To W. W. Baxter 11 December [1873–5?]
Summary
Requests hydrated magnesia.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | William Walmisley Baxter |
| Date: | 11 Dec [1873-5] |
| Classmark: | Bromley Historic Collections, Bromley Central Library (144/2) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13772G |
From Alfred Moschkau 2 [December] 1873
Summary
Discusses variation and selection in Harz canaries.
| Author: | Otto Carl Alfred (Alfred) Moschkau |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 2 [Dec] 1873 |
| Classmark: | DAR 171: 249 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-9125 |
To W. Thistleton-Dyer [December? 1873?]
Summary
Asks for Cassia plants.
What books could CD give R. I. Lynch to show his gratitude?
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | William Turner Thiselton-Dyer |
| Date: | [Dec? 1873?] |
| Classmark: | DAR 144: 402 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-9165 |
To T. H. Farrer 1 December [1873]
Summary
Suggests a reference to Annals and Magazine of Natural History, 1 Dec 1873, p. 497, when THF takes up Coronilla.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Thomas Henry Farrer, 1st baronet and 1st Baron Farrer |
| Date: | 1 Dec [1873] |
| Classmark: | Linnean Society of London (LS Ms 299/17a) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-9166 |
From T. L. Brunton 2 December 1873
Summary
Offers to experiment on the digestibility of chondrin and chlorophyll by Dionaea for CD.
Has noticed that painters depicting complex expressions give different expressions to the two sides of the face.
| Author: | Thomas Lauder Brunton, 1st baronet |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 2 Dec 1873 |
| Classmark: | DAR 160: 337 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-9167 |
To T. L. Brunton 3 December 1873
Summary
Is interested in comparative nutritive values of chondrin and gelatin. The former seems to excite Drosera more, though albumen does so to a higher degree than either. Also asks if chlorophyll is digested by animals; Drosera digests it hardly at all.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Thomas Lauder Brunton, 1st baronet |
| Date: | 3 Dec 1873 |
| Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-9168 |
From T. H. Huxley 3 December 1873
Summary
A letter from Anton Dohrn declines the proposed fund [that THH and others suggested be raised in England for marine biological station at Naples].
Hooker’s inaugural as President of Royal Society a success.
R. Owen distinguished himself in his way.
| Author: | Thomas Henry Huxley |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 3 Dec 1873 |
| Classmark: | DAR 166: 330; Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine Archives (Huxley 13: 252) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-9169 |
To Richard Fordman 4 December [1873]
Summary
Thanks RF for his kind note; cannot quite believe or disbelieve stories of children raised by wolves.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Richard Fordman |
| Date: | 4 Dec [1873] |
| Classmark: | Massachusetts Historical Society (Grenville H. Norcross Autograph Collection) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-9170 |
To W. T. Thiselton-Dyer 4 December 1873
Summary
Wishes to identify a species of Cassia whose movements interest him.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | William Turner Thiselton-Dyer |
| Date: | 4 Dec 1873 |
| Classmark: | Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (Thiselton-Dyer, W. T., Letters from Charles Darwin 1873–81: 1–2) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-9171 |
From Jonathan Peel 4 December 1873
Summary
On the vermiform appendix,
snipes breeding in England,
and the horns of crossbred sheep.
| Author: | Jonathan Peel |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 4 Dec 1873 |
| Classmark: | DAR 88: 132–3 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-9172 |
To T. H. Huxley 5 December [1873]
Summary
Sorry to hear of Dohrn’s troubles. Has written to prospective donors saying that nothing can be done because of attitude of Dohrn’s father.
New [2d] edition of Descent is an awful job.
Diet no longer doing much for his health.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Thomas Henry Huxley |
| Date: | 5 Dec [1873] |
| Classmark: | Imperial College of Science, Technology, and Medicine Archives (Huxley 5: 305) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-9173 |
From W. T. Thiselton-Dyer 6 December 1873
Summary
Movement in plants.
