To Edward Frankland 29 May [1879]
Summary
Hearty thanks for the two bottles of pure water.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Edward Frankland |
Date: | 29 May [1879] |
Classmark: | The John Rylands Library, The University of Manchester |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10001A |
From W. T. Thiselton-Dyer [20 January 1879]
Summary
H. N. Moseley says [in "Notes on plants collected and observed at the Admiralty Islands", J. Linn. Soc. Lond. (Bot.) 15 (1877): 77] pigeons eject seeds in fit state for germination. He regards pigeons as providing most efficient means of transport in Malayan Archipelago.
CD’s collected notes on geographical distribution would make a good book.
Author: | William Turner Thiselton-Dyer |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | [20 Jan 1879] |
Classmark: | DAR 205.2: 260 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10341 |
To G. H. Darwin [after 25 February 1879]
Summary
Frank [Darwin] has found a Trifolium remarkable for "bloom", but it was not in flower. If GHD knows where it grows, could he dig up the whole plant?
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | George Howard Darwin |
Date: | [after 25 Feb 1879] |
Classmark: | DAR 210.1: 76 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10342 |
To W. T. Thiselton-Dyer 4 July [1879?]
Summary
Thanks WTT-D for Drosophyllum seeds.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | William Turner Thiselton-Dyer |
Date: | 4 July [1879?] |
Classmark: | Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (Darwin: Letters to Thiselton-Dyer, 1873–81: ff. 65–6) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-11033 |
To Francis Darwin 3 June [1879]
Summary
Asks whether canary grass and oats have chlorophyll in their cotyledons.
Has been working hard at circumnutation of leaves to see whether sleep movements are exaggerated circumnutation.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Francis Darwin |
Date: | 3 June [1879] |
Classmark: | DAR 211: 25 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-11541 |
To Ann Marston 20 July [1879]
Summary
Will not sign a petition, for he feels vivisection is essential to the progress of physiology.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Ann Marston |
Date: | 20 July [1879] |
Classmark: | DAR 202: 22 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-11619 |
From James Torbitt [1879?]
Summary
Has found no [potato] variety whose foliage can resist the parasite, except when grown under glass.
Author: | James Torbitt |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | [1879?] |
Classmark: | DAR 178: 151 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-11814 |
To Francis Darwin [4 February – 8 March 1879]
Summary
Requests some seeds.
Believes the leaves of Phyllanthus sleep like those of Cassia.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Francis Darwin |
Date: | [4 Feb – 8 Mar 1879] |
Classmark: | DAR 211: 49 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-11815 |
To Francis Darwin? [1879–80?]
Summary
Discusses A. B. Frank’s views [Beiträge zur Pflanzenphysiologie (1868)] on how plants position themselves; differences and similarities compared with their own conclusions.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Francis Darwin |
Date: | [1879–80?] |
Classmark: | DAR LIB 2003/2004 (in box with A. B. Frank, Beiträge zur Pflanzenphysiologie, 1868, and Die natürliche wagerechte Richtung von Pflanzentheilen, 1870) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-11816 |
To Albert Günther 1 January 1879
Summary
Thanks AG for his kind note and returns his good wishes.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Albrecht Carl Ludwig Gotthilf (Albert) Günther |
Date: | 1 Jan 1879 |
Classmark: | Shrewsbury School, Taylor Library |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-11817 |
From Marius Koch 3 January 1879
Summary
A young disciple wishes to know if reports of people with tails in New Guinea could be true.
Author: | Marius Koch |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 3 Jan 1879 |
Classmark: | DAR 169: 48 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-11819 |
To A. S. Wilson 4 [June] 1879
Summary
Mentions wheat varieties sent by Governor General of Turkestan.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Alexander Stephen Wilson |
Date: | 4 [June] 1879 |
Classmark: | DAR 148: 366 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-11820 |
To Edward Frankland 4 January [1879]
Summary
Fears that the promised bottle of pure water may have been despatched or stolen in passage. [See 11768a.]
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Edward Frankland |
Date: | 4 Jan [1879] |
Classmark: | The John Rylands Library, The University of Manchester (Frankland Collection) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-11820A |
From Mary Jung 7 January 1879
Summary
Young Austrian woman asks for CD’s autograph.
Author: | Mary Jung |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 7 Jan 1879 |
Classmark: | DAR 168: 94 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-11821 |
From Carl Kraus 8 January 1879
Summary
A supporter of "the presumptive connection between socialism and evolution through natural selection" sends essays of Carl Vogt and requests CD to comment on them publicly.
Author: | Carl (Charles) Kraus |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 8 Jan 1879 |
Classmark: | DAR 169: 104 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-11822 |
To ? 9 January 1879
Summary
Thanks correspondent for the copies of his engraving. "The work seems to be, though I cannot pretend to be a judge, a vy fine production".
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Unidentified |
Date: | 9 Jan 1879 |
Classmark: | Dr Mirko Majer (private collection) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-11823 |
From W. E. Darwin 9 January 1879
Summary
Sends figures on increase in value of North Western Railway stocks. Says consol stock considered much more secure for bankers. Does not think his own bank is in danger of a run. Is glad to see the Emperor of Prussia has confirmed CD’s appointment to Academy. Is snowing at Bassett.
Author: | William Erasmus Darwin |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 9 Jan 1879 |
Classmark: | Cornford Family Papers (DAR 275: 70) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-11823F |
To W. E. Darwin 10 January [1879]
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | William Erasmus Darwin |
Date: | 10 Jan [1879] |
Classmark: | DAR 210.6: 152 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-11824 |
From Leopold Würtenberger 10 January 1879
Summary
Asks about possibility of securing grant in England in order to complete work on ammonites. Describes progress. Could CD recommend him to a foundation? Describes personal background.
Author: | Leopold Würtenberger |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 10 Jan 1879 |
Classmark: | DAR 181: 184 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-11825 |
To Mary Jung 11 January 1879
Summary
Suggests MJ does not worry about the differences in opinion between ecclesiastics and scientists.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Mary Jung |
Date: | 11 Jan 1879 |
Classmark: | J. A. Stargardt (dealers) (Catalogue 681, 28–9 June 2005) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-11825F |
letter | (652) |
Darwin, C. R. | (320) |
Krause, Ernst | (22) |
Dallas, W. S. | (19) |
Darwin, Francis | (14) |
Darwin, Reginald | (10) |
Darwin, C. R. | (317) |
Krause, Ernst | (27) |
Darwin, Francis | (23) |
Thiselton-Dyer, W. T. | (19) |
Darwin, G. H. | (18) |
Darwin, C. R. | (637) |
Krause, Ernst | (49) |
Darwin, Francis | (37) |
Darwin, G. H. | (27) |
Thiselton-Dyer, W. T. | (24) |

