To James Paget 29 January [1873?]
Summary
Has heard from Ashwin Conway Newman of Guy’s Hospital of a case of a child without any prepuce whose father was a renegade, uncircumcised Jew, but whose ancestors had all been Jews. Newman thinks this a good case of inheritance with reversion. JP’s letter [missing] now shows how rash such a conclusion would be.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | James Paget, 1st baronet |
| Date: | 29 Jan [1873?] |
| Classmark: | Wellcome Collection (MS.5703/37) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8752 |
From F. S. B. F. de Chaumont 31 January 1873
Summary
Sends a paper on evolution by his friend J. D. MacDonald ["Distribution of Invertebrata", Proc. R. Soc. Lond. 21 (1872–3): 218–23] for CD’s perusal before dispatching it to the Royal Society.
| Author: | Francis Stephen Bennet François de Chaumont |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 31 Jan 1873 |
| Classmark: | DAR 162: 138 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8753 |
To ?[a New Orleans newspaper] [c. February 1873]
Summary
CD responds to a poem, "Comus", and a New Orleans Mardi Gras editorial; he cannot tell from the "wonderful mistakes" whether the writer is "witty, ignorant, or blunders for the sake of fun".
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | New Orleans newspaper |
| Date: | [c. Feb 1873] |
| Classmark: | Benfey (1997):179 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8753F |
To J. V. Carus 1 February 1873
Summary
Has no corrections for second German edition [of Expression]. Plans to bring out an improved edition in a year or two.
Thanks for reference JVC sent.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Julius Victor Carus |
| Date: | 1 Feb 1873 |
| Classmark: | Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin – Preußischer Kulturbesitz (Slg. Darmstaedter Lc 1859: Darwin, Charles, Bl. 102–103) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8754 |
From W. M. Canby 1 February 1873
Summary
At Asa Gray’s request, responds to CD’s questions about WMC’s observations on Dionaea and particularly about the size of the insects captured and the excitability of the leaves after an insect is captured.
| Author: | William Marriott Canby |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 1 Feb 1873 |
| Classmark: | DAR 58.1: 25 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8755 |
From J. T. Moggridge 1 February 1873
Summary
He does not accept Wallace’s definition of instinct because it excludes "inherited experience", i.e., "knowledge acquired by and transmitted through ancestors".
House-flies do not seem to have an instinctive fear of trap-door spiders.
Miss Forster gives him news of CD.
| Author: | John Traherne Moggridge |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 1 Feb 1873 |
| Classmark: | DAR 171: 217 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8756 |
To F. S. B. François de Chaumont 3 February [1873]
Summary
Thanks for J. D. MacDonald’s paper ["Distribution of invertebrata", Proc. R. Soc. Lond. 21 (1872–3): 218–23].
CD feels lines of genetic connection between animals offer a most difficult problem; Ernst Haeckel may have done mischief by facing the difficulty.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Francis Stephen Bennet François de Chaumont |
| Date: | 3 Feb [1873] |
| Classmark: | Wellcome Collection (RAMC/474/2); Trustees of the Army Medical Services Museum |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8757 |
To W. B. Dawkins 3 February 1873
Summary
A letter of recommendation for W. B. Dawkins in his application for the Woodwardian professorship of geology in the university of Cambridge.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | William Boyd Dawkins |
| Date: | 3 Feb 1873 |
| Classmark: | Cambridge University Archives (GEOL 9/*1 2b) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8757F |
To J. E. Gray 4 February [1873]
Summary
Is glad JEG has made out what the guemul is ["On the Guémul", Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. 4th ser. 10 (1872): 445–6; 11 (1873): 214–20, 308–10].
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | John Edward Gray |
| Date: | 4 Feb [1873] |
| Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.411) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8758 |
From C. I. F. Major 6 February 1873
Summary
Cannot find a publisher for Italian translation of Expression. Gives up the project.
| Author: | Charles Immanuel Forsyth Major |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 6 Feb 1873 |
| Classmark: | DAR 171: 30 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8759 |
From F. B. Goodacre 7 February 1873
Summary
Would like a museum set up illustrating origins, varieties, and uses of domestic animals; seeks CD’s approval of the idea.
| Author: | Francis Burges Goodacre |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 7 Feb 1873 |
| Classmark: | DAR 165: 62 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8760 |
From T. H. Huxley [8 February 1873]
Summary
Forwards Matthew Arnold’s Literature and dogma [1873].
