To Annals and Magazine of Natural History [December 1846]
Summary
Discusses enclosed MS of CD’s review [of G. R. Waterhouse, A natural history of the Mammalia, vol. 1 (1846); Collected papers 1: 214–17].
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Annals and Magazine of Natural History |
Date: | [Dec 1846] |
Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.56) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1000 |
To W. B. Carpenter [October–December 1846]
Summary
Asks for address of the artist who drew the sections exhibited by WBC at BAAS meeting in September. CD needs drawings of minute corallines, Articulata, and Mollusca.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | William Benjamin Carpenter |
Date: | [Oct–Dec 1846] |
Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1001 |
To Robert FitzRoy 1 October 1846
Summary
Has just heard of RF’s return [from New Zealand]. Hopes to see him.
CD and family are well, but he is a different man in strength and energy from when he was "Flycatcher" in the Beagle.
Has just finished his book [South America].
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Robert FitzRoy |
Date: | 1 Oct 1846 |
Classmark: | DAR 144: 119 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1002 |
To J. D. Hooker [2 October 1846]
Summary
Hopes to start looking over his species notes in about a year.
Very much enjoyed Southampton [meeting of BAAS, 9–12 Sept].
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
Date: | [2 Oct 1846] |
Classmark: | DAR 114: 65 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1003 |
To Charles Lyell [3 October 1846]
Summary
Discusses A. C. Ramsay’s article ["On the denudation of South Wales", Mem. Geol. Surv. G. B. 1 (1846)]. Mentions his own paper ["Volcanic phenomena in South America", Collected papers 1: 53–86]. Emphasises that sedimentary deposits are not ordinarily preserved.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Charles Lyell, 1st baronet |
Date: | [3 Oct 1846] |
Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.50) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1004 |
To J. S. Henslow [5 October 1846]
Summary
The third and last part of the Geology [South America] will be published in a few days. Apologises for not sending JSH the other volumes.
Has attended Southampton [BAAS] meeting.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Stevens Henslow |
Date: | [5 Oct 1846] |
Classmark: | DAR 93: A15–A16 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1005 |
To J. D. Hooker [6 October 1846]
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
Date: | [6 Oct 1846] |
Classmark: | DAR 114: 66 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1006 |
To J. D. Hooker [8 October 1846]
Summary
Can JDH bring a good book on Corallina or Nullipora of Lamarck?
CD intends writing paper on their propagation.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
Date: | [8 Oct 1846] |
Classmark: | DAR 114: 67 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1007 |
To A. C. Ramsay 10 October [1846]
Summary
Thanks ACR for paper and comments on it ["On the denudation of South Wales", Mem. Geol. Surv. G. B. 1 (1846): 297–335].
Sends copy of South America.
Discusses action of the sea.
Criticises ACR’s views on sudden elevation of mountain chains.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Andrew Crombie Ramsay |
Date: | 10 Oct [1846] |
Classmark: | Imperial College of Science, Technology, and Medicine Archives |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1008 |
To Leonard Jenyns 17 October [1846]
Summary
Comments on LJ’s Observations [in natural history (1846)].
Discusses variation among British birds, and the conflicting treatment of bird species by C. W. L. Gloger and C. L. Brehm.
Describes collecting incident of his student days involving Carabus.
Mentions squirrels eating insects.
Astonished to hear of terrestrial Planaria.
