 Nov 1870
  • Dyaks Brooke, C.A.J. 30 April 1871
  • Bulmer, J 13 Aug 1868 [Gipps Land, nr. Flemington? …
  • Bunnett, Templeton 13 Aug 1868 Echuca, Australia
  • Woolston, Southampton, England letter to W.E. Darwin shrugging
  • Square W London, England enclosed in a letter from Henry Maudsley
  • Unknown? comments from A.D. Bartlett and S. Sutton
  • Darwin, W.E. [after 29 March 1868] Chester Place, …
  • Darwin, W.E. [7? April 1868] Southampton, England
  • Darwin, W.E. [22? April 1868] Southampton, England
  • South Africa possibly included in letter from Mansel Weale
  • Peradeniya, Ceylon enclosed in letter from G.H.K. Thwaites
  • Egypt] possibly included in letter(s) from Asa Gray Nile
  • aborigines Lubbock, E.F. [1867-8?] …
  • from Dr. C. Browne Meyer, A.B. 25 April

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: 16 hits

  • … |  Editors and critics  |  Assistants Darwins correspondence helps bring to light a
  • Observers Women: Letter 1194 - Darwin to Whitby, M. A. T., [12 August
  • silkworm breeds, or peculiarities in inheritance. Letter 3787 - Darwin, H. E. to
  • 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
  • to Darwins queries about Expression during a trip to Egypt. Letter 7223
  • Letter 5817 - Darwin to Huxley, T. H., [30 January 1868] Darwin asks Thomas Huxley to
  • 6535 - Vaughan Williams , M. S. to Darwin, H. E., [after 14 October 1869] Darwins
  • Letter 8611 - Cupples, A. J. to Darwin, E., [8 November1872] Anne Jane Cupples, …
  • her nieces ears. Letter 8701 - Lubbock, E. F . to Darwin, [1873] Ellen
  • 6453 - Langton, E. to Wedgwood, S. E., [9 November 1868] Darwins nephew, Edmund, …
  • … - Langton, E. & C. to Wedgwood S. E., [after 9 November 1868] Darwins nephews, Edmund
  • Letter 6139  - Doubleday, H. to Darwin, [22 April 1868] Doubleday responds to Darwins
  • Letter 6046  - Weir, J. J. to Darwin, [24 March 1868] John Weir describes experiments
  • Letter 6083  - Casparay, J. X. R. to Darwin, [2 April 1868] Casparay details his

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: 22 hits

  • kingdom , published on 10 November 1876, was the result of a decade-long project to provide
  • on plants with two or three different forms of flowers, Darwin had focused on the anatomical and
  • of different forms of pollen. Although many plants that Darwin observed had flowers with adaptations
  • rates, growth, and constitutional vigour. Although Darwin was no stranger to long months and years
  • … … is highly remarkableIn September 1866, Darwin announced to the American botanist
  • several years ( To Édouard Bornet, 1 December 1866 ). Darwin began a series of experiments, …
  • … ( To Edouard Bornet, 20 August [1867] ). It was only after a new season of experiments that Darwin
  • access to flowers was only the tip of the iceberg. Darwin next focused on the California
  • unnoticed, had it existed in all individuals of such a common garden plant. Perhaps in the case of
  • conditions’ ( From Fritz Müller, 1 December 1866 ). Darwins interest was piqued and he described
  • when self-fertilised, although fewer than crossed plants. Darwin sent some of these seeds to Müller, …
  • to produce capsules’ ( To Fritz Müller, 30 January [1868] ). Müller, in turn, sent seeds from his
  • generations. In June 1869, Müller remarked, on receiving a new batch of seeds from Darwin, ‘that it
  • 17 March [1867] ). He noted another factor in a letter to Gray, remarking, ‘I am going on with my
  • produced by the former ( From Robert Caspary, 18 February 1868 ). Darwin eagerly requested seed
  • their power of growth’ ( To Robert Caspary, 25 February [1868] ).  By this time he had already
  • … (Variation 2: 128-9), which was published on 30 January 1868. In April 1868, Darwin informed
  • quite intelligible to me’ ( To George Bentham, 22 April 1868 ). A month later, he had another set
  • taken from the same plant!’ ( To JDHooker, 21 May [1868] ) Pollen tubes, or rapidly elongating
  • he told Müller ( To Fritz Müller, 28 November 1868 ). In March 1869, Müller reported results of
  • … [1873] ). In September, Darwin wrote a long letter to Nature commenting on a seemingly
  • ARWallace, 13 December 1876 ). No reply to this letter has been found, but Darwin had long

