From Richard Trevor Clarke [after 25 November 1862]
Summary
Replies to CD’s inquiry about cross-breeds of strawberries [Collected papers 2: 70]. Has been crossing for years.
Author: | Richard Trevor Clarke |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | [after 25 Nov 1862] |
Classmark: | DAR 161.2: 166 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3829 |
To Asa Gray 26[–7] November [1862]
Summary
Discusses AG’s article ["Dimorphism", Am. J. Sci. 2d ser. 34 (1862): 419–20]. Does not like the terms "dioecio-dimorphism" or "precocious fertilisation". Discusses the separation of sexes in plants; cannot doubt that hermaphroditism is the aboriginal state.
Discusses AG’s observations on orchids and his review of Orchids [Am. J. Sci. 2d ser. 34 (1862): 138–51].
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Asa Gray |
Date: | 26[–7] Nov [1862] |
Classmark: | Gray Herbarium of Harvard University (50) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3830 |
From J. D. Hooker 26 November 1862
Summary
Returns Asa Gray letter. Gray has made a great blunder in his criticism of Oliver: he mistakes perpetuation of a variety for "propagation of variation". Confusion between "action of physical causes" and "effects of physical causes". Neither crossing nor natural selection has made so many divergent individuals, but simply variation. "If once you hold that natural selection can create a character your whole doctrine tumbles to the ground." CD’s failure to convey this, and the false doctrine that "like produces like" is at bottom of half the scientific infidelity to CD’s doctrine. There is something to the objection that CD has made a deus ex machina of natural selection since he neglects to dwell on the facts of infinite incessant variations.
Author: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 26 Nov 1862 |
Classmark: | DAR 101: 61–2, 77–8 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3831 |
To William Allport Leighton 26 November [1862]
Summary
For his work on dimorphism, CD asks WAL if he can send roots of two forms of Epilobium angustifolium. He doubts that they are reciprocally connected like the two forms of Primula, but will try the experiment.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | William Allport Leighton |
Date: | 26 Nov [1862] |
Classmark: | Milton D. Forsyth, Jr (private collection) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3832 |
From Robert Monsey Rolfe, Lord Cranworth 28 November 1862
Summary
Sends cheque to CD for Down parish charities.
Author: | Robert Monsey Rolfe, 1st Baron Cranworth of Cranworth |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 28 Nov 1862 |
Classmark: | DAR 161: 229 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3833 |
To J. D. Hooker [after 26] November [1862]
Summary
Discusses differences between Asa Gray’s view and his own on crossing. A common effect is the obliteration of incipient varieties. There is heavy evidence against new characters arising from crossing wild forms, "only intermediate races are then produced". Innate vital forces are somehow led to act differently as a result of direct effect of physical conditions. Astonished by JDH’s statement that every difference might have occurred without selection. CD agrees, but JDH’s manner of putting it astonished him. CD says, "think of each of a thousand seeds bringing forth its plant, and then each a thousand … I cannot even grapple with idea". Responds to JDH’s and Lyell’s feeling that he made too much of a deus ex machina out of natural selection. [Letter actually dated 20 Nov but is certainly after 3831.] [wrong field?]
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
Date: | [after 26] Nov [1862] |
Classmark: | DAR 115: 172 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3834 |
From Arthur Mellersh 30 November [1862]
Summary
He is going to S. America as captain of a ship. Offers to bring back fossils for CD and B. J. Sulivan.
He is going to domesticate the Patagonian bird "something like a guinea fowl" in Sussex. He shot the only Beagle specimen.
Author: | Arthur Mellersh |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 30 Nov [1862] |
Classmark: | DAR 171.1: 145 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3836 |
From R. T. Clarke [after 27 November 1862]
Summary
Sends strawberries.
Author: | Richard Trevor Clarke |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | [after 27 Nov 1862] |
Classmark: | DAR 161.2: 167 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3837 |
letter | (48) |
Darwin, C. R. | (48) |
Hooker, J. D. | (11) |
Gray, Asa | (6) |
Scott, John | (5) |
Bates, H. W. | (3) |