From W. E. Darwin [24 April 1877?]
Summary
Sends notes made in June 1867, on Rhamnus catharticus and R. lanceolatus. Encloses diagrams and measurements relating to pollen size in R. lanceolatus.
| Author: | William Erasmus Darwin |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | [24 Apr 1877?] |
| Classmark: | DAR 109: A44, A71–6 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10343 |
From Edward Harris April 1877
Summary
Wishes to bring CD his trained cockatoo.
| Author: | Edward Harris |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | Apr 1877 |
| Classmark: | DAR 166: 105 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10920 |
From Hermann Müller 2 April 1877
Summary
Is pleased that CD agrees with HM’s suggestions and criticisms of CD’s work. Will undertake experiments with Viola tricolor seeds to see if they produce both large- and small-flowered plants.
| Author: | Heinrich Ludwig Hermann (Hermann) Müller |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 2 Apr 1877 |
| Classmark: | DAR 111: A88 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10921 |
To Josef Kořenský 2 April 1877
Summary
"Charles Darwin Down, Kent April 2d. 1877; With Mr Darwin’s compliments. – "
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Josef Kořenský |
| Date: | 2 Apr 1877 |
| Classmark: | Museum of Czech Literature/Památník národního písemnictví (fond Varia Literární archiv) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10922 |
From W. D. Fox 3 April [1877]
Summary
Reports on upward projection of Pulmonaria flowers.
| Author: | William Darwin Fox |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 3 Apr [1877] |
| Classmark: | DAR 110: B62 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10923 |
From W. E. Darwin 4 April 1877
Summary
Arrangements about a purchase of land.
| Author: | William Erasmus Darwin |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 4 Apr 1877 |
| Classmark: | Cornford Family Papers (DAR 275: 61) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10923F |
From John Colby 9 April 1877
Summary
Notes on competition among tree species in South Wales.
| Author: | John Colby |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 9 Apr 1877 |
| Classmark: | DAR 161: 208 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10924 |
From Johannes Schön 10 April 1877
Summary
In the name of a student science club, asks whether CD’s theory of evolution applies to mental as well as physical characteristics of men and animals. Asks whether animals have free-will like humans. Do animals have a sense that humans lack?
| Author: | Johannes Schön |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 10 Apr 1877 |
| Classmark: | DAR 177: 62 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10925 |
To R. F. Cooke 11 April 1877
Summary
Sends MS [of Forms of flowers]. Since sale is likely to be small, Murray may not want to publish it on usual terms. CD thinks it may be his last book and asks Murray to publish it on most favourable terms he can afford.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Robert Francis Cooke; John Murray |
| Date: | 11 Apr 1877 |
| Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms. 42152 ff. 304–5) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10926 |
From R. F. Cooke 12 April 1877
Summary
JM will be pleased to publish the new work [Forms of flowers] on the usual terms. MS has been sent to the printer.
| Author: | Robert Francis Cooke; John Murray |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 12 Apr 1877 |
| Classmark: | DAR 171: 487 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10927 |
From John Scott 12 April 1877
Summary
Comments on various species of Lagerstroemia.
In the series of opium poppy intercrosses made at CD’s suggestion, JS has learned that the reason they failed to intercross was the absence of insects at the period of their flowering.
| Author: | John Scott |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 12 Apr 1877 |
| Classmark: | DAR 47: 207–9 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10928 |
From G. N. de Stoppelaar 14 April 1877
Summary
CD made a Foreign Member of the Zeeland Scientific Society at Middelburg.
| Author: | Gerardus Nicolaas de Stoppelaar |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 14 Apr 1877 |
| Classmark: | DAR 230: 51 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10928A |
From H. N. Ridley 15 April 1877
Summary
Sends specimens of Saxifraga tridactylites with insects caught by it. Asks if colour of leaves attracts insects.