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: 16 hits

  • … Female readership | Reading Variation Darwin's letters, in particular those …
  • … that his views are original and will appeal to the public. Darwin asks Murray to forward the …
  • … proofread and edited by “a lady”. Darwin, E. to Darwin, W. E. , (March 1862 - DAR 219.1 …
  • … 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, …
  • Letter 8611 - Cupples, A. J. to Darwin, E., [8 November 1872] Ann Cupples asks …
  • … readership Letter 5391 - Becker, L. E. to Darwin, [6 February 1867] …
  • … Society . Letter 6551 - Becker, L. E . to Darwin, [13 January 1869] …
  • Letter 5861 - Blyth, E. to Darwin, [11 February 1868] Zoologist Edward Blyth sends …
  • Letter 5928 - Gray, A. to Darwin, [25 February 1868] American naturalist Asa Gray …
  • Letter 6040 - Haeckel, E. P. A. to Darwin, [23 March 1868] Haeckel informs Darwin …
  • Letter 6110 - Samuelson, J. to Darwin, [10 April 1868] James Samuel, editor of …
  • Letter 6126 - Binstead, C. H. to Darwin, [17 April 1868] Charles Binstead, “an …
  • Letter 6237 - Bullar, R. to Darwin, [9 June 1868] Rosa Bullar reports a case of a …

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,…

Matches: 6 hits

  • … [1–23 July 1841] William Hopkins's comments on a compass diagram designed to show the …
  • … of the fish and hence of all higher vertebrates,  23 March 1868 Roland Trimen on the …
  • … 1872 CD asks G. C. Wallich for the negative of a photograph of smiling girl (enclosed) and …
  • … containing bud samples,  12 May 1878 G. H. Darwin's drawings of  Thalia dealbata  …
  • … 1879 Anthony Rich's description of the movement of a caterpillar,  1 July 1879 …
  • … of germination in Megarrhiza californica , enclosed in a letter from Asa Gray,   4 April 1880 …

Religion

Summary

Design|Personal Belief|Beauty|The Church Perhaps the most notorious realm of controversy over evolution in Darwin's day was religion. The same can be said of the evolution controversy today; however the nature of the disputes and the manner in…

Matches: 20 hits

  • … the most notorious realm of controversy over evolution in Darwin's day was religion. The same …
  • … nineteenth century were different in important ways. Many of Darwin's leading supporters were …
  • … their religious beliefs with evolutionary theory. Darwin's own writing, both in print and …
  • … although he tended to avoid the subject as much as possible. A number of correspondents tried to …
  • … political contexts. Design Darwin was not the first to challenge …
  • … on the controversial topic of design. The first is between Darwin and Harvard botanist Asa Gray, …
  • … everything is the result of “brute force”. Letter 2855 — Darwin, C. R. to Gray, Asa, 3 …
  • … Gray and tells him Origin has “stirred up the mud with a vengeance”; Gray and three or four …
  • … nature, as he is in a “muddle” on this issue. Letter 3256 — Darwin, C. R. to Gray, Asa, …
  • … shares a witty thought experiment about an angel. Letter 3342 — Darwin, C. R. to Gray, …
  • Letter 6167 — Darwin, C. R. to Gray, Asa, 8 May [1868] Darwin writes to Gray about his review …
  • … He can give me.” Letter 5303 — Boole, M. E. to Darwin, C. R., 13 Dec 1866 In this …
  • Letter 5307 — Darwin, C. R. to Boole, M. E., 14 Dec 1866 Darwin believes he is unable to …
  • Letter 8070 — Darwin, C. R. to Abbot, F. E., 16 Nov [1871] Darwin explains why he must …
  • Letter 12757 — Darwin, C. R. to Aveling, E. B., 13 Oct 1880 In this letter marked “private”, …
  • … Future Plans Letter 182 — Darwin, E. A. to Darwin, C. R., 18 Aug [1832] Darwin’s …
  • … 6223 — Horsman, S. J. H. to Darwin, C. R., 2 June [1868] Horsman attempts to convince Darwin …
  • Letter 6241 — Innes, J. B. to Darwin, C. R., 13 June 1868 J. B. Innes, vicar of Down writes …
  • Letter 6486 — Darwin, C. R. to Innes, J. B., 1 Dec 1868 Darwin writes to J. B. Innes, vicar …
  • Letter 6492 — Innes, J. B. to Darwin, C. R., 4 Dec 1868 J. B. Innes, vicar of Down provides …

