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 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 |
From C. F. Austin February 1879
Summary
Encloses Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club, with account of a fungus that exhales chlorine;
relates his discovery in 1852 of a flowering plant that had "perfectly formed beetles" in the place of anthers.
Author: | Coe Finch Austin |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | Feb 1879 |
Classmark: | DAR 159: 130 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-11853 |
From Karl Beger [c. 12 February 1879]
Summary
Birthday wishes.
Author: | Friedrich Theodor Karl (Karl) Beger |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | [c. 12 Feb 1879] |
Classmark: | DAR 160: 121 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-11854 |
From D. Appleton & Co. 1 February 1879
Summary
Statement of U.S. sales of CD’s works.
Author: | D. Appleton & Co |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 1 Feb 1879 |
Classmark: | DAR 159: 104 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-11855 |
From Henry Potonié 1 February 1879
Summary
Cites evolutionary passages by Alexander Braun in English edition of Braun’s Verjüngung [1853].
Author: | Henry Potonié |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 1 Feb 1879 |
Classmark: | DAR 174: 59 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-11856 |
To W. T. Thiselton-Dyer 3 February 1879
Summary
Heliotropic movements. Is giving up experiments until the spring.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | William Turner Thiselton-Dyer |
Date: | 3 Feb 1879 |
Classmark: | Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (Darwin: Letters to Thiselton-Dyer, 1873–81: ff. 158–9) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-11857 |
To H. N. Moseley 4 February 1879
Summary
Comments on HNM’s book [Notes by a naturalist on the "Challenger" (1879)].
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Henry Nottidge Moseley |
Date: | 4 Feb 1879 |
Classmark: | Christie’s, London (dealers) (online 31 October – 8 November 2018, lot 13) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-11858 |
From Thomas Maston 5 February 1879
Summary
A stonemason who has read Origin and Descent and defends CD’s theory against theological prejudice, would like to read CD’s other books but is too poor to afford them.
Author: | Thomas Maston |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 5 Feb 1879 |
Classmark: | DAR 171: 88 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-11859 |
From H. N. Moseley 5 February 1879
Summary
Sends regards from Capt. Charles Owen, who had collected beetles for CD.
Owen’s son is going to Oregon with Wallis Nash.
Author: | Henry Nottidge Moseley |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 5 Feb 1879 |
Classmark: | DAR 171: 258 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-11860 |
From Raphael Meldola 6 February 1879
Summary
Has arranged for publication of his translation of Weismann.
S. H. Scudder article on sexual dimorphism in butterflies [Proc. Am. Acad. Arts & Sci. 12 (1877): 150–8].
Author: | Raphael Meldola |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 6 Feb 1879 |
Classmark: | DAR 171: 134 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-11861 |
To Raphael Meldola 7 February 1879
Summary
Wishes to subscribe to RM’s translation of Weismann.
Has seen Scudder’s article.
A. R. Wallace’s article ["Animals and their native countries", Nineteenth Century 5 (1879): 247–59] is excellent.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Raphael Meldola |
Date: | 7 Feb 1879 |
Classmark: | Oxford University Museum of Natural History (Hope Entomological Collections 1350: Hope/Westwood Archive, Darwin folder) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-11862 |
From Leopold Würtenberger 7 February 1879
Summary
£100 has arrived and LW will set to work.
Author: | Leopold Würtenberger |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 7 Feb 1879 |
Classmark: | DAR 181: 186 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-11863 |