| Author: | Henry Nicholas Ridley |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 15 Apr 1877 |
| Classmark: | DAR 86: B10–11 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10930 |
To H. N. Ridley 16 April [1877]
Summary
Thanks for Saxifraga. CD had shown in Insectivorous plants [pp. 345–7] that this genus had some powers of absorption.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Henry Nicholas Ridley |
| Date: | 16 Apr [1877] |
| Classmark: | Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (Letters to H. N. Ridley CLE–GUR, 1878–81: f. 43) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10931 |
To G. N. de Stoppelaar 17 April 1877
Summary
Thanks for membership of Zeeland Scientific Society at Middelburg.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Gerardus Nicolaas de Stoppelaar |
| Date: | 17 Apr 1877 |
| Classmark: | Zeeuws Archief (Koninklijk Zeeuwsch Genootschap der Wetenschappen) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10931F |
To G. H. Lewes 18 April 1877
Summary
Thanks GHL for a copy of his Physical basis of mind [1877].
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | George Henry Lewes |
| Date: | 18 Apr 1877 |
| Classmark: | DAR 185: 45 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10932 |
From G. H. Darwin 19 April 1877
Summary
Has heard CD is about to be proposed again for the Académie Française, but Huxley is proposed at the same time and may succeed against CD "as being more orthodox!"
| Author: | George Howard Darwin |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 19 Apr 1877 |
| Classmark: | DAR 210.2: 57 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10933 |
From Thomas Howie 20 April 1877
Summary
Offers key to CD’s theory: fern roots are like little grubs.
Claims to have crossed the Australian Alps where Dr Müller [Ferdinand von Mueller?] failed.
| Author: | Thomas Howie |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 20 Apr 1877 |
| Classmark: | DAR 166: 276 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10934 |
To J. D. Hooker 21 April [1877]
Summary
CD regrets not being able to see JDH.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
| Date: | 21 Apr [1877] |
| Classmark: | DAR 95: 439 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10935 |
From Otto Zacharias 21 April 1877
Summary
Sends abnormal pig’s foot. Does abnormality occur often?
| Author: | Otto Zacharias |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 21 Apr 1877 |
| Classmark: | DAR 184: 6 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10936 |
| letter | (32) |
| Darwin, C. R. | (14) |
| Darwin, W. E. | (2) |
| Colby, John | (1) |
| Cooke, R. F. | (1) |
| Darwin, Francis | (1) |
| Darwin, C. R. | (17) |
| Stoppelaar, G. N. de | (2) |
| Conta, Vasile | (1) |
| Cooke, R. F. | (1) |
| Darwin, G. H. | (1) |
| Darwin, C. R. | (31) |
| Stoppelaar, G. N. de | (3) |
| Cooke, R. F. | (2) |
| Darwin, G. H. | (2) |
| Darwin, W. E. | (2) |
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…
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: 23 hits
- … (1) Alberts, Karl (4) Alberts, Maurice …
- … (2) Allman, G. J. (4) Althaus, Julius …
- … (1) Atkinson, Edward (4) Aubertin, J. J. …
- … (1) Bailey, W. W. (4) Baillie, A. F. …
- … (1) Bary, Anton de (4) Bashford, Frederick …
- … (1) Behrens, Wilhelm (4) Beke, C. T. …
- … (1) Bianconi, G. G. (4) Bibliogr. Inst. …
- … (8) Blackwall, John (4) Blackwell, A. L. B. …
- … (7) Blair, R. H. (4) Blake, C. C. (3 …
- … (2) Broca, Paul (4) Broderip, W. J. …
- … (1) Browne, Hugh (4) Browne, W. R. …
- … (1) Canning, A. S. G. (4) Capes, Frederick …
- … (1) Cardwell, Edward (4) Carlier, A. G. …
- … (1) Chapman, John (4) Charles, R. F. …
- … (2) Cheeseman, T. F. (4) Chemical supplier …
- … (1) Chester, J. L. (4) Chiantore, G. …
- … (2) Clark, J. W. (b) (4) Clarke, Benjamin …
- … (3) Coan, T. M. (4) Cobbe, F. P. (13 …
- … (2) Crotch, G. R. (4) Crotch, W. D. …
- … (56) Dallinger, W. H. (4) Daly, J. …
- … (11) Dobson, G. E. (4) Dodel-Port, Arnold …
- … (3) Dunker, Wilhelm (4) Dupré, August …
- … (2) Fawcett, Henry (4) Fayrer, Joseph …
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…
Matches: 4 hits
- … translation, 1863 2d French translation 1865 4 th English edition published, 1866 …
- … Lyell, 11 October [1859] and letter from Charles Lyell, 4 October 1859 ). Despite having …
- … doomed to disappointment. 3 rd to 4 th editions This …
- … Everything which I have read during last 4 years I find is quite washy in my mind . Once …
Darwin And Evolution
Summary
What is evolution? What did Darwin discover and how did he come to his conclusions?