Darwin in letters, 1869: Forward on all fronts

Summary

At the start of 1869, Darwin was hard at work making changes and additions for a fifth edition of  Origin. He may have resented the interruption to his work on sexual selection and human evolution, but he spent forty-six days on the task. Much of the…

Matches: 18 hits

  • At the start of 1869, Darwin was hard at work making changes and additions for a fifth edition of  …
  • appeared at the end of 1866 and had told his cousin William Darwin Fox, ‘My work will have to stop a
  • views on all points will have to be modified.— Well it is a beginning, & that is something’ ( …
  • material on emotional expression. Yet the scope of Darwins interests remained extremely broad, and
  • plants, and earthworms, subjects that had exercised Darwin for decades, and that would continue to
  • Carl von  Nägeli and perfectibility Darwins most substantial addition to  Origin  was a
  • principal engine of change in the development of species. Darwin correctly assessed Nägelis theory
  • in most morphological features (Nägeli 1865, p. 29). Darwin sent a manuscript of his response (now
  • made any blunders, as is very likely to be the case’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 13 January 1869 ). …
  • are & must be morphological’. The comment highlights Darwins apparent confusion about Nägelis
  • than I now see is possible or probable’ (see also letter to A. R. Wallace, 22 January [1869] , …
  • is strengthened by the facts in distribution’ ( letter to James Croll, 31 January [1869] ). Darwin
  • tropical species using Crolls theory. In the same letter to Croll, Darwin had expressed
  • a very long period  before  the Cambrian formation’ ( letter to James Croll31 January [1869] …
  • data to go by, but dont think we have got that yet’ ( letter from James Croll, 4 February 1869 ). …
  • on the German translation of  Variation  (Carus trans. 1868). The French translation proved
  • the French edition of  Variation  (Moulinié trans. 1868), and CD now extended his permission for
  • Scientific Opinion , launched towards the end of 1868, was one of several periodicals begun in

Controversy

Summary

The best-known controversies over Darwinian theory took place in public or in printed reviews. Many of these were highly polemical, presenting an over-simplified picture of the disputes. Letters, however, show that the responses to Darwin were extremely…

