From Robert Bastard James to Charles Lyell [c. 10 March 1838]
Summary
Sends four samples of dust blown on board his ship from the coast of Africa, nearly 400 miles away, during four days in March 1838. Gives careful descriptions and relates the tests he made of it [see Collected papers 1: 200].
| Author: | Robert Bastard James |
| Addressee: | Charles Lyell, 1st baronet |
| Date: | [c. 10 Mar 1838] |
| Classmark: | DAR 168: 43 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-405 |
Matches: 6 hits
- … From Robert Bastard James to Charles Lyell [ c. 10 March 1838] …
- … DAR 168: 43 Robert Bastard James unstated [c. 10 Mar 1838] Charles Lyell, 1st baronet …
- … 3 17. 43 N 380 miles 25. 54 W. ——— 4 ’ 10. 5. My specimen scored pencil scored pencil …
- … that I collected on the 7 th —8th —9th —and 10 th of March 1838 was blown off to us in a …
- … 6 th —in the afternoon, the Sympasometer kept rising and falling from 29 o – 10 3 ths — …
- … to 29 o – 10 7 ths — without any visible change in the atmosphere, only a thick haze that …
To A. Y. Spearman 16 February 1838
Summary
Encloses the account of Smith, Elder & Co. for the first part of "The Zoology of the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle" [Fossil Mammalia].
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Alexander Young Spearman, 1st baronet |
| Date: | 16 Feb 1838 |
| Classmark: | The National Archives (TNA) (T1/4524 paper 25824) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-402A |
From J. P. S. de Grateloup 18 July 1838
Summary
Sends to CD, as Secretary of the Geological Society, his work on fossil shells ["Mémoire sur les coquilles fossiles", Actes de la Société Linnéenne de Bordeaux 10 (1838): 92–152].
| Author: | Jean Pierre Sylvestre de Grateloup |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 18 July 1838 |
| Classmark: | Geological Society of London (GSL/L/R/4/5) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-421A |
To J. F. W. Herschel 2 [November 1838]
Summary
Requests information for W. S. Macleay on JFWH’s method of catching pelagic animals while ship is under way.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | John Frederick William Herschel, 1st baronet |
| Date: | 2 [Nov 1838] |
| Classmark: | The Royal Society (HS6: 10) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-430 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … The Royal Society (HS6: 10) Charles Robert Darwin London, Gt Marlborough St, 36 2 [Nov …
To C. T. Whitley [8 May 1838]
Summary
Treasures recollections of old friends but seldom sees any. Has turned "a complete scribbler".
His scientific activities.
No wife in sight so far.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Charles Thomas Whitley |
| Date: | [8 May 1838] |
| Classmark: | Shrewsbury School, Taylor Library |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-411A |
To John George Children 22 February [1838]
Summary
Testifies to the courtesy and helpfulness of George Gray [assistant at the British Museum]. [See 402b.]
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | John George Children |
| Date: | 22 Feb [1838] |
| Classmark: | British Museum (Officers’ Reports 20 (1838): 5314) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-402F |
Matches: 1 hit
- … repugnant curators. Annals of Science 53: 501–10. Cuvier, Georges. 1840. Cuvier’s animal …
To Susan Darwin [1 April 1838]
Summary
FitzRoy is hard at work on his book [Narrative, vol. 2].
CD’s health is improved.
Describes his visit to zoo.
Gives news of E. A. Darwin and Harriet Martineau.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Susan Elizabeth Darwin |
| Date: | [1 Apr 1838] |
| Classmark: | DAR 223: 39 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-407 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … House MS), CD’s weight had increased from 10 stone 8 1 4 lb on 7 October 1836 to 12 stone …
Questions for Mr Wynne [February–July 1838]
Summary
Questions on breeding and habits.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | [–] Wynne |
| Date: | [Feb–July 1838] |
| Classmark: | DAR 206: 42 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-399 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … Ford , 6 May 1839 , and from George Tollet , [10 May 1839]). The ‘Questions for M r Wynne’ …
To W. D. Fox [15 June 1838]
Summary
Has not been well.
Plans a geological trip to Glen Roy in Scotland.