Hopes they can secure Hooker for President of Royal Society.
| Author: | Thomas Henry Huxley |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | [8 Feb 1873] |
| Classmark: | DAR 166: 328 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8761 |
To Matthew Arnold 9 February [1873]
Summary
Thanks MA for his Literature and dogma [1873].
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Matthew Arnold |
| Date: | 9 Feb [1873] |
| Classmark: | DAR 221.5: 1 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8762 |
From John Murray 10 February [1873]
Summary
Encloses cheque for 1000 guineas, CD’s share of profits on first 7000 copies of Expression.
| Author: | John Murray |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 10 Feb [1873] |
| Classmark: | DAR 171: 435 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8763 |
To F. B. Goodacre 11 February [1873]
Summary
Thinks FBG’s idea of a room at the British Museum of domestic birds and animals an excellent one, but a collection of plants would be much more difficult.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Francis Burges Goodacre |
| Date: | 11 Feb [1873] |
| Classmark: | Dr John Goodacre (private collection) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8763F |
To C. I. F. Major 11 February 1873
Summary
Is sorry that CIFM has had to give up translating Expression into Italian.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Charles Immanuel Forsyth Major |
| Date: | 11 Feb 1873 |
| Classmark: | Kotte Autographs (dealers) (30 October 2008) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8763G |
To Nature [before 13 February 1873]
Summary
Sends a letter from William Huggins about a case of inherited fright in three generations of mastiffs. Discusses the different origins of instincts and their inheritance.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Nature |
| Date: | [before 13 Feb 1873] |
| Classmark: | Nature, 13 February 1873, pp. 281–2 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8765 |
From Francis Galton to William Huggins 15 February 1873
Summary
Returns family documents about "Kepler" [William Huggins’ dog, see Collected papers 2: 170–1]; there is still some sort of investigation into the "precise mental condition" of "Kepler" and his relatives.
| Author: | Francis Galton |
| Addressee: | William Huggins |
| Date: | 15 Feb 1873 |
| Classmark: | DAR 105: A72–3 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8766 |
From Mariabella Fry 15 February 1873
Summary
Remarks on the "grief-muscles" shown in a Dürer picture.
| Author: | Mariabella Hodgkin; Mariabella Fry |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 15 Feb 1873 |
| Classmark: | DAR 164: 220 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8767 |
To Gerard Krefft 17 February 1873
Summary
Is glad JLGK has been interested in Descent.
Thanks him for his observations on monkey behaviour [see 8698]
and drawings of skulls, which CD has sent to George Busk.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Johann Louis Gerard (Gerard) Krefft |
| Date: | 17 Feb 1873 |
| Classmark: | Mitchell Library, Sydney (MLMSS 5828) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8768 |
| Darwin, C. R. | (286) |
| Hooker, J. D. | (30) |
| Burdon Sanderson, J. S. | (13) |
| Darwin, G. H. | (13) |
| Darwin, Francis | (10) |
| Darwin, C. R. | (569) |
| Hooker, J. D. | (56) |
| Darwin, Francis | (23) |
| Darwin, G. H. | (23) |
| Burdon Sanderson, J. S. | (16) |
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: 21 hits
- … and the expression of emotions, Darwin was able to devote 1873 almost exclusively to his beloved …
- … A large portion of the letters Darwin received in 1873 were in response to The expression of the …
- … I omitted to observe, which I ought to have observed” ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 12 January [1873] …
- … work your wicked will on it—root leaf & branch!” ( letter from J. D. Hooker, 12 January 1873 ) …
- … copy of the Handbook for the physiological laboratory (1873), a detailed guide to animal …
- … Darwin’s other main focus of botanical investigation in 1873 was cross- and self-fertilisation, work …
- … parts of the flower would become modified & correlated” ( letter to T. H. Farrer, 14 August …
- … it again, “for Heaven knows when it will be ready” ( letter to John Murray, 4 May [1873] ). …
- … we take notes and take tracings of their burrows” ( letter from Francis Darwin, 14 August [1873] ) …
- … in importance; and if so more places will be created” ( letter to E. A. Darwin, 20 September 1873 …
- … our unfortunate family being fit for continuous work” ( letter from E. A. Darwin, 25 September …