Matches: 23 hits

  • … the disputes. Letters, however, show that the responses to Darwin were extremely variable. Many of …
  • … sharp theoretical differences with him; on the other hand, a number of his public critics assisted …
  • … and support sustained in spite of enduring differences. Darwin's correspondence can thus help …
  • … Disagreement and Respect Darwin rarely engaged with critics publically. Letters exchanged …
  • … Richard Owen, the eminent comparative anatomist, show how Darwin tried to manage strong disagreement …
  • … were less severe, the relationship quickly deteriorated and Darwin came to regard him as a bitter …
  • … that he has contacted his publisher John Murray to send him a copy of Origin . Darwin’s …
  • … but he assures Sedgwick he does not send his book out of a spirit of bravado, but a want of respect. …
  • … “grand principle natural selection ” is “but a secondary consequence of supposed, or known, …
  • … of brotherly love and as his true-hearted friend. Letter 2555 — Darwin, C. R. to …
  • … of his book. He is grieved “to have shocked a man whom I sincerely honour”. He mentions that he has …
  • … classes of facts”. Darwin and Owen Letter 2526 — Owen, Richard to Darwin, C. …
  • … the nature of such influences as “heterodox”. Letter 2575 — Darwin, C. R. to Lyell, …
  • … his book “the law of higgledy-piggledy”. Letter 2580 — Darwin, C. R. to Owen, Richard, …
  • … his views now depends on men eminent in science. Letter 2767 — Darwin, C. R. to Gray, …
  • Letter 5500 — Darwin, C. R. to Haeckel, E. P. A., 12 Apr [1867] Darwin is sympathetic to …
  • … the attacked person. Letter 5533 — Haeckel, E. P. A. to Darwin, C. R., 12 May 1867 …
  • Letter 6024 — Wallace, A. R. to Darwin, C. R., 19 Mar 1868 Wallace writes to Darwin with a …
  • Letter 6033 — Darwin, C. R. to Wallace, A. R., [21 Mar 1868] Darwin lets Wallace know he has …
  • Letter 6045 — Wallace, A. R. to Darwin, C. R., 24 Mar [1868] Wallace returns George Darwin’s …
  • Letter 6058 — Darwin, C. R. to Wallace, A. R., 27 Mar [1868] Darwin writes to Wallace saying …
  • Letter 6095 — Darwin, C. R. to Wallace, A. R., 6 Apr [1868] Darwin writes to Wallace on the …
  • Letter 6104 — Wallace, A. R. to Darwin, C. R., 8 [Apr] 1868 Wallace says if Darwin is not …

Darwin in letters,1870: Human evolution

Summary

The year 1870 is aptly summarised by the brief entry Darwin made in his journal: ‘The whole of the year at work on the Descent of Man & Selection in relation to Sex’.  Descent was the culmination of over three decades of observations and reflections on…

Matches: 16 hits

  • The year 1870 is aptly summarised by the brief entry Darwin made in his journal: ‘The whole of the
  • in relation to Sex’. Always precise in his accounting, Darwin reckoned that he had started writing
  • gathered on each of these topics was far more extensive than Darwin had anticipated. As a result,  …
  • and St George Jackson Mivart, and heated debates sparked by Darwins proposed election to the French
  • Lyell, ‘thank all the powers above & below, I shall be a man again & not a horrid grinding
  • anything which has happened to me for some weeks’  ( letter to Albert Günther, 13 January [1870] ) …
  • corrections of style, the more grateful I shall be’  ( letter to H. E. Darwin, [8 February 1870] ) …
  • eighteen years of age. Darwin clearly expected her to make a considerable contribution, instructing
  • He worried that parts of the book weretoo like a Sermon: who wd ever have thought that I shd. turn
  • abt any thing so unimportant as the mind of man!’ ( letter from H. E. Darwin, [after 8 February
  • looking exclusively into his own mind’, and himself, ‘a degraded wretch looking from the outside
  • how metaphysics & physics form one great philosophy?’ ( letter from F. P. Cobbe, 28 March [1870
  • side of human descent. On 7 March 1870, Darwin made a note on the shape of human ears: ‘W. has seen
  • the folded margin. Darwin, who had posed for the sculptor in 1868, an experience he described as
  • in thanks for the drawing ( Correspondence  vol. 16, letter to J. D. Hooker, 26 November [1868] …
  • attending college lectures for the time being ( letter to [E.W. Blore], [October 1870 or later] ). …

Darwin in letters, 1879: Tracing roots

Summary

Darwin spent a considerable part of 1879 in the eighteenth century. His journey back in time started when he decided to publish a biographical account of his grandfather Erasmus Darwin to accompany a translation of an essay on Erasmus’s evolutionary ideas…