Thanks WDF for remembering the crossing of animals, CD’s "prime hobby". "I really think some day I shall be able to do something on that most intricate subject species and varieties."
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | William Darwin Fox |
| Date: | [15 June 1838] |
| Classmark: | Christ’s College Library, Cambridge (MS 53 Fox 54) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-419 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … now is to tell you than in a week, or 10 days, or at most a fortnight I leave London for …
To John Stevens Henslow 3 November 1838
Summary
Relates plan for an appendix to his Journal of researches which will include facts of species of birds’ being different in different islands of the Galápagos and also of the lizards and tortoises on the islands. Asks JSH whether he can supply parallels in the plant life.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | John Stevens Henslow |
| Date: | 3 Nov 1838 |
| Classmark: | Smithsonian Libraries and Archives (Dibner Library of the History of Science and Technology MSS 2031 A. Gift of H. W. Lende Jr) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-429A |
Matches: 1 hit
- … vol. 2, letters to J. S. Henslow, [10 November 1839] and [22 January 1843] ). Joseph …
From Emma Wedgwood [26 December 1838]
Summary
Responds to his "business letter" about the maids, then chides herself for feeling dull and disagreeable when she has had everything all her life.
| Author: | Emma Wedgwood; Emma Darwin |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | [26 Dec 1838] |
| Classmark: | DAR 204: 155 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-462 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … I don’t suppose the housemaid w d come for 10 g ’ s but that we might settle after Fanny …
To Charles Lyell [14] September [1838]
Summary
Comments on an article in Edinburgh Review [by David Brewster, 67 (1838): 271–308] on Comte’s Philosophie positive.
Discusses falsity of Élie de Beaumont’s views of contemporaneous parallel lines of elevation and subsidence.
Owen’s views of relationship of reptiles to birds.
On "question of species" CD has filled notebook after notebook with facts, "which begin to group themselves clearly under sub-laws".
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Charles Lyell, 1st baronet |
| Date: | [14] Sept [1838] |
| Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.11) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-428 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … revisited. Journal of the History of Biology 10: 229–316. Wilson, Leonard Gilchrist. 1972. …
| letter | (12) |
| Darwin, C. R. | (9) |
| Darwin, Emma | (1) |
| Grateloup, J. P. S. de | (1) |
| James, R. B. | (1) |
| Wedgwood, Emma | (1) |
| Darwin, C. R. | (2) |
| Lyell, Charles | (2) |
| Children, J. G. | (1) |
| Darwin, S. E. | (1) |
| Fox, W. D. | (1) |
| Children, J. G. | (1) |
| Darwin, C. R. | (11) |
| Darwin, Emma | (1) |
| Darwin, S. E. | (1) |
| Fox, W. D. | (1) |
| Grateloup, J. P. S. de | (1) |
| Henslow, J. S. | (1) |
| Herschel, J. F. W. | (1) |
| James, R. B. | (1) |
| Lyell, Charles | (2) |
| Spearman, A. Y. | (1) |
| Wedgwood, Emma | (1) |
| Whitley, C. T. | (1) |
| Wynne, [–] (a) | (1) |
Reading my roommate’s illustrious ancestor: To T. H. Huxley, 10 June 1868
Summary
My roommate at Harvard College was Tom Baum, now a Hollywood screenwriter. Tom’s full name is Thomas Henle Baum, his middle name a reference to a German physician ancestor for whom the ‘Loop of Henle’ in the kidney had been named. Other than this iconic…
Matches: 1 hits
- … catch my interest. And as I did so, my eyes fell on a 10 June 1868 Darwin letter to Huxley in which …
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: 8 hits
