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Darwin in letters, 1881: Old friends and new admirers
Summary
In May 1881, Darwin, one of the best-known celebrities in England if not the world, began writing about all the eminent men he had met. He embarked on this task, which formed an addition to his autobiography, because he had nothing else to do. He had…
Matches: 21 hits
- … In May 1881, Darwin, one of the best-known celebrities in England if not the world, …
- … a very old man, who probably will not last much longer.’ Darwin’s biggest fear was not death, but …
- … sweetest place on this earth’. From the start of the year, Darwin had his demise on his mind. He …
- … provision for the dividing of his wealth after his death. Darwin’s gloominess was compounded by the …
- … and new admirers got in touch, and, for all his fears, Darwin found several scientific topics to …
- … in Unconscious memory in November 1880 and in an abusive letter about Darwin in the St James’s …
- … memory in Kosmos and sent Darwin a separate letter for publication in the Journal of Popular …
- … of the false accusation’. Other friends rallied round. Francis Balfour translated Krause’s account …
- … was another source of pleasure in the early months of 1881. This book had been a major undertaking …
- … publishers decided to print ‘500 more, making 2000’ ( letter to H. E. Litchfield, 4 January 1881 ) …
- … case is to me’ (letters to W. E. Darwin, 31 January [1881] and 19 February [1881] ). On 7 …
- … the animal learnt from its own individual experience ( letter from G. J. Romanes, 7 March 1881 ). …
- … whether observations of their behaviour were trustworthy ( letter to Francis Galton, 8 March [1881] …
- … about the sale of books being ‘a game of chance’ ( letter to R. F. Cooke, 12 April 1881 ). On 18 …
- … July, sending the pages to Germany for further checks by Francis Darwin, who was spending the summer …
- … Ruskin, who lived there. Sending the last two chapters to Francis on 27 May , Darwin wrote, …
- … to begin any new subject requiring much work’, he told Francis Darwin on 30 May . ‘I have been …
- … case.’ An additional motivation may have been to support Francis Darwin’s published research on …
- … Darwin tried a variety of plants and reagents, telling Francis on 17 October , ‘I have wasted …
- … for more suggestions of such plants, especially annuals ( letter to W. T. Thiselton-Dyer, 21 March …
- … supposed he would feel ‘less sulky in a day or two’ ( letter to R. F. Cooke, 29 July 1881 ). The …
Volume 29 (1881) is published!
Summary
In October 1881, Darwin published his last book, The formation of vegetable mould through the action of worms: with observations on their habits. A slim volume on a subject that many people could understand and on which they had their own opinions, it went…
Matches: 10 hits
- … From the start of 1881, Darwin had his demise on his mind. He increasingly relied on his son …
- … provision for the dividing of his wealth after his death. Darwin’s gloominess was compounded by the …
- … and new admirers got in touch, and, for all his fears, Darwin found several scientific topics to …
- … the enthusiasm with which the book has been received. Letter t o Francis Darwin, 9 November …
- … in my life as for its success. Letter to A. B. Buckley, 4 January 1881 …
- … Arabella Burton Buckley had suggested the possibility, and Darwin, with her help, wrote a memorial …
- … & I have no little jobs which I can do. Letter to J. D. Hooker, 15 June 1881 …
- … Letter to W. E. Darwin, 4 August [1881] In …
- … seemed to me admirable. Letter to T. H. Farrer, 28 August 1881 …
- … Letter t o B. J. Sulivan, 1 December 1881 …
Darwin in letters, 1882: Nothing too great or too small
Summary
In 1882, Darwin reached his 74th year Earthworms had been published the previous October, and for the first time in decades he was not working on another book. He remained active in botanical research, however. Building on his recent studies in plant…
Matches: 25 hits
- … In 1882, Darwin reached his 74th year Earthworms had been published the previous …
- … for scientific colleagues or their widows facing hardship. Darwin had suffered from poor health …
- … ‘I feel a very old man, & my course is nearly run’ ( letter to Lawson Tait, 13 February 1882 ) …
- … in Down, where his brother Erasmus had been interred in 1881. But some of his scientific friends …
- … Botanical observation and experiment had long been Darwin’s greatest scientific pleasure. The year …