Matches: 15 hits

  • There are summaries of all Darwin's letters from the year 1879 on this website.  The full texts
  • 27 of the print edition of The correspondence of Charles Darwin , published by Cambridge
  • the sensitivity of the tips. Despite this breakthrough, when Darwin first mentioned the book to his
  • Darwin, despite his many blessings, was finding old agea dismal time’ ( letter to Henry Johnson, …
  • old age, which creeps slily upon one, like moss upon a tree, and wrinkles one all over like a baked
  • itself, or gone some other way round?’ At least the last letter of 1879 contained a warmer note and
  • office to complete Horaces marriage settlement ( letter from W. M. Hacon, 31 December 1879 ). …
  • … & would please Francis’, he pointed out ( letter from E. A. Darwin, 13 March [1879 ]). …
  • thoughtperfect in every way’ ( letter from E. A. Wheler, 25 March 1879 ). She suggested that
  • … … neither cross nor ennuied’ (Emma Darwin to W. E. Darwin, [4 August 1879] (DAR 219.1: 125)). Darwin
  • and Farrer had corresponded on scientific topics since 1868 and after Farrers second marriage to
  • say that he has opposed it’ (letter from Emma Darwin to W. E. Darwin, [4 August 1879] (DAR 219.1: …
  • get home ‘& began drumming at once’ (Emma Darwin to H. E. Litchfield, [27 August 1879] (DAR 219
  • it dominated the picture (letter from Emma Darwin to H. E. Litchfield, [17 July 1879] (DAR 219.9: …
  • men of science quarrelled (letter from Emma Darwin to W. E. Darwin, [6 September 1879] (DAR 219.1: …

Natural Science and Femininity

Summary

Discussion Questions|Letters A conflation of masculine intellect and feminine thoughts, habits and feelings, male naturalists like Darwin inhabited an uncertain gendered identity. Working from the private domestic comfort of their homes and exercising…

Matches: 15 hits

  • Discussion Questions | Letters A conflation of masculine intellect and feminine
  • feminine powers of feeling and aesthetic appreciation, Darwin and his male colleagues struggled to
  • Britain? Letters Letter 109 - Wedgwood, J. to Darwin, …
  • pursuit of real, professional work on his return. Letter 158 - Darwin to Darwin, R. W., …
  • colour andbeautyof tropical vegetation. Letter 542 - Darwin to Wedgwood, C. S., [27
  • are as alikeas two peasand his work fits neatly into a broader domestic routine made up of meals
  • the development of his two-month-oldanimalcule of a son", William. Darwins roles as father
  • in Expression and in an 1877 article titled, ‘ A Biographical Sketch of an Infant ’. …
  • them in the north-facing borders of his garden. Letter 2864 - Darwin to Hooker, J. D., …
  • andnever saw anything so beautiful”. Letter 4230 - Darwin to GardenersChronicle, [2
  • had gathered and brought into the house immediately after a rain storm. Here, Darwins scientific
  • Letter 6044 - Darwin to Darwin, G. H., [24 March 1868] Darwin relays his discussion with
  • Letter 6046 - Weir, J. J. to Darwin, [24 March 1868] John Weir describes experiments he
  • Letter 6139 - Doubleday, H. to Darwin, [22 April 1868] Doubleday details his experiments
  • conducted in his home. Letter 6453 - Langton, E. to Wedgwood, S. E., [9 November 1868] …

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: 18 hits

  • The story of Charles Darwins involvement with the church is one that is told far too rarely. It
  • religion. His local activities in the village of Down paint a fascinating picture of a man who, …
  • were comparatively small, well-educated, and allowed for a greater variance of belief (and doubt) …
  • the necessary studies to be a clergyman. During Darwins 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, Darwins Cambridge mentorJohn Stevens
  • … & I can see it even through a grove of Palms.—’ (letter to Caroline Darwin, 256 April [1832] …
  • wrote to the contrary: ‘I am sorry to see in your last letter that you still look forward to the
  • near the British Museum or some other learned place’ (letter from E. A. Darwin, 18 August [1832] …
  • it is a sort of scene I never ought to think about—’ (letter to W. D. Fox, [912 August] 1835 ). …
  • from the late 1830s, and in correspondence with his fiancéeEmma Wedgwood, in 1838 and 1839, as can
  • However, what remains is cordial; in the first extant letter of the correspondence, Darwin wrote to
  • … (a local charity), which he administered from 1848 to 1869 (letter to J. B. Innes, [8 May 1848] …
  • a cow and a red deer (letter from J. B. Innes, 7 December 1868 ). Innes had a tendency to tease
  • he left behind (letter from S. J. OH. Horsman, 2 June [1868] ). Among the reasons justifying his
  • the churchs organ fund (letter to J. B. Innes, 15 June [1868] ). So embroiled in this process
  • the Down parish church (letter to J. B. Innes, 1 December 1868 ). Darwin wrote of the next
  • Victorian clergy. London: Croom Helm. Keppel, T. E. 1887. The country parson as he was, and as