- … 1872 and sold quickly. He wrote to Hooker on 12 January [1873] , “Did I ever boast to you on the …
- … anonymously in the Edinburgh Review in April ([Baynes] 1873). Darwin asked one of his Scottish …
- … on any point; for I knew my own ignorance before hand” ( letter to George Cupples, 28 April [1873] …
- … “he would fly at the Empr’s throat like a bulldog” ( letter from L. M. Forster to H. E. Litchfield, …
- … force & truth of the great principle of inheritance!” ( letter to F. S. B. F. de Chaumont, 3 …
- … the heavy breathing that accompanied sexual intercourse? (letter from ?, [1873?]). The Scottish …
- … with up lines; & sadness & decay with the reverse—” ( letter from William Main, 2 April …
- … with the advance of civilisation and good breeding ( letter from Henry Reeks, 3 March 1873 ). …
- … have never felt an inclination to have a second dose” ( letter from Robert Swinhoe, 26 March 1873 …
- … of an orbital one produces snapping of the jaws” ( letter from James Crichton-Browne, 16 April 1873 …
All Darwin's letters from 1873 go online for the anniversary of Origin
Summary
To celebrate the 158th anniversary of the publication of Origin of species on 24 November, the full transcripts and footnotes of over 500 letters from and to Charles Darwin in 1873 are now available online. Read about Darwin's life in 1873 through his…
Matches: 6 hits
- … of over 500 letters from and to Charles Darwin in 1873 are now available online. We have also …
- … Here are some highlights from Darwin's correspondence in 1873: I do not think any …
- … I could give 2 scientific secretaries work to do ( Letter to E. A. Darwin, 20 September 1873 ) …
- … have now been printed off, & most of them sold! ( Letter to J. D. Hooker, 12 January [1873] …
- … you, as we should to an honoured & much loved brother. ( Letter to T. H. Huxley, 23 …
- … their meaning; some love of the new and marvellous ( Letter to Francis Galton, 28 May 1873 …
Charles Harrison Blackley
Summary
You may not have heard of Charles Harrison Blackley (1820–1900), but if you are one of the 15 million people in the UK who suffer from hay fever, you are indebted to him. For it was he who identified pollen as the cause of the allergy. Darwin was…
Matches: 6 hits
- … Darwin was very interested in hay fever. On 14 June [1873] he wrote to Blackley to thank him for …
- … Aestivus (hay-fever or hay-asthma). And on 5 July 1873 Darwin wrote again, saying: ‘The …
- … cannot fail to be largely blown in every direction. (Letter to C. H. Blackley, 5 July [1873] ) …
- … regions of the atmosphere. Blackley wrote on 7 July 1873 that his high altitude experiments had …
- … the weight of pollen grains by a dilution method. In his letter of 9 March 1877 , Darwin wrote: …
- … remained elusive. He wrote to Darwin on 11 July 1873 : The problem of cure has still …
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: 16 hits
- … 17 March [1867] ). He noted another factor in a letter to Gray, remarking, ‘I am going on with my …
- … 5 December 1871 ). When Darwin began writing in February 1873, he asked Hooker for names of …
- … system to follow ( To J. D. Hooker, 17 February 1873 ). Despite also working on experiments with …
- … with this & get it published’ ( To Asa Gray, 11 March [1873] ). In April 1873, the …
- … Translators, Reviewers, &c.’ ( To John Murray, 4 May [1873] ). In reply to his German …
- … when it will be published’ ( To J. V. Carus, 8 May [1873] ). Hermann Müller also wrote from …
- … my further working’ ( From Hermann Müller, 10 June 1873 ). Darwin, in turn, had found Müller’s …
- … them by different routes’ ( To Hermann Müller, 30 May 1873 ). Although Darwin had completed a …
- … must turn to the vegetable kingdom’ In June 1873, Delpino informed Darwin that …
- … to avoid crossing ( From Federico Delpino, 18 June 1873 ). Darwin was intrigued. ‘I am very glad …
- … Bees’, he told Delpino ( To Federico Delpino, 25 June [1873] ). Darwin’s suspicion that sweet peas …
- … his crossing experiments through the early summer, by August 1873, Darwin decided to shift focus …
- … effects of Interbreeding’ ( To J. V. Carus, 2 August [1873] ). In September, Darwin wrote a …
- … conditions of life’ ( To Nature , 20 September [1873] ). Just as the free-swimming barnacle …
- … of their parents’ ( To Fritz Müller, 25 September 1873 ). But by March 1874, some doubts seemed to …
- … A. R. Wallace, 13 December 1876 ). No reply to this letter has been found, but Darwin had long …
Your letter eternalized before us: From N. D. Doedes, 27 March 1873
Summary
Geoff Belknap looks at his favourite set of letters between two Dutch student fans of Darwin and the photographs they exchanged with each other.