- … fertility of crosses between differently styled plants ( letter from Fritz Müller, 1 January 1882 …
- … working at the effects of Carbonate of Ammonia on roots,’ Darwin wrote, ‘the chief result being that …
- … for some hours in a weak solution of C. of Ammonia’. Darwin’s interest in root response and the …
- … London on 6 and 16 March, respectively. In January, Darwin corresponded with George John …
- … François Marie Glaziou (see Correspondence vol. 28, letter from Arthur de Souza Corrêa, 20 …
- … quite untirable & I am glad to shirk any extra labour’ ( letter to G. J. Romanes, 6 January …
- … probably intending to test its effects on chlorophyll ( letter to Joseph Fayrer, 30 March 1882 ). …
- … we know about the life of any one plant or animal!’ ( letter to Henry Groves, 3 April 1882 ). He …
- … last book, Earthworms , had been published in October 1881. It proved to be very popular, with …
- … vol. 29, letter from J. F. Simpson, 8 November 1881 ). He remarked on the ‘far reaching …
- … Correspondence vol. 29, letter to Emily Talbot, 19 July 1881 ) was also published in the …
- … American, Caroline Kennard, had written on 26 December 1881 (see Correspondence vol. 29) to …
- … on the topic of science and art. He had sat for Collier in 1881 for a portrait commissioned by the …
- … at an early age was encouraged by Darwin. He wrote to Francis: ‘I say nothing about the loss to …
- … a small tribute of respect’ (letter from John Lubbock to Francis Darwin, 20 April 1882 (DAR 215: 10n …
- … of ice dams causing glacial lakes was presented by Thomas Francis Jamieson in a paper to the …
- … Darwin’s views on eugenics, a term coined by his cousin Francis Galton, were mixed, partly owing to …
- … years of Darwin’s life show his increasing attachment to Francis, as father and son worked together …
- … no one to talk to, I scribble this to you’ ( letter to Francis Darwin, [1 August 1878] ). …
- … from Charlotte Papé, 16 July 1875 ). She now addressed Francis, who could best appreciate the …
Dipsacus and Drosera: Frank’s favourite carnivores
Summary
In Autumn of 1875, Francis Darwin was busy researching aggregation in the tentacles of Drosera rotundifolia (F. Darwin 1876). This phenomenon occurs when coloured particles within either protoplasm or the fluid in the cell vacuole (the cell sap) cluster…
Matches: 23 hits
- … By John Schaefer, Harvard University* Charles Darwin’s enthusiasm for carnivorous plants -- …
- … than the origin of all the species in the world. ’ Darwin’s rigorous experimentation with these …
- … plants in the scientific and public imagination. Darwin’s son, Francis, carried on his father …
- … experience with his father's thorough experiments, Francis sought to elaborate on the book’s …
- … fluid in the cell vacuole (the cell sap) cluster together. Darwin senior had theorized in …
- … protoplasm . Inspired by his investigation of Drosera , Francis set out to examine the cup-like …
- … The Loves of the Plants (1789) his grandfather, Erasmus Darwin, wrote that each dew-filled cup …
- … to prevent insects from creeping up to devour its seed.’ Francis, however, expected to find that the …
- … sent to his father from Kew Gardens by Joseph Dalton Hooker, Francis began growing his own specimens …
- … into deciphering plant carnivory. On 28 May 1876, Francis wrote to his father that he had …
- … emphatically exclaiming ‘ Hooray theory. Blow facts. ’ Francis drew comparisons to ‘the absorption …
- … article on aggregation in D. rotundifolia tentacles, Francis had to delay further examinations …
- … investigation and suggested further observations, imploring Francis ‘ I would work at this subject …
- … ‘Seed-bearing’ experiments with Dipsacus . While Darwin was ‘curious if the movements of the …
- … golden eggs. ’ With his father's encouragement, Francis recorded ‘ splendid …
- … After witnessing this ‘ grand discovery ’ himself, Darwin excitedly described the protoplasmic …
- … feeding on solid particles of decaying insects. ’ Francis consulted with William Thiselton …
- … Darwins' first grandchild. However, tragedy soon struck the Darwin household. Francis’ wife, …
- … would weaken his will to pursue scientific endeavours, Darwin gently yet consistently encouraged …
- … ‘ I can declare that I have hardly ever received [a letter] in my life which has given me more …
- … Darwin’s request, Cohn agreed to allow an excerpt of his letter to be published in Nature , …