Comments on BAAS meeting in Southampton.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Leonard Jenyns; Leonard Blomefield |
Date: | 17 Oct [1846] |
Classmark: | Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1009 |
To Joseph Beete Jukes [18 October 1846]
Summary
Knows nothing about missing fossils collected by J. L. Stokes.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Joseph Beete Jukes |
Date: | [18 Oct 1846] |
Classmark: | University of Oklahoma Libraries History of Science Collections |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1010 |
To Smith, Elder & Co. [19 October 1846]
Summary
Objects to the stupid way a plate is bound into South America.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Smith, Elder & Co |
Date: | [19 Oct 1846] |
Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.51) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1011 |
To J. D. Hooker [26 October 1846]
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
Date: | [26 Oct 1846] |
Classmark: | DAR 114: 68 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1012 |
To Robert FitzRoy 28 October [1846]
Summary
Has read RF’s pamphlet on New Zealand [Remarks on New Zealand (1846)]. Sympathises with his difficulties as Governor.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Robert FitzRoy |
Date: | 28 Oct [1846] |
Classmark: | DAR 144: 120 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1014 |
To J. D. Hooker [18 October 1846]
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
Date: | [18 Oct 1846] |
Classmark: | DAR 114: 69 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1015 |
To Daniel Sharpe [1 November 1846]
Summary
Discusses foliation and cleavage. Comments on dip of cleavage laminae in mountains. Mentions views of Sedgwick and Studer. Suggests reading C. L. von Buch [Travels through Norway and Lapland (1813)] "as an amusement". Praises views of William Hopkins. Suggests reading paper by H. D. Rogers ["On cleavage of slate-strata", Edinburgh New Philos. J. 41 (1846): 422–3)]. Comments on the paper.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Daniel Sharpe |
Date: | [1 Nov 1846] |
Classmark: | The British Library (Add MS 37725: ff. 4–5) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1016 |
To J. L. Stokes 3 November 1846
Summary
CD’s note to Stokes [see 940] has been forwarded to George Grey; CD fears he may be offended. Asks how it could have happened.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Lort Stokes |
Date: | 3 Nov 1846 |
Classmark: | Auckland Public Library (Grey collection GL D8 (1)) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1017 |
To Daniel Sharpe [4 November 1846]
Summary
Supposes Sharpe does not want Von Buch’s tract, so sent Hopkins. Asks it be returned to CD at the Athenaeum Club.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Daniel Sharpe |
Date: | [4 Nov 1846] |
Classmark: | James Cummins, Bookseller (dealer) (December 2010) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1017F |
To J. D. Hooker [6 November 1846]
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
Date: | [6 Nov 1846] |
Classmark: | DAR 114: 70 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1018 |
From J. L. Stokes 6 November 1846
Summary
Is upset by what has happened [see 1017], but does not know how CD’s note reached Grey.
Author: | John Lort Stokes |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 6 Nov 1846 |
Classmark: | Auckland Public Library (Grey collection GL D8 (1)) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1019 |
letter | (109) |
Darwin, C. R. | (81) |
Hooker, J. D. | (8) |
Forbes, Edward | (3) |
Sowerby, G. B. | (3) |
Hopkins, William | (2) |
Hooker, J. D. | (29) |
Darwin, C. R. | (27) |
FitzRoy, Robert | (4) |
Owen, Richard | (3) |
Blomefield, Leonard | (2) |
Darwin, C. R. | (108) |
Hooker, J. D. | (37) |
FitzRoy, Robert | (4) |
Forbes, Edward | (3) |
Owen, Richard | (3) |