From George Henslow 8 February 1879
Summary
GH no longer believes in the value of cross-fertilisation in plants.
Author: | George Henslow |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 8 Feb 1879 |
Classmark: | DAR 166: 175 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-11864 |
To Edward Frankland 8 February 1879
Summary
Gives results of the experiments: the leaves in most cases make the water alkaline. It cannot be ammonia. He and his son, Francis, suspect potash, which is valued as a manure. Will be grateful for the analysis EF has offered.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Edward Frankland |
Date: | 8 Feb 1879 |
Classmark: | The John Rylands Library, The University of Manchester (Frankland Collection) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-11864A |
From Ernst Haeckel 9 February 1879
Summary
Sends birthday wishes.
Comments on progress of CD’s theory in Germany. Mentions opposition of Rudolf Virchow and his reply Freie Wissenschaft und freie Lehre [1878].
Describes research trip to Brittany and Normandy.
Research on Challenger Radiolaria.
Author: | Ernst Philipp August (Ernst) Haeckel |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 9 Feb 1879 |
Classmark: | DAR 166: 72 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-11865 |
From Karl Alberts 9 February 1879
Summary
Birthday congratulations from the editors of Kosmos. They will mark the occasion with a special number of Kosmos.
Author: | Karl Alberts |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 9 Feb 1879 |
Classmark: | DAR 99: 95 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-11866 |
To Karl Alberts [after 9 February 1879]
Summary
Thanks KA and the other editors of Kosmos for the issue published in honour of his birthday. Sees there is much in it that will interest him greatly.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Karl Alberts |
Date: | [after 9 Feb 1879] |
Classmark: | DAR 99: 95v |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-11867 |
From Ernst Krause 10 February 1879
Summary
Birthday greetings.
Author: | Ernst Ludwig (Ernst) Krause |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 10 Feb 1879 |
Classmark: | DAR 92: B14 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-11868 |
To Anton de Bary 11 February 1879
Summary
Thanks ADeB for sending him Botanische Zeitung, but asks him to send it no more, as CD takes it regularly and has procured the volumes from the beginning.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Anton Heinrich (Anton) de Bary |
Date: | 11 Feb 1879 |
Classmark: | Natural History Museum (General Special Collections MSS DAR A 45) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-11869 |
letter | (70) |
Darwin, C. R. | (37) |
Allen, Grant | (2) |
Müller, Hermann | (2) |
Alberts, Karl | (1) |
Austin, C. F. | (1) |
Darwin, C. R. | (33) |
Darwin, Francis | (4) |
Thiselton-Dyer, W. T. | (3) |
Darwin, G. H. | (2) |
Tyndall, John | (2) |
Darwin, C. R. | (70) |
Darwin, Francis | (5) |
Allen, Grant | (3) |
Müller, Hermann | (3) |
Thiselton-Dyer, W. T. | (3) |
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: 16 hits
- … Émile (8) Alice (2) Alison, R. E. …
- … (1) Allen, Thomas (2) Allman, G. J. …
- … (1) Appleton, C. E. C. B. (2) Appleton, T. G. …
- … (5) Austin, A. D. (2) Austin, C. F. …
- … (7) Axon, W. E. A. (2) Aylmer, I. E. …
- … (3) Baldwin, J. D. (2) Balfour, F. M. …
- … (1) Baranoff, W. (2) Barber, M. E. …
- … (1) Barnard, Anne (2) Barnes, K. S. …
- … (1) Barrois, J. H. (2) Bartlett, A. D. …
- … (1) Batalin, A. F. (2) Bate, C. S. …
- … (1) Bates, Frederick (2) Bates, H. W. …
- … (1) Baumhauer, E. H. von (2) Baxter, E. B. …
- … (3) Beale, L. S. (2) Beall, T. B. (1 …
- … B. (1) Beck, John (2) Becker, L. E. …
- … (3) Beger, Karl (2) Behrens, Frederick …
- … (1) Bell, Robert (b) (2) Bell, Thomas …
Darwin The Collector
Summary
Look at nature more closely and create and record your own natural collections.
Matches: 1 hits
- … Activities provide an introduction to Charles Darwin, how and why he collected so many specimens …
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 …