- … August 1877, p. 339). Although, as Darwin pointed out in a letter to G.J. Romanes, Cohn was hesitant …
- … again, for I am sure that it is worth it.’ As late as 1881, less than a year before his death, …
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: 20 hits
- … heart & soul care for worms & nothing else in this world,’ Darwin wrote to his old …
- … to adapt to varying conditions. The implications of Darwin’s work for the boundary between animals …
- … studies of animal instincts by George John Romanes drew upon Darwin’s early observations of infants, …
- … of evolution and creation. Many letters flowed between Darwin and his children, as he took delight …
- … Financial support for science was a recurring issue, as Darwin tried to secure a Civil List pension …
- … with Samuel Butler, prompted by the publication of Erasmus Darwin the previous year. …
- … my grandfather’s character is of much value to me’ ( letter to C. H. Tindal, 5 January 1880 ). …
- … have influenced the whole Kingdom, & even the world’ ( letter from J. L. Chester, 3 March 1880 …
- … delighted to find an ordinary mortal who could laugh’ ( letter from W. E. Darwin to Charles and …
- … much powder & shot’ ( Correspondence vol. 27, letter from Ernst Krause, 7 June 1879 , and …
- … modified; but now I much regret that I did not do so’ ( letter to Samuel Butler, 3 January 1880 ). …
- … and ‘decided on laying the matter before the public’ ( letter from Samuel Butler, 21 January 1880 …
- … from scientific debate. The matter spilled over into January 1881. With Henrietta’s aid, the advice …
- … of the nervous system, and the nature of ‘sensitivity’. Francis Balfour described Movement in …
- … the intake of stones and flints to aid digestion. He asked Francis to check for castings on old …
- … bags ( letter from G. J. Romanes, [6, 13, or 20] March 1881 ). Romanes was at work on a lengthy …
- … rightly thought the ‘queer subject’ of interest to Francis Galton, who had already taken thumb …
- … extending the study to public-school pupils ( letter to Francis Galton, 7 April 1880 , and …
- … memorial was eventually submitted to Gladstone in January 1881 and was successful. For a copy of the …
- … William’s interest in geology, and longed to see Francis elected fellow of the Royal Society. He …
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: 25 hits
- … 7 November 1880, was the final large botanical work that Darwin wrote. It was the only work in which …
- … about their research while he was away from home. Although Darwin lacked a state of the art research …
- … research being pursued by other naturalists who, like Francis, had come to this centre for the study …
- … methods and use the most advanced laboratory equipment. Darwin also benefitted from the instrument …
- … copied but also improved on some of the apparatuses that Francis had been introduced to at Würzburg. …
- … plant physiology, but it was at its core informed by Darwin’s theory of evolution, particularly by …
- … early 1860s, at a time when his health was especially bad, Darwin had taken up the study of climbing …
- … reproduced as a small book, giving it a much wider audience. Darwin was not the first naturalist to …
- … had considered combining the works in a single volume ( letter to J. V. Carus, 7 February 1875 ). …
- … from all over Europe and beyond. When Darwin’s son Francis worked in this laboratory in the summers …
- … had also asked Horace to discuss the point with his friend Francis Balfour(258). Darwin promised to …
- … of any success. '. Just two months later, Darwin put Francis in charge of this aspect of the …
- … , a plant that exhibited all three types of movement ( letter from R. I. Lynch, [before 28 July …
- … more familiar with the research in Sachs’s laboratory as Francis’s departure for Würzburg was …
- … of a klinostat. Journal of the Linnean Society. Botany . 1881. Vol. XVIII, p. 450. …
- … the woodblock using photography for scientific accuracy ( letter from J. D. Cooper, 13 December …
- … lost colour, withered, and died within a couple of days ( letter from A. F. Batalin, 28 February …
- … how their observations could have been so much at odds ( letter to Hugo de Vries 13 February 1879 …
- … the botanist Gaetano Durando, to find plants and seeds ( letter to Francis Darwin, [4 February – 8 …
- … only the regulator & not cause of movement ’. In the same letter, Darwin discussed terminology, …
- … to replace Frank’s ‘Transversal-Heliotropismus’ ( letter from W. E. Darwin, 10 February [1880] ). …