Matches: 1 hits
- … Geoff Belknap looks at his favourite set of letters between two Dutch …
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: 27 hits
- … Observers Women: Letter 1194 - Darwin to Whitby, M. A. T., [12 August …
- … silkworm breeds, or peculiarities in inheritance. Letter 3787 - Darwin, H. E. to …
- … observations of cats’ instinctive behaviour. Letter 4258 - Becker, L. E. to Darwin, …
- … 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 …
- … Expression during a trip to Egypt. Letter 7223 - Darwin to Wedgwood, L. C., …
- … expression of emotion in her pet dog and birds. Letter 5817 - Darwin to Huxley, T. …
- … is making similar observations for him. Letter 6535 - Vaughan Williams , M. S. …
- … of a crying baby to Darwin's daughter, Henrietta. Letter 7179 - Wedgwood, …
- … briefly on her ongoing observations of wormholes. Letter 8611 - Cupples, A. J. …
- … expression of emotion in dogs with Emma Darwin. Letter 8676 - Treat, M. to Darwin, …
- … birds, insects or plants on Darwin’s behalf. Letter 8683 - Roberts, D. to …
- … of an angry pig and her niece’s ears. Letter 8701 - Lubbock, E. F . to Darwin, …
- … that she make observations of her pet cats. Letter 8989 - Treat, M. to Darwin, [28 …
- … without the birds attacking the buds and flowers. Letter 9616 - Marshall, T. to …
- … and her father of plants and insects. Men: Letter 2221 - Blyth, E. to Darwin …
- … specimens and bird observations from Calcutta. Letter 3634 - Darwin to Gray, A., [1 …
- … “enthusiasm and indomitable patience”. Letter 4242 - Hildebrand, F. H. G. to Darwin …
- … contained in “a little treatise”. Letter 4436 - Darwin to Hooker, J. D., [26-27 …
- … he has moved one or two of them into his bedroom. Letter 5602 - Sutton, S. to …
- … expression of emotion in chimpanzees and orangs. Letter 5705 - Haast, J. F. J. von …
- … Letter 8989 - Treat, M. to Darwin, [28 July 1873] Mary Treat provides a detailed …
- … 9156 - Wallace, A. R . to Darwin, [19 November 1873] Wallace reassures Darwin that …
- … 9157 - Darwin to Da rwin, G. H., [20 November 1873] Darwin offers the work of …
- … Letter 8719 - Darwin to Treat, M., [1 January 1873] Darwin gives Mary Treat close …
- … 9157 - Darwin to Da rwin, G. H., [20 November 1873] Darwin offers the work of …
Frank Chance
Summary
The Darwin archive not only contains letters, manuscript material, photographs, books and articles but also all sorts of small, dry specimens, mostly enclosed with letters. Many of these enclosures have become separated from the letters or lost altogether,…
Matches: 6 hits
- … pigeon-fancier W. B. Tegetmeier, 25 April [1871] . In his letter Chance is responding to the …
- … from my hair & another from my beard & whiskers. (Letter from Frank Chance, [before …
- … was given to personal adornments’), CD annotated the letter with what was probably a draft of the …
- … hair could not be found. However, while footnoting a second letter from Chance in 1873, a discovery …
- … in the winter but has actually turned \quite white\ (Letter from Frank Chance, 31 July–7 …
- … son William’s house near Southampton on 10 August [1873] . William had followed up on a similar …
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: 26 hits
- … be done by observation during prolonged intervals’ ( letter to D. T. Gardner, [ c . 27 August …
- … pleasures of shooting and collecting beetles ( letter from W. D. Fox, 8 May [1874] ). Such …
- … And … 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 …
- … was an illusory hope.— I feel very old & helpless’ ( letter to B. J. Sulivan, 6 January [1874] …
- … inferred that he was well from his silence on the matter ( letter from Ernst Haeckel, 26 October …
- … in such rubbish’, he confided to Joseph Dalton Hooker ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 18 January [1874] …
- … that Mr Williams was ‘a cheat and an imposter’ ( letter from T. H. Huxley, 27 January 1874 ). …
- … his, ‘& that he was thus free to perform his antics’ ( letter to T. H. Huxley, 29 January [1874 …
- … Darwin had allowed ‘a spirit séance’ at his home ( letter from T. G. Appleton, 2 April 1874 ). …
- … had suggested a new edition of the coral book in December 1873, when he realised the difficulty a …