Scientific Networks

Summary

Friendship|Mentors|Class|Gender In its broadest sense, a scientific network is a set of connections between people, places, and things that channel the communication of knowledge, and that substantially determine both its intellectual form and content,…

Matches: 12 hits

  • … | Class | Gender In its broadest sense, a scientific network is a set of connections
  • and colonial authorities. In the nineteenth-century, letter writing was one of the most important
  • Bonds of friendship were very important in science in a period when strong institutional structures
  • in times of uncertainty, controversy, or personal loss. Letter writing was not only a means of
  • section contains two sets of letters. The first is between Darwin and his friend Kew botanist J. D. …
  • and he is curious about Hookers thoughts. Letter 729Darwin, C. R. to Hooker, J. D., …
  • not immutable. He admits to Hookerit is like confessing a murder”. Letter 736 — …
  • wide-ranging genera. Darwin and Gray Letter 1674Darwin, C. R. to Gray, …
  • and questions Gray on the alpine flora of the USA. He sends a list of plants from Grays Manual of
  • and relationships of alpine flora in the USA. Letter 2125Darwin, C. R. to Gray, Asa, …
  • Letter 5770Müller, H. L. H. to Darwin, C. R., Jan [1868] Müller thanks Darwin for his
  • … . Letter 4260aDarwin, C. R. to Becker, L. E., 2 Aug [1863] Darwin thanks Lydia

Darwin in letters, 1863: Quarrels at home, honours abroad

Summary

At the start of 1863, Charles Darwin was actively working on the manuscript of The variation of animals and plants under domestication, anticipating with excitement the construction of a hothouse to accommodate his increasingly varied botanical experiments…

Matches: 14 hits

  • At the start of 1863, Charles Darwin was actively working on the manuscript of  The variation of
  • … , anticipating with excitement the construction of a hothouse to accommodate his increasingly varied
  • am languid & bedeviled … & hate everybody’. Although Darwin did continue his botanical
  • the correspondence from the year. These letters illustrate Darwins preoccupation with the
  • Evidence as to mans place in nature  both had a direct bearing on Darwins species theory and on
  • fromsome Quadrumanum animal’, as he put it in a letter to J. D. Hooker of 24[–5] February [1863] …
  • detailed anatomical similarities between humans and apes, Darwin was full of praise. He especially
  • … ‘I declare I never in my life read anything grander’ ( letter to T. H. Huxley, 26 [February 1863] …
  • than  Origin had (see  Correspondence  vol. 8, letter to Charles Lyell, 10 January [1860] ). …
  • seen how indignant all Owens lies and mean conduct about E. Columbi made me… . The case is come to
  • Copley Medal had been unsuccessful ( see letter from E. A. Darwin to Emma Darwin, 11 November [1863
  • Primula  crosses, the results of which were published in 1868 ( see letter to John Scott, 25 and
  • the bookcase and around the head of the sofa ( letter to W. E. Darwin, [25 July 1863], and
  • months. However, the two-volume work was not published until 1868. Roping in the family

Referencing women’s work

Summary

Darwin's correspondence shows that women made significant contributions to Darwin's work, but whether and how they were acknowledged in print involved complex considerations of social standing, professional standing, and personal preference.…