- … experiments and devised a new test, which he described in a letter to his mother, ‘ I did some …
- … and it appeared in 1880 (F. Darwin 1880b). In the same letter, Francis revealed the frustration of …
- … and would later spend three months there from May 1881. While on holiday in the Lake District …
- … a book-length critique of Darwin’s work (Wiesner 1881). Francis would later respond to Wiesner’s …
Casting about: Darwin on worms
Summary
Earthworms were the subject of a citizen science project to map the distribution of earthworms across Britain (BBC Today programme, 26 May 2014). The general understanding of the role earthworms play in improving soils and providing nutrients for plants to…
Matches: 13 hits
- … for plants to flourish can be traced back to the last book Darwin wrote, snappily-titled The …
- … , with observations on their habits, which was published in 1881. Despite Darwin’s fears that a book …
- … out in his Natural History of Selborne of 1789 (a book Darwin claimed had ‘much influence on my …
- … a new field in natural history, and almost a century later Darwin argued that all fields had passed …
- … variety of strange things he persuaded people to do. Darwin concluded that worms had no sense …
- … of a metal whistle and to being shouted at, but also to Francis Darwin playing the bassoon, and to …
- … made calculations about larger castings on poorer soils, and Francis helped with calculations …
- … . After a while, looking for earthworm casts became a habit; Francis noticed worm casts in fir woods …
- … existence of worms at that altitude. By the 1870s, Darwin was also drawing on the work of …
- … him. Soon worm excrement was trusted to postal services, and Darwin acquired casts from India and …
- … observations he had gathered to write a book on the subject. Darwin brought to the topic the …
- … whole soul is absorbed with worms just at present!’ ( letter to W. T. Thiselton Dyer, 23 November …
- … ‘worms have much bigger souls than anyone wd suppose’ ( letter to W. E. Darwin, 31 January [1881] …
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: 27 hits
- … The year 1871 was an extremely busy and productive one for Darwin, seeing the publication of his …
- … book out of my head’. But a large proportion of Darwin’s time for the rest of the year was devoted …
- … way, and the initial reception of the book in the press. Darwin fielded numerous letters from …
- … offered sharp criticism or even condemnation. Darwin had expected controversy. ‘I shall be …
- … a bare-faced manner.”‘ The most lively debate centred on Darwin’s evolutionary account of the …
- … taste. Correspondence with his readers and critics helped Darwin to clarify, and in some cases …
- … year was the preparation of his manuscript on expression. Darwin continued to investigate the …
- … also brought a significant milestone for the family, as Darwin’s eldest daughter Henrietta was …
- … by people wanting copies’, Darwin wrote to his son Francis on 28 February . Demand continued …
- … do to talk about it, which no doubt promotes the sale’ ( letter from J. D. Hooker, 26 March 1871 ) …
- … to her liking, ‘to keep in memory of the book’ ( letter to H. E. Darwin, 20 March 1871 ). …
- … and had forsaken his lunch and dinner in order to read it ( letter from James Crichton-Browne, 19 …
- … they believe to be the truth, whether pleasant or not’ (letter from W. W. Reade, 21 February 1871). …
- … and Oldham … They club together to buy them’ ( letter from W. B. Dawkins, 23 February 1871 ). …
- … one’s n th . ancestor lived between tide-marks!’ ( letter from T. H. Huxley, 20 February 1871 ). …
- … habits, furnished with a tail and pointed ears” (letter from Asa Gray, 14 April 1871) …
- … ‘will-power’ and the heavy use of their arms and legs ( letter from C. L. Bernays, 25 February 1871 …
- … in order to make it darker than the hair on his head ( letter from W. B. Tegetmeier, [before 25 …
- … together with an image of an orang-utan foetus ( letter from Hinrich Nitsche, 18 April 1871 ). …
- … of himself, adding that it made a ‘very poor return’ ( letter to Hinrich Nitsche, 25 April [1871] …
- … liberal or orthodox. The American philosopher and journalist Francis Ellingwood Abbot incorporated …
- … man & we were the best of friends’, he wrote to his son Francis on 28 February . However, …
- … Darwin had been receiving regular reports from his cousin Francis Galton on the progress of …