Information on species of Cassia.
| Author: | William Turner Thiselton-Dyer |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 6 Dec 1873 |
| Classmark: | DAR 178: 92 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-9174 |
From Hubert Airy 7 December 1873
Summary
Illustrates, with reference to different species of Gasteria, the role of twisting in the development of leaf arrangement.
| Author: | Hubert Airy |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 7 Dec 1873 |
| Classmark: | DAR 159: 27 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-9175 |
From Richard Strachey 9 December 1873
Summary
Sends observations from a friend in India confirming CD’s view that bees cut the tubes of flowers to extract [nectar] in order to save time.
Also observations on snails descending from trees on threads suspended from their tails.
| Author: | Richard Strachey |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 9 Dec 1873 |
| Classmark: | DAR 46.2: C56–7 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-9176 |
To Richard Strachey 10 December [1873]
Summary
The case of the bees interests CD. He does not doubt that because of the size of their jaws humble-bees will be found all over the world to be the biters and hive-bees to profit from their work.
Thinks he has heard of land shells descending in the manner described by RS.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Richard Strachey |
| Date: | 10 Dec [1873] |
| Classmark: | The British Library (IOL Mss Eur F127) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-9177 |
To Jonathan Peel 10 December [1873]
Summary
Obliged for letter about horns of sheep.
Mentions case of death from objects impacted in appendix.
Is aware of his error about snipe breeding.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Jonathan Peel |
| Date: | 10 Dec [1873] |
| Classmark: | DAR 147: 241 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-9178 |
To F. S. B. François de Chaumont 17 December [1873]
Summary
Thanks FdeC for his note and invites criticisms.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Francis Stephen Bennet François de Chaumont |
| Date: | 17 Dec [1873] |
| Classmark: | Wellcome Collection (RAMC/473/3) Trustees of the Army Medical Service Museum |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-9179 |
To J. E. Lee 17 December 1873
Summary
Formal note enclosing five guineas for William Pengelly testimonial fund.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | John Edward Lee |
| Date: | 17 Dec 1873 |
| Classmark: | Cornell University Library, Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections (John Edward Lee letterbook, #4700 bd ms 3+) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-9180 |
To Smith, Elder & Co 17 December [1873]
Summary
Suggests that his Coral reefs be republished.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Smith, Elder & Co |
| Date: | 17 Dec [1873] |
| Classmark: | DAR 96: 159–60 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-9181 |
From Alfred Moschkau 17 December 1873
Summary
Thanks CD for book.
Mentions controversy involving Haeckel.
Describes his lectures on Darwinism.
| Author: | Otto Carl Alfred (Alfred) Moschkau |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 17 Dec 1873 |
| Classmark: | DAR 171: 251 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-9182 |
| letter | (32) |
| Darwin, C. R. | (19) |
| Down, J. L. H. | (2) |
| Moschkau, Alfred | (2) |
| Airy, Hubert | (1) |
| Brunton, T. L. | (1) |
| Darwin, C. R. | (12) |
| Thiselton-Dyer, W. T. | (3) |
| Baxter, W. W. | (1) |
| Brunton, T. L. | (1) |
| Crichton-Browne, James | (1) |
| Darwin, C. R. | (31) |
| Thiselton-Dyer, W. T. | (4) |
| Moschkau, Alfred | (3) |
| Brunton, T. L. | (2) |
| Crichton-Browne, James | (2) |
Lost in translation: From Auguste Forel, 12 November 1874
Summary
You receive a gift from your scientific hero Charles Darwin. It is a book that contains sections on your favourite topic—ants. If only you had paid attention when your mother tried to teach you English you might be able to read it. But you didn’t, and you…
Matches: 1 hits
- … barely understand a word. Writing in French on 12 November 1874 to thank Darwin for the …
Darwin’s hothouse and lists of hothouse plants
Summary