Matches: 14 hits

  • Darwin's correspondence shows that women made significant contributions to Darwin's work, …
  • … Animal intelligence referred to the contributions of 'a young lady, who objects to her name …
  • … work are referenced throughout Variation . Letter 2395 - Darwin to Holland, …
  • … her identity is both anonymised and masculinised. Letter 3316 - Darwin to Nevill, D …
  • … Darwin’s Fertilisation of Orchids . Letter 4038 - Darwin to Lyell, C., …
  • … have felt uncomfortable about being acknowledged publicly as a science critic. Letter
  • … are identified only as “friends in Surrey”. Letter 4794 - Darwin to Lyell, C., [25 …
  • … Sir C. Lyell” or received from “Miss. B”. Letter 7060 - Wedgwood, F. J. to …
  • … was referenced in the final publication. Letter 7223 - Darwin to Wedgwood, L. C …
  • … are not cited in Expression . Letter 5817 - Darwin to Huxley, T. H., …
  • … by numerous women of their infants are not referenced in a section of Expression on ‘the …
  • … was novelist Elizabeth Gaskell for her description of a crying baby in Mary Barton. …
  • … Mould and Earthworms but she was identified only as “a lady, on whose accuracy I can implicitly …
  • … . Letter 12745 - Darwin to Wedgwood, K. E. S., [8 October 1880] Darwin …

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: 18 hits

  • the sheer volume of his correspondence indicates, 1862 was a particularly productive year for Darwin
  • promotion of his theory of natural selection also continued: Darwins own works expanded on it, …
  • not think you are conceited, but really I do think you have a good right to be so’ ( letter from J. …
  • such view will ultimately prevail Still taking a keen interest in the progress of his
  • condition in  Primulaand  Orchids ; it suffered a further setback when illness struck the
  • of the Scottish press hissed). Huxley, while advocating Darwins theory, had again espoused the view
  • experimental production of newphysiologicalspecies. Darwin attempted to dissuade him from this
  • partially sterile together. He failed. Huxley replied ( letter from T. H. Huxley, 20 January 1862
  • delivered a series of lectures to working men that reviewed Darwins theory, and sent copies to
  • 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] ): …
  • son, William, his language was more blunt ( letter to W. E. Darwin, 14 February [1862] ): ‘whether
  • French Translation will appear very soon’ ( letter to C. E. Brown-Séquard, 2 January [1862] ). …
  • Bronn died suddenly from a heart attack ( see letter from E. Schweizerbartsche Verlagsbuchhandlung
  • and Emmaperplexed to death what to do’ ( letter to W. E. Darwin, [23 August 1862] ). They
  • work would make his lifemuch happier’ ( letter to W. E. Darwin, 14 February [1862] ). Darwin

Species and varieties

Summary

On the origin of species by means of natural selection …so begins the title of Darwin’s most famous book, and the reader would rightly assume that such a thing as ‘species’ must therefore exist and be subject to description. But the title continues, …or…

Matches: 19 hits

  • by means of natural selectionso begins the title of Darwins most famous book, and the reader
  • especially to the modern reader, for whom race carries a different and highly charged meaning. In
  • under the lists of books he wanted to read (DAR 119: 2v), Darwin scribbled a reminder to himself in
  • ancient’. He never got around to reading Aristotle beyond a few extracts, until shortly before his
  • Aristotle on the parts of animals (Ogle trans. 1882). Darwin would have found that Aristotle
  • to the characterisation of things, and you have, in a nutshell, the two sides of a debate about the
  • to most subsequent attempts at systematising organisms until Darwin published his own taxonomic
  • world according to an artificial system; that is, he chose a specific group of structural features
  • other criteria. He was challenged by others who searched for a morenaturaltaxonomy that would
  • used to diagnose the place of an individual organism. Darwin himself did not set out to be a
  • over time. In the four volumes on the sub-class Cirripedia, Darwin maintained the distinction
  • … & yet all the genera have 1/2 a dozen synonyms’ ( letter to HE. Strickland, [4 February 1849] …
  • …   ‘To define the undefinableDarwin developed his theory of evolution by
  • and explicit in the work of contemporary naturalists. In a letter to his friend Joseph Hooker, he
  • I believe, from trying to define the undefinable’ ( letter to  JD. Hooker, 24 December [1856] ). …
  • a selected quality to keep incipient species distinct’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 12 [December 1862] …
  • selection ( Origin 4th ed., pp. 3236). However, by 1868, in The variation of animals and
  • discussion of the issue with Alfred Wallace in the spring of 1868. Wallace had sent a concise
  • tosay no more but leave the problem as insoluble’ ( letter from ARWallace, 8 [April] 1868 ). …