Darwin and working from home
Summary
Ever wondered how Darwin worked? As part of our For the Curious series of simple interactives, ‘Darwin working from home’ lets you explore objects from Darwin’s study and garden at Down House to learn how he worked and what he had to say about it. And not…
Matches: 1 hits
- … it . Charles Darwin to Robert FitzRoy, 1 October 1846 Darwin moved into Down …

Darwin and barnacles
Summary
In a letter to Henslow in March 1835 Darwin remarked that he had done ‘very little’ in zoology; the ‘only two novelties’ he added, almost as an afterthought, were a new mollusc and a ‘genus in the family Balanidæ’ – a barnacle – but it was an oddity. Who,…
Matches: 1 hits
- … he returned to the puzzling little creature in October 1846 , he planned only to write a paper on …

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: 1 hits
- … Edward Forbes's "Atlantis" theory, [25 February 1846] E. A. Darwin's …

Darwin’s reading notebooks
Summary
In April 1838, Darwin began recording the titles of books he had read and the books he wished to read in Notebook C (Notebooks, pp. 319–28). In 1839, these lists were copied and continued in separate notebooks. The first of these reading notebooks (DAR 119…
Matches: 24 hits
- … of the scientific books read from 1838 through 1846, but it was not kept up-to-date and contains …
- … 1845] (read) Keppells(?) voyage to Borneo [Keppel 1846] Life of David Hume— (new Edit) …
- … China [Bernard 1844]. The Emigrant, Head [F. B. Head 1846] St. John’s Highlands [C. W. …
- … out of Hort Soc. 39 Lindley Veg. Kingdom [Lindley 1846]. worth having, especially …
- … [G. Jones 1849]. Grote’s History of Greece [Grote 1846–56]. Miss. Martineau Society in …
- … in Nat. Hist in Knowsly. L d . Derby [J. E. Gray 1846–50] ( Royal. Soc ) many facts on breeding …
- … [Graba 1830] (read) Gardner’s Brazil [Gardner 1846] in Geolog Soc. 43 Lindley’s …
- … } praised by Chevreul [Chevreul 1846]. not in Hort Soc.— …
- … von Tschudi 1847] Gardners Travels in Brazil [Gardner 1846] North’s lives of L d . …
- … [Lamb 1837] (read) Feuerbaches Trials [Feuerbach 1846] Godwins Work & Life [Godwin …
- … Geolog. Soc. Paris Studies on Chalk F. of France [Archiac 1846].— Gresly Mem. of Helvetic Soc …
- … Canada [G. Head 1829] Grotes History of Greece [Grote 1846–56] Napiers Hist. of …
- … Martineau 1838b] Burtons Life of David Hume [Burton 1846] Society in America. Miss …
- … 1784–1818]. [DAR 119: 16a] 1845 & 1846 May 31. Strzelecki’s Australia …
- … —— the French in Algiers [Lamping 1845] 1846 Jan 10 th Mackintosh life of More …
- … Scot [Lockhart 1837–8] [DAR 119: 17a] 1846 Feb 12 th . Metzger …
- … —— 16 Bot. Reports. Ray. Soc. [Ray Society 1846] Nov. 12. Mem. of Geolog. Survey [ Memoirs …
- … Dec r . 1 Meyens Geography of Plants [Meyen 1846]. —— 12 th Metzger Kultiverten …
- … ] to end of Tom VI.— [DAR 119: 17b] 1846 Feb. 12. 1 & 2 vol. of …
- … [Carlyle 1845] May 5. Ray’s Memorials of [Ray 1846] —— 10 th The Falcon Family …
- … 16. Sir J. Mackintosh. Misc. Works. 3 vols: [Mackintosh 1846] Aug 10. Appendix to Carlyle’s …
- … two last vols: Oct 6. Livonian Tales [Rigby] 1846] —— Mahon Life of Great Condé …
- … 1797] Nov 1. Fichte’s Destination of Man [Fichte 1846] skimmed 14 th Wellington …
- … Dec 12 th The Emigrant by Sir F. B. Head [F. B. Head 1846] —— 16 th Burton’s Life of D. …

Barnacles
Summary
Sources|Discussion Questions|Experiment Darwin and barnacles Darwin’s interest in Cirripedia, a class of marine arthropods, was first piqued by the discovery of an odd burrowing barnacle, which he later named “Mr. Arthrobalanus," while he was…