- … in order to facilitate cross-circulation ( letter from Francis Galton, 13 September 1871 ). …
- … science ( letter to Horace Darwin, [15 December 1871] ). Francis was now studying medicine at St …
- … of Trinity College, planned a trip to America, and invited Francis and two Cambridge friends. Darwin …
- … be almost superhuman virtue to give it up’ ( letter to Francis Darwin, 16 May [1871] ). Darwin …
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: 21 hits
- … 1874 was one of consolidation, reflection, and turmoil for Darwin. He spent the early months working …
- … dispute over an anonymous review that attacked the work of Darwin’s son George dominated the second …
- … and traveller Alexander von Humboldt’s 105th birthday, Darwin obliged with a reflection on his debt …
- … 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 ). …
- … edition, published in 1842 ( Correspondence vol. 21, letter to Smith, Elder & Co., 17 …
- … had cost twenty-four shillings.) Murray’s partner, Robert Francis Cooke, informed Darwin that the …
- … failure of observations in New Zealand (see G. B. Airy ed. 1881). Darwin’s third son Francis …
- … work on insectivorous plants. Amy drew a plant and Francis was disappointed that they seemed not to …
- … from Cornwall, but Darwin was unwell when it arrived, so Francis worked on the tiny bladders under …
- … 1874 , and Correspondence vol. 21, letter from Francis Darwin, [11 October 1873] ). …
- … work’ ( letter to D. F. Nevill, 18 September [1874] ).Francis’s new wife, Amy, drew the plant ( …
- … After his wife read Expression , the military surgeon Francis François de Chaumont sent …
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: 17 hits
- … Female readership | Reading Variation Darwin's letters, in particular those …
- … a broad variety of women had access to, and engaged with, Darwin's published works. A set of …
- … Were women a target audience? Letter 2447 - Darwin to Murray, J., [5 April 1859] …
- … that his views are original and will appeal to the public. Darwin asks Murray to forward the …
- … 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 …
- … 13547 - Tanner, M. H. to Darwin, [12 December 1881] Mary Tanner tells Darwin that …
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: 16 hits
- … Darwin's correspondence shows that women made significant contributions to Darwin's work, …
- … set of selected letters is followed by letters relating to Darwin's 1881 publication …
- … work are referenced throughout Variation . Letter 2395 - Darwin to Holland, …
- … her identity is both anonymised and masculinised. Letter 3316 - Darwin to Nevill, D …
- … Nevill is referenced by name for her “kindness” in Darwin’s Fertilisation of Orchids . …
- … 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 …
- … Darwin, [4 January 1871] Darwin’s brother-in-law, Francis Wedgwood, sends the results of …
- … [1 November 1877] Darwin asks his sons, Horace and Francis, to observe earthworm activity …
- … 13037 - Darwin to Darwin, W. E., [5 February 1881] Darwin discusses William’s …
1.18 John Collier, oil in Linnean
Summary
< Back to Introduction By 1881 it was clear to Darwin’s intimates that he was increasingly frail, and that, as he approached death, he had finally escaped from religious controversy to become a heroic figure, loved and venerated for his achievements…
Matches: 19 hits
- … < Back to Introduction By 1881 it was clear to Darwin’s intimates that he was …
- … worthy likeness. While there were numerous photographs of Darwin in these last years, they lacked …
- … to a commemorative function. Ouless’s characterisation of Darwin as an introspective and melancholy …
- … as a thinker. George Romanes and other members of Darwin’s circle therefore gained his …
- … by subscription, and donated to the Linnean Society. Darwin’s evolutionary theory had first been …
- … Society in 1858. Moreover, the Society was now, in May 1881, dominated by Darwinians. Its President …
- … as his recent portrait of Joseph Hooker testified. Moreover, Darwin would ‘most particularly …
- … made him a member of the Darwinian set, with sympathy for Darwin’s ideas, and an informed interest …
- … of an Artist (1926), shows him entirely attuned to Darwin’s theories on the origins of the human …
- … with his intellectual sitters. Like the photographs taken by Darwin’s son Leonard, Collier’s …
- … later to a Singaporean newspaper, the sittings took place in Darwin’s study at Down House – the …