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
- … There are summaries of all Darwin's letters from the year 1879 on this website. The full texts …
- … Press . Darwin spent a considerable part of 1879 in the eighteenth century. His journey back …
- … was ‘dry as dust’ ( letter to R. F. Cooke, 9 September 1879 ). He was also unsatisfied with his …
- … me much’ ( letter to Francis Galton, 15 [June 1879] ). Even the prospect of a holiday in the Lake …
- … ( letter to W. T. Thiselton-Dyer, [after 26] July [1879] ). From July, Darwin had an additional …
- … ‘a dismal time’ ( letter to Henry Johnson, 24 September 1879 ). He may have been consoled to learn …
- … pear’ ( enclosure in letter from R. W. Dixon, 20 December 1879 ). The year ended with the start of …
- … or gone some other way round?’ At least the last letter of 1879 contained a warmer note and the …
- … marriage settlement ( letter from W. M. Hacon, 31 December 1879 ). Seventy years old …
- … could be’ ( letter from Karl Beger, [ c. 12 February 1879] ). The masters of Greiz College …
- … with glory’ ( letter from Ernst Haeckel, 9 February 1879 ). The botanist and schoolteacher …
- … was carbon’ ( letter from Hermann Müller, 14 February 1879 ). Carus Sterne was the …
- … ( letter from Francis Darwin, [after 2 June 1879 ]). As one of Darwin’s most ardent admirers, …
- … he pointed out ( letter from E. A. Darwin, 13 March [1879 ]). Meanwhile, Darwin began searching …
- … my grandfathers life’ ( letter to Ernst Krause, 14 March 1879 ). While searching for Seward …
- … time Darwin came to investigate his grandfather’s life in 1879, however, not only was Erasmus Darwin …
- … where, & the who—’ ( letter from V. H. Darwin, 28 May [1879] ). On the Galton side of the …
- … in every way’ ( letter from E. A. Wheler, 25 March 1879 ). She suggested that Darwin contact their …
- … with pride’ ( letter from Reginald Darwin, 29 March 1879 ). It was from Reginald that …
- … with each other’ ( letter to Ernst Krause, 27 March 1879 ). Darwin’s aim was ‘to give some sort of …
- … indispensable’ ( letter from Ernst Krause, 7 June 1879 ). Darwin welcomed Krause’s suggestion, but …
- … He hates scientific men’ ( letter to Ernst Krause, 14 May 1879 ). From the start of his …
- … to the public’ ( letter to Reginald Darwin, 10 April [1879] ). However, even members of Darwin’s …
- … with little fatigue’ ( letter to G. H. Darwin, 12 July 1879 , and letter from Leonard Darwin, …
- … life of D r . D’ ( letter to Francis Darwin, 12 July [1879] ). It was little consolation that …
- … his ‘tether’ ( letter to W. T. Thiselton-Dyer, 5 June 1879 , and letter to G. H. Darwin, 12 July …
- … of his ‘proper work’ ( letter to James Paget, 14 July 1879 ). At this time, his proper work was …
- … they intended to publish their results as a book. By June 1879, Darwin was completing an …
- … roots of seedlings ( letter to Francis Darwin, 16 June [1879] ). Francis in Würzburg …