Darwin in letters, 1844–1846: Building a scientific network
Summary
The scientific results of the Beagle voyage still dominated Darwin's working life, but he broadened his continuing investigations into the nature and origin of species. Far from being a recluse, Darwin was at the heart of British scientific society,…
Matches: 3 hits
Suggested reading
Summary
Contemporary writing Anon., The English matron: A practical manual for young wives, (London, 1846). Anon., The English gentlewoman: A practical manual for young ladies on their entrance to society, (Third edition, London, 1846). Becker, L. E.…
Darwin’s study of the Cirripedia
Summary
Darwin’s work on barnacles, conducted between 1846 and 1854, has long posed problems for historians. Coming between his transmutation notebooks and the Origin of species, it has frequently been interpreted as a digression from Darwin’s species work. Yet…
Matches: 4 hits
- … Darwin’s work on barnacles, conducted between 1846 and 1854, has long posed problems for historians. …
- … Such a revaluation had not been undertaken when, in 1846, Darwin began to examine several …
- … in Edinburgh with Grant (A. Desmond 1984; Sloan 1985). In 1846, at the start of his exploratory …
- … the lengthy abstract that he made of this essay in December 1846—prefaced by the statement, ‘—This …
Scientific Practice
Summary
Specialism|Experiment|Microscopes|Collecting|Theory Letter writing is often seen as a part of scientific communication, rather than as integral to knowledge making. This section shows how correspondence could help to shape the practice of science, from…
Matches: 1 hits
- … Letter 1018 — Darwin, C. R. to Hooker, J. D., [6 Nov 1846] Darwin tells Hooker, if he pays …

John Lort Stokes
Summary
John Lort Stokes, naval officer, was Charles Darwin’s cabinmate on the Beagle voyage – not always an enviable position. After Darwin’s death, Stokes penned a description of their evenings spent working at the large table at the centre, Stokes at his…

Bibliography of Darwin’s geological publications
Summary
This list includes papers read by Darwin to the Geological Society of London, his books on the geology of the Beagle voyage, and other publications on geological topics. Author-date citations refer to entries in the Darwin Correspondence Project’s…
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: 3 hits
- … physics and geology in Genève, Bern and Berlin (Dr., 1846). Habilitation in physics (1847) and …
- … Fidelis Alois Nußbaumer; his brother Johann Nußbaumer (b. 1846) was never president of the Academic …
- … an account of his and his brother’s (Johann Nußbaumer, b. 1846) experience of colour hearing in 1873 …

Charles Darwin’s letters: a selection 1825-1859
Summary
The letters in this volume span the years from 1825, when Darwin was a student at the University of Edinburgh, to the end of 1859, when the Origin of Species was published. The early letters portray Darwin as a lively sixteen-year-old medical student. Two…
Caroline Kennard
Summary
Kennard’s interest in science stemmed from her social commitments to the women's movement, her interests in nature study as a tool for educational reform, as well as her place in a tightly knit network of the Bostonian elite. Kennard was one of a…
Matches: 1 hits
- … Kennard (née Smith) was born in 1827 in New Hampshire. In 1846, she married Martin Perry Kennard …

Begins work on barnacles
Summary
Darwin begins an 8-year taxonomic study of barnacles
Matches: 1 hits
- … Darwin begins an 8-year taxonomic study of barnacles …

Living and fossil cirripedia
Summary
Darwin published four volumes on barnacles, the crustacean sub-class Cirripedia, between 1851 and 1854, two on living species and two on fossil species. Written for a specialist audience, they are among the most challenging and least read of Darwin’s works…
Matches: 1 hits
- … methodology of his predecessors. Background In 1846, Darwin switched focus from …
Dramatisation script
Summary
Re: Design – Adaptation of the Correspondence of Charles Darwin, Asa Gray and others… by Craig Baxter – as performed 25 March 2007
Matches: 1 hits
- … 1849 6 C DARWIN TO R FITZROY, 1 OCTOBER 1846 7 C DARWIN TO JD HOOKER …

Darwin in letters, 1847-1850: Microscopes and barnacles
Summary
Darwin's study of barnacles, begun in 1844, took him eight years to complete. The correspondence reveals how his interest in a species found during the Beagle voyage developed into an investigation of the comparative anatomy of other cirripedes 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. …

The geology of the Beagle voyage
Summary
The primary concern that linked much of Darwin’s geological work in the Beagle years was to understand the changing relation between the levels of land and sea. As he studied the shores of South America, and discovered shells inland at thousands of feet…
Matches: 1 hits
- … and Geological observations on South America (1846). …