- … work and any other subject that cropped up.’ On 7 August 1881 Darwin was able to report to Romanes …
- … far as I can judge, this seems true’ – Romanes agreed. Darwin added that Collier ‘was the most …
- … As a further sign of their rapport, Collier later gave Darwin a copy of his newly published Primer …
- … enhancing the impression of immediacy and verisimilitude. Francis Darwin could see something ‘almost …
- … of image John Collier date of creation 1881 computer-readable date …
- … . Linnean Society archive, manuscript letter LL/8, Darwin to Romanes, 27 May 1881. Correspondence …
- … A Manual of Oil Painting (London etc.: Cassell, 1886). Francis Darwin (ed.), The Life and …
- … pp. 118–121, correspondence between Romanes and Darwin in 1881 (DCP-LETT-13173, 13229, 13282). …
Animals, ethics, and the progress of science
Summary
Darwin’s view on the kinship between humans and animals had important ethical implications. In Descent, he argued that some animals exhibited moral behaviour and had evolved mental powers analogous to conscience. He gave examples of cooperation, even…
Matches: 19 hits
- … Darwin’s view on the kinship between humans and animals had important ethical …
- … a live worm on a hook (‘Recollections’, pp. 358, 388). Darwin’s concern for animals aligned with …
- … and an integral part of medical and veterinary training. Darwin was clearly disturbed by the …
- … another word about it, else I shall not sleep to-night’ ( letter to E. R. Lankester, 22 March [1871 …
- … to the last hour of his life’ ( Descent 1: 40). Darwin’s closest encounter with …
- … of different breeds together. Galton reported regularly to Darwin on the results (all negative). He …
- … Society, calling into question the theory of pangenesis. Darwin was taken aback, and swiftly replied …
- … deserved credit for his ‘ingenuity and perseverance’ ( letter to Nature , [before 27 April 1871] …
- … for further cross-circulation and ‘Siamesing’ ( letter from Francis Galton, 13 September 1871 ). …
- … Some of the results were promising, but inconclusive (see letter from G. J. Romanes, 14 July 1875 …
- … more influenced by experiments on animals than on plants’, Darwin conceded. ‘I think a large number …
- … for your work; & I suppose birds can be chloroformed (letter to G. J. Romanes, 27 December …
- … branded physiologists as ‘demons let loose from hell’ ( letter to F. B. Cobbe, [14 January 1875] ) …
- … detail here . He stated his position most frankly in a letter to Henrietta, 4 January [1875] . …
- … point of view I have rejoiced at the present agitation. ( letter to H. E. Litchfield, 4 January …
- … science of Physiology as doomed to death in this country. ( letter To T. H. Huxley, 14 January 1875 …
- … are now in the position of a persecuted religious sect’ ( letter to G. J. Romanes, 4 June [1876] ) …
- … To bring more solidarity to the field, Darwin’s son Francis, and a number of his close colleagues …
- … of the utility of experiment amongst people in general’ ( letter from T. L. Brunton, 12 February …
John Murray
Summary
Darwin's most famous book On the origin of species by means of natural selection (Origin) was published on 22 November 1859. The publisher was John Murray, who specialised in non-fiction, particularly politics, travel and science, and had published…
Matches: 18 hits
- … Darwin's most famous book On the origin of species by means of natural …
- … Scotland : it contains more than two hundred letters from Darwin, from his first negotiations in …
- … date from 1859, the year of the publication of Origin . Darwin’s son Francis described how his …
- … more interesting correspondence ( LL 1, p. v). Darwin returned from his voyage around the …
- … This had been published in London by Henry Colburn, but Darwin felt that the arrangements had been …
- … John Murray, to open negotiations with his own publisher ( Letter 824 ). Lyell’s talk with Murray …
- … a single volume. Returning to Murray the final proof sheets Darwin wrote, ‘I am much obliged for the …
- … copies some pages in Darwin’s chapter were transposed ( Letter 1244 ). Darwin was anxious lest an …
- … & make the poor workman some present’ (12 June [1849] Letter 1245 ). Darwin’s next …
- … his ‘big species book’; on 18 June 1858, he received a letter from Alfred Russel Wallace with the …
- … asked Lyell to act as his intermediary with John Murray ( Letter 2437 ), who, without even reading …
- … not repent of having undertaken it’ (15 October [1859] Letter 2506 ). Murray decided on a retail …