- … edition, published in 1842 ( Correspondence vol. 21, letter to Smith, Elder & Co., 17 …
- … Hooker, and finally borrowed one from Charles Lyell ( letter to Smith, Elder & Co., 8 January …
- … to take so sweetly all the horrid bother of correction’ ( letter to H. E. Litchfield, 21 [March …
- … sent an apology for misinterpreting Darwin on this point ( letter from J. D. Dana, 21 July 1874 ); …
- … numbers and sex ratios among the Pitcairn islanders ( letter from William Dealtry, 16 January 1874 …
- … will say that I have pounded the enemy into a jelly’ ( letter from T. H. Huxley, 14 April 1874 ). …
- … by none but anatomists; and never mind where it goes’ ( letter from T. H. Huxley, 16 April 1874 ). …
- … the return on subsequent print runs would be very good ( letter from R. F. Cooke, 12 November 1874 …
- … by the conciseness & clearness of your thought’ ( letter from G. H. Darwin, 20 April 1874 ). …
- … of human evolution and inheritance himself. In August 1873, he had published in the Contemporary …
- … the use of the Down schoolroom as a winter reading room in 1873 (see Correspondence , vol. 21, …
- … ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 20 July [1874] ). In 1873, Hooker had begun a series of …
- … vol. 21, letter from Francis Darwin, [11 October 1873] ). Darwin wasted several weeks in …
- … Moulinié, who had died after a period of ill health in 1873. Edmond Barbier corrected defects in …
- … was a copy of Joseph Simms’s book on physiognomy (Simms 1873), which contained Darwin’s portrait to …
Language: key letters
Summary
How and why language evolved bears on larger questions about the evolution of the human species, and the relationship between man and animals. Darwin presented his views on the development of human speech from animal sounds in The Descent of Man (1871),…
Matches: 11 hits
- … whom he exchanged information and ideas. Letter 346: Darwin, C. R. to Darwin, C. S., 27 Feb …
- … Caucasian languages separated from one stock.” Letter 2070: Wedgwood, Hensleigh to Darwin, …
- … is the grinding down of former continents.” Letter 3054: Darwin, C. R. to Lyell, Charles, 2 …
- … former,—which I tell him is perfectly logical.” Letter 5605: Darwin, C. R. to Müller, J. F. …
- … whilst young, do they scream & make loud noise?” Letter 7040: Wedgwood, Hensleigh to …
- … speech from gradually growing to such a stage” Letter 8367: Darwin, C. R. to Wright, …
- … & thus unconsciously altering the breed. Letter 8962: Darwin, C. R. to Max Müller, …
- … judge of the arguments opposed to this belief[.]” Letter 10194: Max Müller, Friedrich to …
- … want, at least in the Science of Language […]” Letter 9887: Dawkins, W. B. to Darwin, C. R. …
- … hold that language is not a test of race […]” Letter 11074: Sayce, A. H. to Darwin, C. R., …
- … of wanting to eat, for this movement makes a sound like the letter m.” “For some time past I have …
Francis Darwin
Summary
Known to his family as ‘Frank’, Charles Darwin’s seventh child himself became a distinguished scientist. He was an undergraduate at Trinity College, Cambridge, initially studying mathematics, but then transferring to natural sciences. Francis completed…
Photograph album of Dutch admirers
Summary
Darwin received the photograph album for his birthday on 12 February 1877 from his scientific admirers in the Netherlands. He wrote to the Dutch zoologist Pieter Harting, An account of your countrymen’s generous sympathy in having sent me on my…
Matches: 8 hits
- … the present has given me & my family lasting pleasure. ( Letter to Pieter Harting, 19 March …
- … Society) was chosen to co-ordinate the initiative, and a letter was circulated to potential …
- … have also fallen on fertile soil in the Netherlands. ( Letter from A. A. van Bemmelen and H. J. …
- … Constantijn Costerus and his friend had written to Darwin in 1873, praising his works and describing …
- … to interest other students, especially the younger ones. ( Letter to J. C. Costerus and N. D. …
- … sees them for some are about 2 feet across!— ( Letter from C. W. Thomson, 30 June 1877 ) …
- … edition which has been any where published ( Letter to Hermanus Hartogh Heijs van Zouteveen, …
- … Your loss is irreparable, & I feel deeply for you. ( Letter to F. C. Donders, 19 May 1870 ) …