Darwin became increasingly involved in botanical experiments in the years after the publication of Origin. The building of a small hothouse - a heated greenhouse - early in 1863 greatly increased the range of plants that he could keep for scientific…
Matches: 9 hits
- … Correspondence vol. 10, letter to J. D. Hooker, 12 [December 1862] and n. 13). Initially, …
- … Stove [that is, cool hothouse]’ ( Correspondence vol. 12, letter to J. D. Hooker, 26[–7] March …
- … of different temperatures’ (letter to W. C. Tait, 12 and 16 March [1869] , Calendar no. 6661) …
- … 100 yards’ to the greenhouses ( Correspondence vol. 12, letter to J. D. Hooker, [25 January …
- … in mid-February (see letter from L. C. Treviranus, 12 February 1863 ). The second list is …
- … Anoectochilus argenteus 12 5 s . …
- … punctatum. 11. Mormodes aurantiaca 12. ‘Anoectochilus argenteus 5 s .’ deleted in …
- … Bolbophyllum barbigerum 12 major …
- … Ampelidae. 11. Alloplectus chrysanthus. 12. Bulbophyllum barbigerum. 13. …
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: 12 hits
- … Seventy years old Darwin’s seventieth birthday on 12 February was a cause for international …
- … and good as could be’ ( letter from Karl Beger, [ c. 12 February 1879] ). The masters of …
- … ). The botanist and schoolteacher Hermann Müller wrote on 12 February to wish Darwin a ‘long and …
- … well, and with little fatigue’ ( letter to G. H. Darwin, 12 July 1879 , and letter from Leonard …
- … ever about life of D r . D’ ( letter to Francis Darwin, 12 July [1879] ). It was little …
- … Thiselton-Dyer, 5 June 1879 , and letter to G. H. Darwin, 12 July 1879 ). Darwin’s final task …
- … inn ‘ very comfortable’, but told Leonard Darwin on 12 August that there were ‘too many human …
- … not to have come up when the Darwins lunched with him on 12 August (Darwin’s ‘Journal’). Nor did …
- … the world. At the end of the year he was awarded a prize of 12,000 francs by the Turin Academy of …
- … which greatly pleased Darwin ( letter from Grant Allen, 12 February 1879 ). One of Allen’s targets …
- … engagement being made public ( letter from T. H. Farrer, 12 October 1879 ). Darwin’s response not …
- … accurate in its treatment’ ( letter from Francis Galton, 12 November 1879 ). The comment that …
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: 11 hits
- … (letters from George Cupples, 21 February 1874 and 12 March 1874 ); the material was …
- … the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii; letters from T. N. Staley, 12 February 1874 and 20 February 1874 …
- … was published in November 1874 ( letter from R. F. Cooke, 12 November 1874 ). Though containing …
- … print runs would be very good ( letter from R. F. Cooke, 12 November 1874 ). Darwin's …
- … Review & in the same type’ ( letter from John Murray, 12 August 1874 ). George’s letter …
- … he finally wrote a polite, very formal letter to Mivart on 12 January 1875 , refusing to hold any …
- … & snugness’ ( letter from Emma Darwin to J. B. Innes, 12 October [1874] ). More …
- … vicar of Deptford ( letter from Emma Darwin to J. B. Innes, 12 October [1874] ), but to her …
- … mechanism that Darwin agreed with ( letter to F. J. Cohn, 12 October 1874 ). Darwin’s American …
- … bank with enormous tips to his ears ( letter from Asa Gray, 12 May 1874 ). The Manchester …
- … excellent, & as clear as light’ ( letter to John Tyndall, 12 August [1874] ). Hooker …
1.2 George Richmond, marriage portrait
Summary
< Back to Introduction Few likenesses of Darwin in his youth survive, although more may once have existed. In a letter of 1873 an old Shrewsbury friend, Arthur Mostyn Owen, offered to send Darwin a watercolour sketch of him, painted many years…
Matches: 1 hits
- … < Back to Introduction Few likenesses of Darwin in his youth survive, although more …
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: 6 hits
- … made a small omission ’. Stephen’s reply on 12 January was flattering, reassuring, and …
- … books being ‘a game of chance’ ( letter to R. F. Cooke, 12 April 1881 ). On 18 May he described …
- … Darwin had difficulty in obtaining mature plants. On 12 April, he reported to Müller , ‘I have …
- … to make me happy & contented,’ he told Wallace on 12 July , ‘but life has become very …
- … fight’ (letters to J. D. Hooker, 6 August 1881 and 12 August 1881 ). Darwin may have …
- … else’s judgment on the subject ( letter to A. R. Wallace, 12 July 1881 ). However, some requests …
Darwin's in letters, 1873: Animal or vegetable?