1879 Letters now online
Summary
In 1879, Darwin continued his research on movement in plants and researched, wrote, and published a short biography of his grandfather Erasmus Darwin as an introduction to a translation of an essay by Ernst Krause on Erasmus’s scientific work. Darwin’s son…
Matches: 8 hits
- … In 1879, Darwin continued his research on movement in plants and researched, …
- … of over 640 letters written to and from Darwin in 1879 are now online. Read more about Darwin& …
- … such a job. ( Letter to J. D. Hooker, 1 December [1879] ) In early 1879, as a tribute …
- … . ( Letter to the Darwin children, 21 February 1879 ) Just over a week after his …
- … irritations ( Letter t o Francis Darwin, 2 July [1879] ) Darwin regarded his …
- … the country . ( Letter to T. H. Farrer, 23 October 1879 ) During the year Darwin …
- … of the theory of natural selection. Nothing came of it in 1879, but it was to bear fruit later. He …
- … strong health . ( Letter to T. H. Farrer, 13 October 1879 ) Darwin wrote this to his …

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
- … map of the sandhills in central Sweden, 16 February 1879 C. W. Hamilton's …

Darwin in letters, 1880: Sensitivity and worms
Summary
‘My heart & soul care for worms & nothing else in this world,’ Darwin wrote to his old Shrewsbury friend Henry Johnson on 14 November 1880. Darwin became fully devoted to earthworms in the spring of the year, just after finishing the manuscript of…
Matches: 8 hits
- … book, Erasmus Darwin , had been published in November 1879. It was received well by his relations …
- … he had written for the German journal Kosmos in February 1879, an issue produced in honour of …
- … Butler, Evolution old and new , which had appeared in May 1879. Krause wanted to correct Butler’s …
- … Correspondence vol. 27, letter from Ernst Krause, 7 June 1879 , and letter to Ernst Krause, 9 …
- … Darwin stated that Krause’s piece had been written in 1879 (before Evolution old and new was …
- … had raised the plant from seeds sent by Asa Gray in December 1879. His observations differed, …
- … by Gray in an article and textbook (A. Gray 1877 and A. Gray 1879, pp. 20–1). ‘I think you cannot …
- … vol. 27, letter from J. D. Hooker, 18 December 1879 ). For some years, Wallace’s main source of …

Movement in Plants
Summary
The power of movement in plants, published on 7 November 1880, was the final large botanical work that Darwin wrote. It was the only work in which the assistance of one of his children, Francis Darwin, is mentioned on the title page. The research for this…
Matches: 12 hits
- … Francis worked in this laboratory in the summers of 1878 and 1879, he encountered some of the most …
- … couple of days ( letter from A. F. Batalin, 28 February 1879 ). Darwin was especially keen for his …
- … so much at odds ( letter to Hugo de Vries 13 February 1879 ). He was reassured by De Vries, who …
- … When Francis spent a month in Algiers in early 1879, Darwin asked him to visit the botanist Gaetano …
- … seeds ( letter to Francis Darwin, [4 February – 8 March 1879] ). He continued to write up the …
- … ’. The lull in experimental work continued into March 1879, and Darwin seemed weary when he told …
- … the subject of bloom from his book. In mid-June 1879, Darwin was pleased to get back to …
- … and growth ( letter from Hugo de Vries, 7 August 1879 ). Darwin replied, ‘ I thank you much for …
- … the Spring ’. Luckily, De Vries published two papers in 1879 and 1880 that Darwin was later able to …
- … ‘A horrid bore’ In late October 1879, Darwin told Gray, ‘ I have written a rather big …
- … bodies’ ( letter to W. T. Thiselton-Dyer, 29 October 1879 ). Thiselton-Dyer, who had assisted in …
- … earlier ( letter to W. T. Thiselton-Dyer, 20 November 1879 ). Hooker offered to write to Egypt for …
Darwin’s student booklist
Summary
In October 1825 Charles Darwin and his older brother, Erasmus, went to study medicine in Edinburgh, where their father, Robert Waring Darwin, had trained as a doctor in the 1780’s. Erasmus had already graduated from Cambridge and was continuing his studies…
Matches: 1 hits
- … it was first published in 1804. On rereading this work in 1879 Darwin judged it ‘a wretched …
1.14 William Richmond, oil
Summary
< Back to Introduction William Blake Richmond’s portrait of Darwin, dating from 1879, celebrated his honorary degree of LL.D (Doctor in Laws), awarded by Cambridge University in 1877. Darwin’s return to his alma mater for the presentation ceremony…
Matches: 4 hits
- … William Blake Richmond’s portrait of Darwin, dating from 1879, celebrated his honorary degree of LL …
- … Oxford in this same year. In a letter of 18 June 1879, Darwin told Thiselton-Dyer (Hooker’s …
- … William Blake Richmond date of creation 1879-80 computer-readable date 1879 …
- … in DAR 215.31b. Letters from Darwin to John Fiske, 10 June 1879 (DCP-LETT-12098) and to Thiselton …