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: 29 hits
- … Were women a target audience? Letter 2447 - Darwin to Murray, J., [5 April 1859] …
- … Tollet for proofreading and criticisms of style. Letter 2461 - Darwin to Hooker, J. …
- … 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, …
- … he uses to avoid ownership of indelicate content. Letter 8335 - Reade, W. W. to …
- … so as not to lose the interest of women. Letter 8341 - Reade, W. W. to Darwin, …
- … which will make it more appealing to women. Letter 8611 - Cupples, A. J. to …
- … Darwin’s female readership Letter 5391 - Becker, L. E. to Darwin, [6 February …
- … of the Manchester Ladies Literary Society . Letter 6551 - Becker, L. E . to …
- … the chapter on pangenesis, which is a revelation. Letter 6976 - Darwin to Blackwell, A. …
- … Darwin assumes that 'A. B. Blackwell' is a man. Letter 7177 - Cupples, G. to …
- … him to the psychology of Herbert Spencer. Letter 7624 - Bathoe, M . B. to Darwin …
- … his statements on a lack of reasoning in animals. Letter 7644 - Barnard, A. to …
- … during a visit to an asylum with her father. Letter 7651 - Wedgwood, F. J. to …
- … on any comments that she feels might be suitable. Letter 7411 - Pfeiffer, E. J. to …
- … and beauty in the process of sexual selection. Letter 8055 - Hennell, S. S. to Darwin, …
- … of a woman’s natural thinking”. Letter 8778 - Forster, L. M . to Darwin, H. …
- … and the showing of teeth in Expression . Letter 10072 - Pape, C. to …
- … and hopes Darwin will complete her questionnaire. Letter 10390 - Herrick, S. M. B. …
- … of questions which she hopes aren’t too silly. Letter 10415 - Darwin to Herrick, S. …
- … and is pleased that his work has interested her. Letter 10508 - Treat, M. to Darwin …
- … it nearly all night before she could lay it down. Letter 13547 - Tanner, M. H. …
- … involving worms which occurred in her garden. Letter 13650 Kennard, C. A. to Darwin …
- … Reading Variation Letter 5712 - Dallas, W. S. to Darwin, [8 December 1867] …
- … array of facts” contained in the work. Letter 5861 - Blyth, E. to Darwin, [11 …
- … are a few things which must be altered”. Letter 5928 - Gray, A. to Darwin, [25 …
- … to be made to the text for the second edition. Letter 6040 - Haeckel, E. P. A. to …
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: 24 hits
- … of departure reviews of Origin . The second is a single letter from naturalist A. R. Wallace to …
- … everything is the result of “brute force”. Letter 2855 — Darwin, C. R. to Gray, Asa, 3 …
- … 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, …
- … He asks Gray some questions about design. Letter 6167 — Darwin, C. R. to Gray, Asa, 8 …
- … of my precipice”. Darwin and Wallace Letter 5140 — Wallace, A. R. to Darwin, …
- … of variations. Darwin and Graham Letter 13230 — Darwin, C. R. to Graham, …
- … of people, including members of his own family. Letter 441 — Wedgwood, Emma to Darwin, …
- … about his “honest & conscientious doubts”. Letter 471 — Darwin, Emma to Darwin, C. …
- … there is a danger in giving up revelation”. Letter 2534 — Kingsley, Charles to Darwin, …
- … need of an act of intervention to bring change. Letter 2548 — Sedgwick, Adam to Darwin, …
- … with that knowledge which only He can give me.” Letter 5303 — Boole, M. E. to Darwin, C …
- … that his theory be compatible with her faith. Letter 5307 — Darwin, C. R. to Boole, M. …
- … and science should each run its own course. Letter 8070 — Darwin, C. R. to Abbot, F. E. …
- … “with qualifications”, if he wishes. Letter 8837 — Darwin, C. R. to Doedes, N. D., 2 …
- … man’s intellect, “but man can do his duty”. Letter 12041 — Darwin, C. R. to Fordyce, …
- … most correct description of my state of mind”. Letter 12757 — Darwin, C. R. to Aveling, …
- … as examples to illustrate his ideas on beauty. Letter 4752 — Darwin, C. R. to Lyell, …
- … discusses humming birds and orchids as examples. Letter 4939 — Shaw, James to Darwin, C …
- … a long discussion on beauty in the natural world. Letter 4943 — Darwin, C. R. to Shaw, …
- … beauty of flowers is solely to attract insects. Letter 5003f — Shaw, James to Darwin, C …
- … Beauty against the Duke of Argyll’s criticisms. Letter 5004 — Darwin, C. R. to Shaw, …
