From Francis Galton 2 June 1875
Summary
Interested to hear about the peas.
| Author: | Francis Galton |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 2 June 1875 |
| Classmark: | DAR 105: A79 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10005 |
From William Marshall 2 June 1875
Summary
Discusses feather as case of evolutionary atavism.
Will soon publish on siliceous sponges
and the skin of caterpillars.
| Author: | William Adolf Ludwig (William) Marshall |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 2 June 1875 |
| Classmark: | DAR 171: 48 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10006 |
From Lawson Tait 2 June [1875]
Summary
Paralysis of the nervous system of Dionaea. Uses of tails of mice.
| Author: | Robert Lawson (Lawson) Tait |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 2 June [1875] |
| Classmark: | DAR 178: 7 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10007 |
From Francis Darwin [after 3 June 1875]
Summary
Returns corrected proofs [of Insectivorous plants].
| Author: | Francis Darwin |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | [after 3 June 1875] |
| Classmark: | DAR 274.1: 35 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10007F |
To A. E. J. Modderman 3 June 1875
Summary
Thanks for the diploma conferring on him an honorary doctorate of medicine from Leiden University.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Antony Ewoud Jan Modderman |
| Date: | 3 June 1875 |
| Classmark: | Leiden University Libraries (shelfmark ASF inv.nr. 327 document 86) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10007G |
From Otto Zacharias 3 June 1875
Summary
Intends to set up a biological periodical called “Darwinia” to spread and popularise Darwin’s theories; hopes CD may contribute a few words to the opening issue.
| Author: | Otto Zacharias |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 3 June 1875 |
| Classmark: | DAR 184: 1 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10008 |
To Lawson Tait 4 June [1875]
Summary
CD’s observations on the power of movement and transmission of motor impulses in plants. If RLT succeeds with the tails of mice, it will be "a beautiful little discovery"; CD will enjoy it the more "because some German sneered at natural selection and instanced the tail of the mouse" [see 10013].
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Robert Lawson (Lawson) Tait |
| Date: | 4 June [1875] |
| Classmark: | Natural History Museum (General Special Collections DC AL 1/19) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10009 |
From T. H. Huxley 5 June 1875
Summary
Playfair "disgusted at our pronunciamentos against the Bill". Burdon Sanderson and William Sharpey agreed to it. THH feels he must serve on Vivisection Commission.
| Author: | Thomas Henry Huxley |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 5 June 1875 |
| Classmark: | DAR 166: 341 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10010 |
From Lawson Tait 5 June [1875]
Summary
May publish a lecture on insectivorous plants and would like to dedicate it to CD.
Wishes to become an F.R.S.
| Author: | Robert Lawson (Lawson) Tait |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 5 June [1875] |
| Classmark: | DAR 178: 8 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10011 |
From Ernst Haeckel 6 June 1875
Summary
Comments on Fritz Schultze, Kant und Darwin [1875].
Describes recent activities.
| Author: | Ernst Philipp August (Ernst) Haeckel |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 6 June 1875 |
| Classmark: | DAR 166: 64 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10012 |
To Lydia Wendland 7 June [1875]
Summary
Is very grateful for the gift of a fender-stool. Will send her a copy of Insectivorous plants.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Lydia Wendland |
| Date: | 7 June [1875] |
| Classmark: | Sotheby’s (dealers) (13 December 2007) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10012F |
To Lawson Tait 11 June [1875]
Summary
Has found that H. G. Bronn in the chapter appended to his translation of Origin cited ears and tail of mice as facts opposed to natural selection. Suggests RLT examine hairs of tails of mice for possible nerves.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Robert Lawson (Lawson) Tait |
| Date: | 11 June [1875] |
| Classmark: | DAR 221.5: 24–5 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10013 |
To Otto Zacharias [11 June 1875]
Summary
CD is convinced by the conclusions of Malthus.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Otto Zacharias |
| Date: | [11 June 1875] |
| Classmark: | Zacharias 1882, p. 80 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10013F |
From Fritz Schultze 12 June 1875
Summary
Comments on his book [Kant und Darwin: ein Beitrag zur Geschichte der Entwicklungslehre (1875)].
| Author: | Fritz Schultze |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 12 June 1875 |
| Classmark: | DAR 177: 67 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10014 |
From Lawson Tait 12 June [1875]
Summary
Has separated out a pepsin-like substance from the secretion of Drosera, which he proposes to call "Droserin".
| Author: | Robert Lawson (Lawson) Tait |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 12 June [1875] |
| Classmark: | DAR 178: 9 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10015 |
From Lawson Tait 12 June [1875]
Summary
Intends sending a paper containing some of his histological work [see "Freezing process for section-cutting; … staining and mounting sections", J. Anat. & Physiol. 9 (1875): 249–58].
| Author: | Robert Lawson (Lawson) Tait |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 12 June [1875] |
| Classmark: | DAR 178: 10 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10016 |
To Lawson Tait 13 June [1875]
Summary
RLT’s observations come too late, as CD’s book on Droseraceae has been printed.