Matches: 1 hits
- … Activities give an introduction to Charles Darwin and his theories of evolution. Specimens brought …
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, …
Detecting Darwin
Summary
Who was Charles Darwin? What is he famous for? Why is he still important?
Matches: 1 hits
- … Pupils act as Darwin detectives, exploring clues about Darwin’s life and work. No prior knowledge …
Language: Interview with Gregory Radick
Summary
Darwin made a famous comment about parallels between changes in language and species change. Gregory Radick, Professor of History and Philosophy of Science at Leeds University, talks about the importance of the development of language to Darwin, what…
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: 7 hits
- … improvement to Jones’s diet ( see letter to T. H. Huxley, 4 October [1865] ). It was not until …
- … for the press in the autumn’ ( letter to John Murray, 4 April [1865] ). In early June, he wrote to …
- … from the Linnean Society ( letter to [Richard Kippist], 4 June [1865] ). The paper was published …
- … to high scientific account’ (A. Gray 1865–6, pp. 273-4). Darwin had also written to Gray on 19 …
- … for him to read attentively ( see letter to J. D. Hooker, [4 June 1865] ). The fact that …
- … do it if it ever can be done’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, [4 June 1865] ); the hard work of …
- … keep out of contact with him’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 4 May [1865] ). Darwin contributed …
Teachers notes: Offer of a lifetime
Summary
The Offer of a Lifetime? Activities for: English Key Stage 3 and 4 When Darwin was 22 he received an exciting and unique opportunity to join HMS Beagle. The voyage changed his life but the letters show how close he came to not going at all! …
Matches: 1 hits
- … Activities for: English Key Stage 3 and 4 When Darwin was 22 he received an exciting and …
Home learning: 7-11 years
Summary
Do try this at home! Support your children’s learning by downloading our free and fun activities for those aged between 7-11 and 11-14 years, using Darwin’s letters.
Matches: 1 hits
- … More Darwin the Collector activities 4 How did Darwin develop his ideas on …
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: 9 hits
- … published in Paris (in 2 vols.), so long ago as 1839 4 [Pierquin de Gembloux 1839]. Said to …
- … et anim: on sleep & movements of plants £ 1 ..s 4. [Dutrochet 1837] Voyage aux …
- … observations on increase & decrease of different diseases 4 to . 1801 [Heberden 1801] quoted …
- … worth reading [Dampier 1697] Sportsman’s repository 4 to . [W. H. Scott 1820]— contains …
- … Audubons Ornithol: Biography [Audubon 1831–9]— 4 Vols. well worth reading [DAR *119: 4v.] …
- … 31 An analysis of British Ferns. G. W. Francis 4 s [Francis 1837]— plates of every …
- … of Rural Sports [Blaine 1840] (at Athenæum?) Book II Chapt. 4 on variation by Blaine .— & on …
- … Yak.— Steudel Botan. Nomenclature [Steudel 1821–4]. Synonym of every plant & country— …
- … Paper on transmutation of shells [Haldeman 1843–4] already (1844) VI. vols. published Lib. …
New material added to the American edition of Origin
Summary
A ‘revised and augmented’ American edition of Origin came on the market in July 1860, and was the only authorised edition available in the US until 1873. It incorporated many of the changes Darwin made to the second English edition, but still contained…
Darwin and vivisection
Summary
Darwin played an important role in the controversy over vivisection that broke out in late 1874. Public debate was sparked when the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals brought an unsuccessful prosecution against a French physiologist who…
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: 4 hits
- … mammoth ( Correspondence vol. 8, letter to Charles Lyell, 4 May [1860] and n. 3; Hutchinson 1914, …
- … partly inspired by the controversies associated with it. 4 One area of controversy centred …