- … of beauty being displayed in conspicuous parts. Letter 5060 — Shaw, James to Darwin, C. …
- … 9122 — Darwin, C. R. to Down School Board, [Nov–Dec 1873] Darwin, Sir John Lubbock, Ellen …
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: 23 hits
- … earthworms . Selected letters Letter 1113 - Darwin to Whitby, M. …
- … 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., …
- … being acknowledged publicly as a science critic. Letter 4370 - Wedgwood, L. C. to …
- … 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., …
- … description of a crying baby in Mary Barton. Letter 8321 - Darwin to …
- … he would “feel the public humming” at him. Letter 7345 - Wedgwood, L. C. to Darwin, …
- … lady, on whose accuracy I can implicitly rely”. Letter 8427 - Darwin to Litchfield H …
- … of Henrietta’s considerable editorial input. Letter 8719 - Darwin to Treat, M., [1 …
- … Letters relating to Earthworms Letter 7428 - Wedgwood, F. to Darwin, [4 …
- … depth of furrows in an old field near his house. Letter 8168 - Ruck, A. R. to …
- … activity in the fields of North Wales. Letter 8193 - Ruck, A. R. to Darwin, H …
- … published discussion of earthworm activity . Letter 8224 - Darwin to Ruck, A. …
- … discussion of turf-based worm castings . Letter 7345 - Wedgwood, L. C. to Darwin, …
- … lady, on whose accuracy I can implicitly rely”. Letter 11221 - Darwin to Darwin …
- … are referenced in Vegetable Mould . Letter 12742 - Darwin, H. to Darwin, …
- … "My son Horace" in Vegetable Mould . Letter 12745 - Darwin to …
- … anonymously in Vegetable Mould . Letter 12760 - Wedgwood, K. E. S. to …
- … but does not identify the workers in question. Letter 13037 - Darwin to Darwin, …
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: 13 hits
- … of both sexes. Selected letters Letter 2234 - Darwin to Unidentified, [5 …
- … sweeping conclusions on insufficient grounds. Letter 3934 - Darwin to Scott, J., [21 …
- … how to make the material worthy of publication. Letter 4185 - Darwin to Scott, J., [25 …
- … indefatigable worker you are!”. Letter 7605 - Darwin to Darwin, H. E., [20 March …
- … memorial” in memory of the book. Letter 8140 - Darwin to Darwin, W. E., [3 …
- … how he made so many observations without aid. Letter 8146 - Darwin to Treat, M., [5 …
- … “in some well-known scientific journal”. Letter 8171 - Darwin to Wedgwood, L., [21 …
- … that Lucy is worth her weight in gold. Letter 9005b - Darwin to Treat, M., [12 …
- … flies until he had repeated the experiment. Letter 9580 - Darwin to Darwin, G. H. D., …
- … should not yet be submitted to the publisher. Letter 9613 - Darwin to Hooker, J. D., …
- … and thinks that it ought to be published. Letter 10523 - Darwin to Treat, M., [1 June …
- … in the pursuit of her “admirable work”. Letter 11096 - Darwin to Romanes, G. J., [9 …
- … her manuscript to Nature for publication. Letter 13414 - Darwin to Harrison, L., …
2.6 Adolf von Hildebrand bust
Summary
< Back to Introduction In 1873, the German biologist Anton Dohrn commissioned a plaster bust of Darwin for the ‘fresco room’ of his new research centre, the Stazione Zoologica in Naples. It was a fitting memorial of a long association between the two…
Matches: 6 hits
- … < Back to Introduction In 1873, the German biologist Anton Dohrn commissioned a …
- … on at least two occasions during the construction (1872–1873). Most of the money for the building …
- … saloon where Darwin’s bust was to be placed in 1873, together with a bust of Karl Ernst von Baer, …
- … image Adolf von Hildebrand date of creation 1873 computer-readable date …
- … ‘The Zoological Station at Naples’, Nature 8 (29 May 1873), p. 81. Thomas Huxley’s letter to …
- … for the Stazione: DCP-LETT-9412. Darwin’s follow-up letter to Dohrn, enclosing his personal …
Darwin's bad days
Summary
Despite being a prolific worker who had many successes with his scientific theorising and experimenting, even Darwin had some bad days. These times when nothing appeared to be going right are well illustrated by the following quotations from his letters:
Matches: 1 hits
- … Despite being a prolific worker who had many successes with his scientific theorising and …
Science, Work and Manliness
Summary