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: 18 hits

  • The year 1866 began well for Charles Darwin, as his health, after several years of illness, was now
  • Pound foolish, Penurious, Pragmatical Prigs’ ( letter from J. D. Hooker, [29 December 1866] ). But
  • …  ( Variation ). Although it was not published until 1868, all but the concluding chapter of the
  • hypothesis of hereditary transmission. Debate about Darwins theory of transmutation
  • of special creation on the basis of alleged evidence of a global ice age, while Asa Gray pressed
  • 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
  • work doing me any harmany how I cant be idle’ ( letter to W. D. Fox, 24 August [1866] ). …
  • production of which Tegetmeier had agreed to supervise ( letter to W. B. Tegetmeier, 16 January
  • D. Hooker, 24 December [1866] ). When finally published in 1868, it filled two lengthy volumes, …
  • after the startling apparition of your face at R.S. Soirèewhich I dreamed of 2 nights running. …
  • on those terms so you are in for it’ ( letter from H. E. Darwin, [  c . 10 May 1866] ). …
  • Georg Bronn, had been published in 1860 and 1863 by the firm E. Schweizerbartsche
  • wasmerely ordinaryly diœcious’ ( letter from W. E. Darwin, [7 May11 June 1866] ). On
  • a case of dimorphic becoming diœcious’ ( letter from W. E. Darwin, 20 June [1866] ). Darwin
  • I am well accustomed to such explosions’ ( letter to W. E. Darwin, 22 June [1866] ). He urged
  • indeed at poor Susans loneliness’ ( letter from E. C. Langton to Emma and Charles Darwin, [6 and 7

Darwin in letters, 1876: In the midst of life

Summary

1876 was the year in which the Darwins became grandparents for the first time.  And tragically lost their daughter-in-law, Amy, who died just days after her son's birth.  All the letters from 1876 are now published in volume 24 of The Correspondence…

Matches: 20 hits

  • The year 1876 started out sedately enough with Darwin working on the first draft of his book on the
  • games. ‘I have won, hurrah, hurrah, 2795 games’, Darwin boasted; ‘my wifepoor creature, has won
  • and cosseting regarding the ailments that were so much a feature of Darwin family life. But the calm
  • Cross and self fertilisation , that the family suffered a devastating loss. The Darwins must have
  • expected in September. Their joy at the safe delivery of a healthy boy was soon replaced by anguish
  • his anxiety about Francis. By the end of the year there was a different order at Down House with
  • Year's resolutions Darwin began the year by making a resolution. He would in future
  • quantity of workleft in him fornew matter’ (letter to Asa Gray, 28 January 1876). The
  • to a reprint of the second edition of Climbing plants ( letter from R. F. Cooke, 23 February
  • … & I for blundering’, he cheerfully observed to Carus. ( Letter to J. V. Carus, 24 April 1876. …
  • provided evidence for theadvantages of crossing’ (letter to Asa Gray, 28 January 1876). Revising
  • year to write about his life ( Correspondence vol. 23, letter from Ernst von Hesse-Wartegg, 20
  • nowadays is evolution and it is the correct one’ ( letter from Nemo, [1876?] ). …
  • himbaselyand who had succeeded in giving him pain ( letter to A. R. Wallace, 17 June 1876 ). …
  • expressed in the pangenesis hypothesis, first published in 1868 ( Variation 2: 357404). Others
  • we have & you are one of the best of all’ ( letter to W. E. Darwin, 11 September [1876] ). …
  • she confided to Henrietta (letter from Emma Darwin to H. E. Litchfield, [31 August 1876] (DAR 219.9: …
  • herself & is so tender’ (letter from Emma Darwin to W. E. Darwin, [13 September 1876] (DAR 210.6
  • completed autobiography (letter from Emma Darwin to W. E. Darwin, [13 September 1876] (DAR 210.6: …
  • horticulturists and agriculturists in France ( letter from E. M. Heckel, 27 December 1876 ). In
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