Reports on his observations of ferment in secretions in Drosera rotundifolia and Drosophyllum.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Robert Lawson (Lawson) Tait |
| Date: | 13 June [1875] |
| Classmark: | DAR 221.5: 26 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10017 |
To Fritz Schultze 14 June [1875]
Summary
Thanks FS for his book [Kant und Darwin].
Sends regards to Haeckel.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Fritz Schultze |
| Date: | 14 June [1875] |
| Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.470) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10018 |
To Lawson Tait [after 17 June 1875]
Summary
RLT will find abundant evidence of absorption by Aldrovanda in CD’s forthcoming book [Insectivorous plants]. Congratulates him on his discovery of ferments.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Robert Lawson (Lawson) Tait |
| Date: | [after 17 June 1875] |
| Classmark: | Shrewsbury School, Taylor Library |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10019 |
From Lawson Tait 16 June [1875]
Summary
Is waiting impatiently for the appearance of CD’s book [Insectivorous plants].
| Author: | Robert Lawson (Lawson) Tait |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 16 June [1875] |
| Classmark: | DAR 178: 11 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10020 |
| letter | (43) |
| Darwin, C. R. | (21) |
| Tait, Lawson | (4) |
| Cooke, R. F. | (3) |
| Hooker, J. D. | (2) |
| Unidentified | (2) |
| Darwin, C. R. | (43) |
| Tait, Lawson | (11) |
| Cooke, R. F. | (5) |
| Hooker, J. D. | (3) |
| John Murray | (3) |
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: 7 hits
- … animals made him ‘groan’ ( letter to Charles Lyell, 6 March [1863] ). Darwin reiterated in a later …
- … old honoured guide & master’ ( letter to Charles Lyell, 6 March [1863] ). Nevertheless, Darwin …
- … a fitting opportunity’ ( letter to Hugh Falconer, 5 [and 6] January [1863] ). …
- … in the fossil record ( letter to Hugh Falconer, 5 [and 6] January [1863] ). Only until March did …
- … Dana, 20 February [1863] , and letter to Charles Lyell, 6 March [1863] ). In March, after …
- … 29 May [1863] , and letter to Hugh Falconer, [25–6 August 1863] ). Sterility and …
- … [1863] that he had been ‘ordered to do nothing for 6 months’ by his doctors, mentioning that even …
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: 4 hits
- … I feel very old & helpless’ ( letter to B. J. Sulivan, 6 January [1874] ). Darwin mentioned …
- … on the outcome ( enclosure to letter from G. H. Darwin, 6 [August] 1874 ): I think you …
- … & it had been refused’ ( letter from G. H. Darwin, [6 or 7 August 1874] ). When the letter was …
- … to the vomit and ate it ( letter from W. G. Walker, 6 December 1874 ). The Zoological …
Darwin's Fantastical Voyage
Summary
Learn about Darwin's adventures on his epic journey.