Discussion Questions|Letters In 1859, popular didactic writer William Landels published the first edition of what proved to be one of his best-selling works, How Men Are Made. "It is by work, work, work" he told his middle class audience, …
Matches: 11 hits
- … Letters Letter 282 - Darwin to Fox, W. D., [9 - 12 August 1835] Darwin …
- … “a little reading, thinking and hammering”. Letter 1533 - Darwin to Dana, J. D., [27 …
- … involved in producing such a magnum opus. In a subsequent letter , Darwin describes Dana’s …
- … that de Bosquet has bestowed on the subject. Letter 2669 - Bunbury, C. J. F. to Darwin, …
- … a work of “astonishing labour and patience”. Letter 4262 - Darwin to Gray, A., [4 …
- … 134 crosses which was “no slight labour”. Letter 3901 - Darwin to Falconer, H., [5 & …
- … not depleted completely his health and strength. Letter 4000 - Darwin to Dana, J. D., …
- … . It is, Darwin says, “a monument of labour”. Letter 4185 - Darwin to Scott, J., [25 …
- … a wonderful, indefatigable worker you are!”. Letter 4997 - Wallace, A. R. to Darwin, [4 …
- … systematically to collect and arrange facts. Letter 8153 - Darwin to Darwin, W. E., [9 …
- … and anxiety” involved in the editorial process. Letter 9157 - Darwin to Darwin, G. H., …
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: 29 hits
- … his publishers, he warned that it was ‘dry as dust’ ( letter to R. F. Cooke, 9 September 1879 ). …
- … turned out, alas, very dull & has disappointed me much’ ( letter to Francis Galton, 15 [June …
- … home again’, he fretted, just days before his departure ( letter to W. T. Thiselton-Dyer, [after 26 …
- … many blessings, was finding old age ‘a dismal time’ ( letter to Henry Johnson, 24 September 1879 ) …
- … wrinkles one all over like a baked pear’ ( enclosure in letter from R. W. Dixon, 20 December 1879 …
- … itself, or gone some other way round?’ At least the last letter of 1879 contained a warmer note and …
- … office to complete Horace’s marriage settlement ( letter from W. M. Hacon, 31 December 1879 ). …
- … but they were ‘as nice and good as could be’ ( letter from Karl Beger, [ c. 12 February 1879] ) …
- … on your life’s work, which is crowned with glory’ ( letter from Ernst Haeckel, 9 February 1879 ). …
- … to wish Darwin a ‘long and serene evening of life’. This letter crossed with one from Darwin, …
- … the statement ‘In the beginning was carbon’ ( letter from Hermann Müller, 14 February 1879 ). …
- … as the ‘organ of “uncultivated materialism”’ ( letter from Francis Darwin, [after 2 June 1879 ]). …
- … up the glory & would please Francis’, he pointed out ( letter from E. A. Darwin, 13 March [1879 …
- … wholly & shamefully ignorant of my grandfathers life’ ( letter to Ernst Krause, 14 March 1879 …
- … known philosopher and poet’ ( Correspondence vol. 1, letter from Francis Beaufort to Robert …
- … these things with the when & the where, & the who—’ ( letter from V. H. Darwin, 28 May …
- … paternal grandparents thought ‘perfect in every way’ ( letter from E. A. Wheler, 25 March 1879 ). …
- … heard of him ‘constantly, & always with pride’ ( letter from Reginald Darwin, 29 March 1879 ). …
- … essay might end up ‘interfering with each other’ ( letter to Ernst Krause, 27 March 1879 ). Darwin …
- … made such an introduction ‘almost indispensable’ ( letter from Ernst Krause, 7 June 1879 ). Darwin …
- … everything into ridicule. He hates scientific men’ ( letter to Ernst Krause, 14 May 1879 ). …
- … must be ‘in some degree interesting to the public’ ( letter to Reginald Darwin, 10 April [1879] ). …
- … ‘very tastefully and well, and with little fatigue’ ( letter to G. H. Darwin, 12 July 1879 , and …
- … ‘more perplexed than ever about life of D r . D’ ( letter to Francis Darwin, 12 July [1879] ). …
- … telling, and he regretted going beyond his ‘tether’ ( letter to W. T. Thiselton-Dyer, 5 June 1879 …
- … never again to be tempted out of his ‘proper work’ ( letter to James Paget, 14 July 1879 ). At …
- … of the tips of radicles, the embryonic roots of seedlings ( letter to Francis Darwin, 16 June [1879 …
- … experienced obstacles from the start, as he reported in a letter of 29 May . Sachs had changed …
- … and after Farrer’s second marriage to Darwin’s niece in 1873 the Darwins had stayed at the Farrers’ …