- … proud at the appearance of my child’ ([3 November 1859] Letter 2514 ). In the event, all Murray’s …
- … – and a second edition was immediately called for ( Letter 2549 ). In the end Murray paid Darwin …
- … plants (Movement in plants), which he wrote with his son, Francis. It was extensively illustrated, …
- … an extra 500 to meet demand ( Letter 12862 ). In 1881 Darwin sent Murray the manuscript of …
- … sale of my book and utterly astonished’ ([after 25 October 1881?] Letter 13433 ). …
- … his publisher, after Murray’s annual sale in the autumn of 1881, Darwin expressed his satisfaction …
3.20 Elliott and Fry, c.1880-1, verandah
Summary
< Back to Introduction In photographs of Darwin taken c.1880-1, the expression of energetic thought conveyed by photographs of earlier years gives way to the pathos of evident physical frailty. While Collier’s oil portrait of this time emphasises…
Matches: 10 hits
- … < Back to Introduction In photographs of Darwin taken c.1880-1, the expression of …
- … While Collier’s oil portrait of this time emphasises Darwin’s benign but penetrating gaze, the …
- … photographs taken by the firm of Elliott and Fry, showing Darwin on the verandah of Down House - …
- … of the image. How far these qualities truly represent Darwin’s prevailing mood, or are, rather, a …
- … by Gustav Kruell to serve as the frontispiece to volume 3 of Francis Darwin’s Life and Letters …
- … dating, and it is not clear on what basis the photograph of Darwin seated on the verandah is dated …
- … All these Elliott and Fry photographs were reissued after Darwin’s death as ‘cartes’ and ‘cabinet’ …
- … of Elliott and Fry date of creation c.1880-1881 computer-readable date c …
- … references and bibliography letters from Darwin to Hooker, 15 June 1881 (DCP-LETT-13207) and to B …
- … Sciences de la Bibliothèque Universelle , 7 (May 1882). Francis Darwin (ed.), The Life and …
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 …
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…
Matches: 21 hits
- … photographic firm of Elliott and Fry seems to have portrayed Darwin at Down House on several …
- … Payments to the firm on 25 July 1869 and 5 April 1870 in Darwin’s banking account must relate to …
- … to Wallace. Elliott and Fry evidently approached Darwin again in the spring of 1871, with a …
- … to Down again for a simpler portrayal. On 2 August 1871, Darwin wrote, ‘Many thanks for the …
- … which of Elliott and Fry’s widely disseminated images of Darwin were taken in summer 1869, and which …
- … the later 1870s are clearly wide of the mark. As regards Darwin’s appearance, he does not look older …
- … this group of photographs, of which there is a print in the Darwin archive (DAR 225.117), shows a …
- … and must therefore have been reissued commemoratively. Darwin’s daughter Henrietta owned this, and …
- … to it. In another of Elliott and Fry’s photographs, Darwin sits sternly erect; in yet another he …
- … to a profile or nearer to a frontal view. In all of them Darwin is wearing a distinctive waistcoat, …
- … the complexities, John van Wyhe, in his ‘Iconography’ of Darwin portraits, identifies some of the …
- … the day, which were widely marketed. Thus the photographs of Darwin were frequently reissued in …
- … in the National Portrait Gallery. An idealised version of Darwin’s head from one of the Elliott and …
- … to the June 1882 issue, which had two obituary articles on Darwin. It had also appeared in another …
- … engraving which seems almost to exaggerate the shagginess of Darwin’s hair, eyebrows and beard, …
- … lurid Illustrated Police News, accompanying a notice of Darwin’s death in 1882. A vignette …
- … by Edmond Barbier and published in Paris by C. Reinwald in 1881. The frontispiece to Henry Alleyne …
- … many more such usages of the Elliott and Fry images of Darwin, often at third hand or in reworked …
- … Elliott and Fry’s rather unflattering portrayal of Darwin, especially of his blunt nose and untidy …
- … 1869–71 Elliott and Fry photographs were mentioned by Francis Darwin in his catalogue of portraits …
- … influence on horticulture (DAR 140.1.4) was reprinted in 1881 (DAR 140 1.33) and for an obituary …
Darwin and the Church
Summary
The story of Charles Darwin’s involvement with the church is one that is told far too rarely. It shows another side of the man who is more often remembered for his personal struggles with faith, or for his role in large-scale controversies over the…