- … given it up by early July ( see letter to J. D. Hooker, [10 July 1865] ). In July, he …
- … finished hearing it read aloud ( letter to Fritz Müller, 10 August [1865] ). Over the next few …
- … ( see letter from Fritz Müller, [12 and 31 August, and 10 October 1865] ; since it is impossible …
- … similarly coloured varieties (see Correspondence vol. 10, letter to John Scott, 19 November …
- … ‘industry & ability’ ( letter from J. D. Hooker, [10 March 1865] ). Scott took these …
- … of transmutation to humans (see Correspondence vol. 10, letter from J. H. Balfour, 14 January …
- … ( Correspondence vol. 11, letter from J. D. Hooker, 10 June 1863 ). However, probably …
- … Cresy, 7 September [1865] , and letter from Edward Cresy, 10 September 1865 ). Francis and …
Cross and self fertilisation
Summary
The effects of cross and self fertilisation in the vegetable kingdom, published on 10 November 1876, was the result of a decade-long project to provide evidence for Darwin’s belief that ‘‘Nature thus tells us, in the most emphatic manner, that she abhors…
Matches: 6 hits
- … self fertilisation in the vegetable kingdom , published on 10 November 1876, was the result of a …
- … of the young plants is highly remarkable’ ( To Asa Gray, 10 September [1866] ). By early December, …
- … great measure my further working’ ( From Hermann Müller, 10 June 1873 ). Darwin, in turn, had …
- … had ‘begun to prepare for press observations continued for 10 years on the effects of crossing …
- … 12 November 1876 ). The book was published on 10 November 1876. Within days, Darwin received …
- … of rye and wheat that he had studied ( From A. W. Rimpau, 10 December 1877 ). By the end of …
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…
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…
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: 5 hits
- … within the family, Henrietta explained to Stephen on 10 January , hoping that he did not think …
- … investigate aggregation. He explained to Fritz Müller on 10 September why he had embarked on …
- … to the general stock of knowledge’ ( letter to E. W. Bok, 10 May 1881 ). Josef Popper, an expert …
- … to R. F. Cooke, 5 October 1881 ). The publication date was 10 October, but by 7 October Darwin …
- … of soil, while his brother James Geikie told Darwin on 10 October that no one would ‘any longer …
Schools Gallery: Using Darwin’s letters in the classroom
Summary
English| History| Science English Pupils in Cumbria lead the way Year 9 English pupils at Ulverston Victoria High School spent several weeks studying Darwin’s letters, including comparing sections from Darwin’s ‘Voyage of the Beagle’ to letters…
Darwin's notes for his physician, 1865
Summary
On 20 May 1865, Emma Darwin recorded in her diary that John Chapman, a prominent London publisher who had studied medicine in London and Paris in the early 1840s, visited Down to consult with Darwin about his ill health. In 1863 Chapman started to treat…
Henrietta Darwin's diary
Summary
Darwin's daughter Henrietta kept a diary for a few momentous weeks in 1871. This was the year in which Descent of Man, the most controversial of her father's books after Origin itself, appeared, a book which she had helped him write. The small…
Matches: 4 hits
- … now in the balance & I can laugh & talk & settle Bradshaw 10 etc etc just as …
- … me so. If I cannot be a good wife I have indeed neglected my 10 talents. 11 July 5th. …
- … all the world to me to see him smile to hear his voice 10 years on how will it be when we are 50 …
- … . 9 Richard Buckley Litchfield . 10 Bradshaw’s railway guide . …
Was Darwin an ecologist?
Summary
One of the most fascinating aspects of Charles Darwin’s correspondence is the extent to which the experiments he performed at his home in Down, in the English county of Kent, seem to prefigure modern scientific work in ecology.