Matches: 1 hits
- … These activities explore Darwin’s life changing voyage aboard HMS Beagle. Using letters home, …
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: 7 hits
- … On 6 March 1868, Darwin wrote to the entomologist and accountant John Jenner Weir, …
- … Index-maker’, Darwin wrote to Joseph Dalton Hooker on 6 January . Darwin had sent the manuscript …
- … but never fulfilled. He was sent a news clipping on 6 July from the Maryport Weekly Advertiser …
- … House of Commons than any assembly in the world’ (from ?, 6 April 1868). On 21 May , Darwin …
- … The Swiss botanist Alphonse de Candolle described on 6 July the inheritance over eight …
- … is too short for so long a discussion’, he wrote on 6 April . Yet Wallace continued to press him, …
- … you as their leader’ ( letter from Gaston de Saporta, 6 September 1868 ). The support …
Natural Selection: the trouble with terminology Part I
Summary
Darwin encountered problems with the term ‘natural selection’ even before Origin appeared. Everyone from the Harvard botanist Asa Gray to his own publisher came up with objections. Broadly these divided into concerns either that its meaning simply wasn’t…
List of correspondents
Summary
Below is a list of Darwin's correspondents with the number of letters for each one. Click on a name to see the letters Darwin exchanged with that correspondent. "A child of God" (1) Abberley,…
Matches: 18 hits
- … (2) Appleton, T. G. (6) Arnold, F. S. …
- … (15) Bartlett, Edward (6) Bartlett, R. S. …
- … (1) Boardman, A. F. (6) Boccardo, Gerolamo …
- … (2) Bonham-Carter, E. M. (6) Bonham-Carter, …
- … (1) Browne, Walter (6) Brownen, George …
- … (17) Buckland, William (6) Buckler, William …
- … (2) Child, G. W. (6) Children, J. G. …
- … (1) Clarke, W. B. (b) (6) Claus, C. F. …
- … P. (2) Coe, Henry (6) Coghlan, John …
- … (2) Crüger, Hermann (6) Cuming, Hugh …
- … (1) Darwin, Amy (6) Darwin, Anne Eliza …
- … (47) Darwin, Sara (6) Darwin, V. H. …
- … (2) Davidson, Thomas (6) Davis, J. E. …
- … (1) Dear Friend (6) Delage, Yves (1) …
- … (13) Denny, John (6) Desmarest, Eugène …
- … (3) Elliot, Walter (6) Elliott & Fry …
- … (39) Fabre, Jean-Henri (6) Fairfax, Mary …
- … (9) Galton, E. S. (6) Galton, Erasmus …
Interview with Randal Keynes
Summary
Randal Keynes is a great-great-grandson of Charles Darwin, and the author of Annie’s Box (Fourth Estate, 2001), which discusses Darwin’s home life, his relationship with his wife and children, and the ways in which these influenced his feelings about…
Matches: 1 hits
- … and [of] all the scientist's colleagues. 6. Darwin's poetic sensibility …
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…
Matches: 5 hits
- … below, ‘Textual changes made to C. Lyell 1863c’). On 6 February 1863, Antiquity of man (C. Lyell …
- … over the comparative anatomy of human and ape brains. 6 Many of Lyell’s supporters were …
- … Lyell, see Bynum 1984 and L. G. Wilson 1996. 6. Owen’s complaints about C. Lyell 1863a …
- … See Correspondence vol. 11, letter to Charles Lyell, 6 March [1863] and n. 7. 9. …
- … T. H. Huxley, 7 June 1865, Imperial College, Huxley papers 6: 110). For more on the X-club, see …
Darwin in letters, 1872: Job done?
Summary
'My career’, Darwin wrote towards the end of 1872, 'is so nearly closed. . . What little more I can do, shall be chiefly new work’, and the tenor of his correspondence throughout the year is one of wistful reminiscence, coupled with a keen eye…
Matches: 4 hits
- … Darwin’s best efforts, set the final price at 7 s. 6 d. ( letter from R. F. Cooke, 12 …
- … intellectual errors’ ( letter from St G. J. Mivart, 6 January 1872 ). Darwin likened the …
- … effect on my mind’ ( letter to Chauncey Wright, 6 April 1872 ). A competing theory on the …
- … in his `Literary Banquet’ (letters from John Murray, 6 November [1872] and 9 November 1872 ). …
Darwin's life in letters
Summary
For all his working life, Darwin used letters as a way both of discussing ideas and gathering the ‘great quantities of facts’ that he used in developing and supporting his theories. They form a fascinating collection from many hundreds of correspondents,…
Matches: 1 hits
- … with letters. ( Darwin to John Jenner Weir, [6 March 1868] ) For all his working …
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: 3 hits
St George Jackson Mivart
Summary
In the second half of 1874, Darwin’s peace was disturbed by an anonymous article in the Quarterly Review suggesting that his son George was opposed to the institution of marriage and in favour of ‘unrestrained licentiousness’. Darwin suspected, correctly,…