- … admiration for Lubbock’s book ( letter to J. D. Hooker, [4 June 1865] ). A week later he sent …
- … of the situation was succinct. In his letter to Hooker of [4 June 1865] he warned that no one …
Darwin in letters, 1871: An emptying nest
Summary
The year 1871 was an extremely busy and productive one for Darwin, with the publication in February of his long-awaited book on human evolution, Descent of man. The other main preoccupation of the year was the preparation of his manuscript on expression.…
Matches: 4 hits
- … of Descent , he wrote to Philip Lutley Sclater on 4 January , ‘Heaven knows, whether the book …
- … produce physiological changes ( letter from Michael Foster, 4 June [1871] ). Pangenesis …
- … can hardly sit up, so no more’ ( letter to A. R. Wallace, 4 August [1871] ). On 23 September he …
- … good as twice refined gold’ ( letter to H. E. Litchfield, 4 September [1871] ). The months …
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: 7 hits
- … me’, Darwin wrote enthusiastically to Reginald Darwin on 4 April , declaring that reading it was …
- … independent of him as possible’, Francis told Darwin on 4 July, after reporting that he had …
- … with Ubba about your return’, Darwin wrote to Francis on 4 July , ‘He said “it is likely he will …
- … neither cross nor ennuied’ (Emma Darwin to W. E. Darwin, [4 August 1879] (DAR 219.1: 125)). Darwin …
- … has opposed it’ (letter from Emma Darwin to W. E. Darwin, [4 August 1879] (DAR 219.1: 125)). Nothing …
- … ‘to be planted in my honour!’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 4 November [1879] ). While in Coniston, …
- … frog be published in Nature ( letter to J. N. Lockyer, 4 and 6 March [1879] ). When Darwin’s …
Darwin in letters, 1876: In the midst of life
Summary
1876 was the year in which the Darwins became grandparents for the first time. And tragically lost their daughter-in-law, Amy, who died just days after her son's birth. All the letters from 1876 are now published in volume 24 of The Correspondence…
Matches: 5 hits
- … curs in London’ ( letter to W. T. Thiselton-Dyer, [4 February 1876] ). 'The heat of …
- … as stemming a torrent with a reed’, he told Romanes on 4 June , but added, ‘Frank … who sputters …
- … the previous year ( letter to G. H. Darwin, [after 4 September 1876] ). ...all sorts of …
- … say is do not commit suicide’ ( letter to G. H. Darwin, [4 June 1876] ). By midsummer, Darwin …
- … size of pollen grains & state of stigma’, he told Gray on 4 December. Darwin also adopted …
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
- … He expressed his views to his daughter Henrietta on 4 January : ‘I wd gladly punish severely …
- … eyes of one variety into another ( Variation 2d ed. 1: 420–4, 2: 360). Darwin had encouraged …
- … become wholly white’ ( letter from G. J. Romanes, [before 4 November 1874] ). Testing …
- … am very glad indeed of your work,’ Darwin replied on 4 November , ‘though I cannot yet follow all …
- … occasions and finally arranged a visit to Down House on 4 May, but was not content with just one …
Dramatisation script
Summary
Re: Design – Adaptation of the Correspondence of Charles Darwin, Asa Gray and others… by Craig Baxter – as performed 25 March 2007
Darwin in letters,1866: Survival of the fittest
Summary
The year 1866 began well for Charles Darwin, as his health, after several years of illness, was now considerably improved. In February, Darwin received a request from his publisher, John Murray, for a new edition of Origin. Darwin got the fourth…
Matches: 4 hits
- … [1866] ). Darwin began riding the cob, Tommy, on 4 June 1866, and in a letter to his …
- … before the season is over’ ( letter from John Lubbock, 4 August 1866 ). More predictably, however, …
- … is known on the subject’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 3 and 4 August [1866] ). And on the next day: …
- … he had sounded the charge’ ( letter from J. D. Hooker, [4 September 1866] ). 'Natural …