Life of Erasmus Darwin
Summary
The Life of Erasmus Darwin (1879) was a curious departure for Darwin. It was intended as a biographical note to accompany an essay on Erasmus's scientific work by the German writer Ernst Krause. But Darwin became immersed in his grandfather's…
Matches: 5 hits
- … The Life of Erasmus Darwin (1879) was a curious departure for Darwin. It was intended as a …
- … the book into grist for controversy. In February 1879, Darwin received an unusual birthday …
- … my grandfathers life ', Darwin wrote to Krause on 14 March 1879. He made contact with family …
- … my tether '. The book was published in November of 1879. Darwin filled his notice with …
- … whose Evolution Old and New had been published in May of 1879, had not failed to find the …

Power of movement in plants
Summary
Sources|Discussion Questions|Experiment Family experiments Darwin was an active and engaged father during his children's youth, involving them in his experiments and even occasionally using them as observational subjects. When his children…
Matches: 1 hits
- … Letter 12152 - Francis Darwin to Darwin, 12 July 1879 Francis writes to his father …

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, …
People featured in the Dutch photograph album
Summary
Here is a list of people that appeared in the photograph album Darwin received for his birthday on 12 February 1877 from scientific admirers in the Netherlands. Many thanks to Hester Loeff for identifying and researching them. No. …
People featured in the Dutch photograph album
Summary
List of people appearing in the photograph album Darwin received from scientific admirers in the Netherlands for his birthday on 12 February 1877. We are grateful to Hester Loeff for providing this list and for permission to make her research available.…
3.18 Elliott and Fry photos, c.1869-1871
Summary
< Back to Introduction The leading photographic firm of Elliott and Fry seems to have portrayed Darwin at Down House on several occasions. In November 1869 Darwin told A. B. Meyer, who wanted photographs of both him and Wallace for a German…
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: 1 hits
- … Letter 12041 — Darwin, C. R. to Fordyce, John, 7 May 1879 In this letter marked “private”, …
3.16 Oscar Rejlander, photos
Summary
< Back to Introduction Darwin’s plans for the illustration of his book The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals (1872) led him to the Swedish-born painter and photographer, Oscar Gustaf Rejlander. Rejlander gave Darwin the notes that he had…
Matches: 1 hits
- … Litchfield to a family servant as her leaving present in 1879. Henry Eeles Dresser’s album of …
3.14 Julia Margaret Cameron, photos
Summary
< Back to Introduction In the summer of 1868 Darwin took a holiday on the Isle of Wight with his immediate family, his brother Erasmus, and his friend Joseph Hooker. The family’s accommodation at Freshwater was rented from the photographer Julia…
Matches: 1 hits
- … in his journal after an encounter with the great man in 1879, ‘his features are not good’; yet ‘his …
4.24 'Daily Graphic', Nast satire
Summary
< Back to Introduction In 1874 the Harvard philosopher John Fiske published his magnum opus, Outlines of Cosmic Philosophy, in which he set out to explain the far-reaching significance of Darwin’s and Herbert Spencer’s evolutionary theories. He…
Suggested reading
Summary
Contemporary writing Anon., The English matron: A practical manual for young wives, (London, 1846). Anon., The English gentlewoman: A practical manual for young ladies on their entrance to society, (Third edition, London, 1846). Becker, L. E.…
Matches: 1 hits
- … Buckley, A., The fairy-land of science , (London, 1879; Philadelphia 1888). Holmes, M. …
1.12 Marian Huxley, drawing
Summary
< Back to Introduction Portrayals of Darwin by women in his social circle cannot be lumped together as the products of adoring amateurs. In 1878 he was sketched by Marian (‘Mady’) Huxley, who was then only in her late teens, but already a trained and…
Matches: 1 hits
- … her early teens (she won several prizes there); nor that in 1879 she had parental blessing for her …
Dramatisation script
Summary
Re: Design – Adaptation of the Correspondence of Charles Darwin, Asa Gray and others… by Craig Baxter – as performed 25 March 2007
Matches: 1 hits
- … 1872 208 JD HOOKER TO C DARWIN, 29 NOVEMBER 1879 209 A GRAY, 1882, …