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: 4 hits
- … a paper for the Linnean Society ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 6 October [1862] ). However, it was not …
- … different translator ( see letter from Edouard Claparède, 6 September 1862 ). In Germany, …
- … of the human species ( see letter from John Lubbock, 6 January 1862 ). Ramsay’s was not the …
- … of the pot of life’? ( letter from T. H. Huxley, 6 May 1862 ). In his address, Huxley also …
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…
Matches: 1 hits
- … Jamieson, 3 September 1861 To Thomas Jamieson, 6 September [1861] To Charles …
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: 22 hits
- … good by D r L. Lindsay 5 [DAR *119: 1v.] 6 Books to be Read …
- … [Le Couteur 1836] Bechstein on Caged Birds. 10 s 6 d . translated by Rennie [Bechstein …
- … de la Geographie des trois Regnes de la nature. Paris. 6: folio par Céran de Lemonier. Bailliere …
- … Organique dans l’echelle animale, par A. Dugés, 4to. avec 6 planches, ibid, 1832. 6 s . [Dugés …
- … p. 195) “Boltons Harmonia Ruralis” [Bolton 1794–6]— Yarrell probably has it. account of …
- … of Carnation. Auricula. Polyanth tulip. Rose. Hyacinth. 6 s . a catalogue of vars. [T. Hogg 1820] …
- … Edition, with Plates and Woodcuts. Post 8vo., 9 s . 6 d . [Knapp] 1838] Read Gleanings in …
- … Pœppig Travels in S. America. German [Pöppig 1835–6].— Zoologie Generale. Iside. St Hilaire …
- … 1809]. Communicat to Board of Agriculture. vol 6 quoted by Youatt on migration of Sheep [Anon …
- … [C. H. Smith 1839–40] /on Ruminants [Jardine ed. 1835–6]// on Horses [C. H. Smith 1841]// Exotic …
- … Nacht. von einigen Berlin 1763? [Kölreuter 1761–6] Godwins answer to Malthus [Godwin 1820] …
- … [Etherington 1841–3]. Whittaker 1844. in Parts. cheap. 1.6 a part. 38 Schlegel Essay on …
- … Darluc. Hist Nat. de la Provence [Darluc 1782–6] 8vo. 1782. Tom I p. 303 to 329 gives account of …
- … of Nat: Hist: of Creation. Churchill: 1844. 7 s ” 6 d . [Chambers] 1844] in which species are …
- … Jussieus introduct to Bot. price 6 s [Jussieu 1842] [DAR *119: 20v.] …
- … 40 vols. 12mo. coloured plates, cloth lettered, (pub. at 6 s per vol.) reduced to 5 s 1834–43 …
- … 5. Peacocks, Pheasants, &c. [Jardine 1834a] 6. Birds of the Game kind [Jardine 1834b]. …
- … Ruminating Animals (Deer, Antelopes, &c.) [Jardine 1835–6] 12. Ruminating Animals (Goats, …
- … of Vertebrate animals 54 folio Plates. Maclise 2”12.6. [Maclise 1847] good for woodcuts. (Roy. …
- … Analysis & theory of the Emotions by G. Ramsay B.M. 6. 6. Black Edin. Longman [Ramsay 1848] …
- … (read) Knox. Ornithological Ramble in Sussex. 7. 6. [A. E. Knox 1849] J. Lubbock has & …
- … when out Lisianky’s Voyage round world 1803–6 [Lisyansky 1814]— nothing Lyell’s …
Rewriting Origin - the later editions
Summary
For such an iconic work, the text of Origin was far from static. It was a living thing that Darwin continued to shape for the rest of his life, refining his ‘one long argument’ through a further five English editions. Many of his changes were made in…
Darwin in letters, 1865: Delays and disappointments
Summary
The year was marked by three deaths of personal significance to Darwin: Hugh Falconer, a friend and supporter; Robert FitzRoy, captain of the Beagle; and William Jackson Hooker, director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and father of Darwin’s friend…
Matches: 4 hits
- … I have not laboured in vain’ ( letter to Hugh Falconer, 6 January [1865] ). Sic transit …
- … modification of structure’ (G. D. Campbell 1864, pp. 275–6). Campbell argued further that natural …
- … observations to high scientific account’ (A. Gray 1865–6, pp. 273-4). Darwin had also written to …
- … to the Anthropologicals?’ ( letter from F. H. Hooker, 6 September [1865] ). Before he returned …
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: 1 hits
- … ( Letter from A. A. van Bemmelen and H. J. Veth, 6 February 1877 ) Dutch …
Fake Darwin: myths and misconceptions
Summary
Many myths have persisted about Darwin's life and work. Here are a few of the more pervasive ones, with full debunking below...
Matches: 1 hits
- … Many myths have persisted about Darwin's life and work. Here are a few of the more pervasive ones, …
Vivisection: first sketch of the bill
Summary
Strictly Confidential Mem: This print is only a first sketch. It is being now recast with a new & more simple form – but the substance of the proposed measure may be equally well seen in this draft. R.B.L. | 2 586 Darwin and vivisection …