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: 5 hits
- … Stoke’s Library 1 Cambridge. Library 2 Royal Coll of Surgeons [DAR *119 …
- … de l’Homme,” by Dr. Pierquin, published in Paris (in 2 vols.), so long ago as 1839 4 …
- … 1829]; read Letter to M. Therry [Broughton 1832]— a 2 d Edit preparing in 1841.— Lesson …
- … of habits of birds. Temminck Manuel D’ornithologie. 2 d Edit: Introduction on migration of …
- … Ker Porter’s Travels in Caucasus [R. K. Porter 1821–2] praised by Silliman poor Cyclop. of …

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
- … edition published, 1872 1 st to 2 nd editions I have …
- … the voids caused by the action of His laws.” ( Origin 2d ed, p. 481). 2 nd …
- … to a letter to Asa Gray he had yet to start it on 28 January, but on 2 February 1860 he told …
- … “Origin” for the first time, for I am correcting for a 2 nd . French Edition; & upon my life, …
Dates of composition of Darwin's manuscript on species
Summary
Many of the dates of letters in 1856 and 1857 were based on or confirmed by reference to Darwin’s manuscript on species (DAR 8--15.1, inclusive; transcribed and published as Natural selection). This manuscript, begun in May 1856, was nearly completed by…

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'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 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 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
- … his wife sent birthday greetings and a photograph of their 2-year-old son named Darwin, who, they …
- … materialism”’ ( letter from Francis Darwin, [after 2 June 1879 ]). As one of Darwin’s most ardent …
- … other than Darwin’s sister Caroline (who was around 2 years old at the time of Erasmus’s death). …
- … that plants were ‘mere machines’, reminding Francis on 2 June that he had long thought that …
- … for certain movements’ ( second letter to Francis Darwin, 2 July [1879] ). Sachs guarded …
- … for” &c are incessant’, Darwin joked on 2 July (first letter) . Much of the time, however, …
- … their ‘tremendous journey’ ( letter to Francis Darwin, [2 August 1879] ). The journey proved more …

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
- … to me. So the world goes.—’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 2 February [1865] ). However, Hooker, at the …
- … idle when I can do anything’ ( letter to John Murray, 2 June [1865] ). It was not until 25 …
- … abstract of the paper was read before the Linnean Society on 2 February, and in April Darwin wrote …
- … 1867), and Darwin summarised them in Variation 2: 106–7, concluding, ‘it follows from Mr. Scott …
- … and professional seniority ( see letter from J. D. Hooker, [2 June 1865] ); but Darwin’s feelings …
- … in healing this ugly breach’ ( letter from J. D. Hooker, [2 June 1865] ), Darwin seems to have …
- … of weather-forecasting ( see letter from J. D. Hooker, 2 May 1865 and nn. 2 and 5), and he may …
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 Detecting Darwin activities 2 Learn about Darwin and the Beagle …

Darwin in letters, 1878: Movement and sleep
Summary
In 1878, Darwin devoted most of his attention to the movements of plants. He investigated the growth pattern of roots and shoots, studying the function of specific organs in this process. Working closely with his son Francis, Darwin devised a series of…
Matches: 9 hits
- … in plants , pp. 112–13). He explained to Francis on 2 July : ‘I go on maundering about the …
- … tomorrow to Wurzburg,’ Darwin wrote to Thiselton-Dyer on 2 June , ‘& work by myself will be …
- … [before 17 July 1878] ), ‘a strong horizontal axis about 2 feet long which goes round by clockwork …
- … animal instinct and intelligence. ‘Frank’s son, nearly 2 years old (& we think much of his …
- … more expertly. ‘I conclude that a child—just under 2 years is inferior in intellect to a monkey.’ …
- … & a baby in your house!’ ( letter to G. J. Romanes, 2 September [1878] ). More …
- … seems to me quite ridiculous’ ( letter to John Price, 2 April [1878] ). When a wealthy businessman …
- … was ‘deeply gratified’, remarking to Skertchly on 2 March : ‘It is the greatest possible …
- … that such checks had been in action during the last 2 or 3 centuries, or even for a shorter time in …

Interview with Tim Lewens
Summary
Dr Tim Lewens is a Lecturer in the Department of History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Cambridge. He is the author of Organisms and artifacts (2004), which examines the language and arguments for design in biology and philosophy, and of…
Matches: 1 hits
- … you for the flattering introduction. 2. The unusual role Darwin plays today …
Interview with Pietro Corsi
Summary
Pietro Corsi is Professor of the History of Science at the University of Oxford. His book Evolution Before Darwin is due to be published in 2010 by Oxford University Press. Date of interview: 17 July 2009 Transcription 1: Introduction …
Matches: 1 hits
- … surrounding evolutionary theories. 2. The situation in France …
Interview with John Hedley Brooke
Summary
John Hedley Brooke is President of the Science and Religion Forum as well as the author of the influential Science and Religion: Some Historical Perspectives (Cambridge University Press, 1991). He has had a long career in the history of science and…
Matches: 1 hits
- … Paul. It’s a very great pleasure. 2. Victorian spiritualism and the …
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
- … which came to my mind as I read his book. 2. Darwin's influences …

Interview with Emily Ballou
Summary
Emily Ballou is a writer of novels and screenplays, and a prize-winning poet. Her book The Darwin Poems, which explores aspects of Darwin’s life and thoughts through the medium of poetry, was recently published by the University of Western Australia Press.…
Matches: 1 hits
- … some of these poems today, and? 2. The idea of writing about Darwin …

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, …

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: 1 hits
- … Letter 3054: Darwin, C. R. to Lyell, Charles, 2 Feb [1861] If the descent of languages was …