Summary
Having laboured for nearly five years on human evolution, sexual selection, and the expression of emotions, Darwin was able to devote 1873 almost exclusively to his beloved plants. He resumed work on the digestive powers of sundews and Venus fly traps, and…
Matches: 3 hits
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: 6 hits
- … Hooker: ‘he is no common man’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 12 [December 1862] ). Two sexual …
- … of the year, he wrote to Hooker ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 12 [December 1862] ): ‘my notions on …
- … least 3 classes of dimorphism’ ( letter to Daniel Oliver, 12 [April 1862] ), and experimenting to …
- … passed so miserable a nine months’ ( letter to W. D. Fox, 12 September [1862] ). A family …
- … ‘Botany is a new subject to me’ ( letter to John Scott, 12 November [1862] ), but, impressed by …
- … into Tyndall’s ears’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 10–12 November [1862] ). Another of Darwin’s …
German and Dutch photograph albums
Summary
Darwin Day 2018: To celebrate Darwin's 209th birthday, we present two lavishly produced albums of portrait photographs which Darwin received from continental admirers 141 years ago. These unusual gifts from Germany and the Netherlands are made…
Matches: 1 hits
- … their generous sympathy. ( Letter to A. A. van Bemmelen, 12 February 1877 ) View the …
Darwin in letters, 1875: Pulling strings
Summary
‘I am getting sick of insectivorous plants’, Darwin confessed in January 1875. He had worked on the subject intermittently since 1859, and had been steadily engaged on a book manuscript for nine months; January also saw the conclusion of a bitter dispute…
Matches: 5 hits
- … than insectivorous plants. As he confessed to Hooker on 12 December , ‘I have not felt so angry …
- … from his family, he sent a curt note to Mivart on 12 January , breaking off all future …
- … of a bill that was presented to the House of Commons on 12 May, one week after a rival bill based on …
- … The author, Fritz Schultze, contacted Darwin himself on 12 June , describing the aims of his book …
- … scientific Socy. has done in my time,’ he told Hooker on 12 December . ‘I wish that I knew what …
Darwin in letters, 1878: Movement and sleep
Summary
In 1878, Darwin devoted most of his attention to the movements of plants. He investigated the growth pattern of roots and shoots, studying the function of specific organs in this process. Working closely with his son Francis, Darwin devised a series of…
Matches: 3 hits
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
- … Rubiaceae with enclosures containing bud samples, 12 May 1878 G. H. Darwin's …
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…
The Lyell–Lubbock dispute
Summary
In May 1865 a dispute arose between John Lubbock and Charles Lyell when Lubbock, in his book Prehistoric times, accused Lyell of plagiarism. The dispute caused great dismay among many of their mutual scientific friends, some of whom took immediate action…
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…
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…
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: 3 hits
Henrietta Darwin's diary
Summary
Darwin's daughter Henrietta kept a diary for a few momentous weeks in 1871. This was the year in which Descent of Man, the most controversial of her father's books after Origin itself, appeared, a book which she had helped him write. The small…
Darwin in letters, 1856-1857: the 'Big Book'
Summary
In May 1856, Darwin began writing up his 'species sketch’ in earnest. During this period, his working life was completely dominated by the preparation of his 'Big Book', which was to be called Natural selection. Using letters are the main…
Matches: 3 hits
Darwin & Glen Roy
Summary
Although Darwin was best known for his geological work in South America and other remote Beagle destinations, he made one noteworthy attempt to explain a puzzling feature of British geology. In 1838, two years after returning from the voyage, he travelled…