Matches: 20 hits
- … The story of Charles Darwin’s involvement with the church is one that is told far too rarely. It …
- … unique window into this complicated relationship throughout Darwin’s life, as it reveals his …
- … belief (and doubt) than many non-conformist denominations. Darwin’s parents attended a Unitarian …
- … the necessary studies to be a clergyman. During Darwin’s lifetime, the vast majority of the …
- … income was essential to enjoy a gentlemanly lifestyle. For Darwin, who could rely on the financial …
- … compatible with the pursuit of scientific interests. Indeed, Darwin’s Cambridge mentor, John Stevens …
- … (Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine (1887): 321). Darwin started on his journey around the world …
- … & I can see it even through a grove of Palms.—’ (letter to Caroline Darwin, 25–6 April [1832] …
- … wrote to the contrary: ‘I am sorry to see in your last letter that you still look forward to the …
- … near the British Museum or some other learned place’ (letter from E. A. Darwin, 18 August [1832] …
- … it is a sort of scene I never ought to think about—’ (letter to W. D. Fox, [9–12 August] 1835 ). …
- … However, what remains is cordial; in the first extant letter of the correspondence, Darwin wrote to …
- … (a local charity), which he administered from 1848 to 1869 (letter to J. B. Innes, [8 May 1848] …
- … he would make an excellent Guardian [of the Poor Fund]’ (letter to J. W. Lubbock, 28 March [1854] …
- … club the use of his own lawn for its meetings (Moore 1985; letter to J. S. Henslow, 17 January …
- … the family’s dog, Quiz, when he moved away from Down (letter to J. B. Innes, 15 December [1861] ) …
- … was considered to be a cross between a cow and a red deer (letter from J. B. Innes, 7 December …
- … supported Fegan’s work in the village, writing in 1880 or 1881: ‘your services have done more for …
- … (letter to J. W. C. Fegan, [December 1880 – February 1881] ). Indeed, the Darwin family even …
- … Darwin, including an autobiographical chapter . Edited by Francis Darwin. 3 vols. London: John …
The full edition is now online!
Summary
For nearly fifty years successive teams of researchers on both sides of the Atlantic have been working to track down all surviving letters written by or to Charles Darwin, research their content, and publish the complete texts. The thirtieth and final…
Matches: 9 hits
- … to track down all surviving letters written by or to Charles Darwin, research their content, and …
- … picture than we have ever had before of the course of Darwin’s life and development of his thought. …
- … the last 6 years. Those 400 letters flesh out the whole of Darwin’s life from his time on board HMS …
- … volume. Discover more about the final months of Darwin's life in our Life and Letters …
- … ‘ My course is nearly run. ’ Letter to Lawson Tait, 13 February 1882 In …
- … convinced of the truth of Evolution as I am. ’ Letter to John Murray, 21 January 1882 …
- … than for 3 weeks & have had as yet no pain. ’ Letter to T. H. Huxley, 27 March 1882 …
- … all that with my children it is worth having .’ Letter from Emma Darwin to J. D. Hooker, …
- … greatest friend outside the family, on 20 April: this letter concludes the correspondence for 1882. …
Discussion Questions and Essay Questions
Summary
There are a wide range of possibilities for opening discussion and essay writing on Darwin’s correspondence. We have provided a set of sample discussion questions and essay questions, each of which focuses on a particular topic or correspondent in depth.…
Matches: 9 hits
- … of possibilities for opening discussion and essay writing on Darwin’s correspondence. We have …
- … start researching and writing an essay that centres on Darwin’s letters, narrowing the field to a …
- … Why was correspondence so important for Darwin? How did Darwin encourage people he did not …
- … material did letters contain? How much knowledge does Darwin assume when he writes to …
- … and class, matter in scientific exchange? What does Darwin do when he wants to introduce a …
- … internet today? Essay writing How was Darwin’s early species theory discussed …
- … What ethical implications did readers draw from Darwin’s theories?[Mary Boole (1864), F. E. Abbot …
- … Müller and the adaptations of insects to flowers (1867), Francis Galton on inheritance theory …
- … Gray (1861-8), Wallace (1869-70), Mivart (1871-4)] Did Darwin believe in progress? [Lyell …