Matches: 1 hits
- … to me.— Charles Darwin to J. D. Hooker, 10 December [1866] . The ‘hard …
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
- … however, continued to be raised in various ways. On 10 January, Charles O’Shaughnessy , an Irish …
- … them to such extent?’ enthused Hermann Hoffmann on 10 January , while on 23 June, Auguste Forel …
- … of plant digestion further, had already reported on 10 January that he had confirmed the ‘more …
- … Caroline home, they had experienced a further calamity. On 10 May, William suffered serious …
- … mentioned his oldest daughter Annie, who died at the age of 10 in 1851, but William, who was 11 …
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: 5 hits
- … of coffee to two cups a day, since coffee, with the ‘10 drops of Muriatic acid twice a day (with …
- … the chemistry go on better’ ( letter from H. B. Jones, 10 February [1866] ). Darwin began …
- … you are in for it’ ( letter from H. E. Darwin, [ c . 10 May 1866] ). Henrietta’s letter …
- … know how to begin’ ( letter to Fritz Müller, [before 10 December 1866] ). The intrusion of …
- … other German states and Austria in June and July. Writing on 10 May from Württemberg, one of the …
Darwin in letters, 1856-1857: the 'Big Book'
Summary
In May 1856, Darwin began writing up his 'species sketch’ in earnest. During this period, his working life was completely dominated by the preparation of his 'Big Book', which was to be called Natural selection. Using letters are the main…
Darwin in letters, 1863: Quarrels at home, honours abroad
Summary
At the start of 1863, Charles Darwin was actively working on the manuscript of The variation of animals and plants under domestication, anticipating with excitement the construction of a hothouse to accommodate his increasingly varied botanical experiments…
Matches: 6 hits
- … (see Correspondence vol. 8, letter to Charles Lyell, 10 January [1860] ). In the same letter …
- … had been published in 1862 (see Correspondence vol. 10). He sent a copy to Asa Gray to review in …
- … of species, when crossed’ ( letter to T. H. Huxley, 10 [January 1863] ). He reminded Huxley again …
- … Verbascum and Zea (see Correspondence vol. 10, Appendix VI). However, when Evidence as …
- … other acquired differences’ (see Correspondence vol. 10, Appendix VI). In addition to crossing …
- … orchid genus Acropera (see Correspondence vol. 10). Their 1863 letters reveal Darwin’s …
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…
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: 12 hits
- … you sent me as well as I could. DARWIN: 10 My dear Dr Gray. I really hardly know …
- … Hooker is younger than Darwin and Gray by about 10 years. Like Gray, he is a professional botanist …
- … right when he said the whole subject would be forgotten in 10 years. But now that I hear you will …
- … a lesser degree ‘Blood’s One Penny Envelope, 1, 3, and 10 cents’. If you will make him this present, …
- … HOOKER: 208 We had a horrid scare 10 days ago, in the form of a Telegram from ‘Nature’ to …
- … XVII, 1882 4 C DARWIN TO JD HOOKER 10 MAY 1848 5 C DARWIN TO JD HOOKER …
- … 9 A GRAY TO C DARWIN, 22 MAY 1855 10 C DARWIN TO A GRAY, 24 AUGUST 1855 …
- … JOURNAL OF SCIENCE 72 A GRAY TO C DARWIN, 10 JANUARY 1860 73 C DARWIN TO …
- … A GRAY, 21 JULY 1861 120 A GRAY TO JD HOOKER, 10 JUNE 1861 121 A GRAY TO C …
- … 18 FEBRUARY 1862 129 JD HOOKER TO C DARWIN, 10 MARCH 1862 130 C DARWIN …
- … 23 NOVEMBER 1862 136 C DARWIN TO A GRAY, 10–20 JUNE 1862 137 A GRAY TO …
- … AND 26 JANUARY 1862 142 A GRAY TO C DARWIN, 10 NOVEMBER 1862 143 A …
Darwin in letters, 1860: Answering critics
Summary
On 7 January 1860, John Murray published the second edition of Darwin’s Origin of species, printing off another 3000 copies to satisfy the demands of an audience that surprised both the publisher and the author. It wasn't long, however, before ‘the…
Matches: 4 hits
- … form’, namely those of embryology ( letter to Asa Gray, 10 September [1860] ). Only his theory, he …
- … with other animals’ ( letter to Charles Lyell, 10 January [1860] )— he and others were well aware …
- … views.—’ ( letter from J. S. Henslow to J. D. Hooker, 10 May 1860 ). What worried Darwin most …
- … serve a purpose in Britain. He immediately wrote to Gray on 10 September after studying the first …
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: 4 hits
- … interesting to the public’ ( letter to Reginald Darwin, 10 April [1879] ). However, even members …
- … he disagreed with Henrietta, or that Krause had written on 10 July to say that he had derived …
- … & experiment’ ( letter from J. F. Moulton, 10 December 1879 ). In reply to Darwin’s response …
- … Leopold Würtenberger fared better. When he wrote on 10 January to ask whether Darwin could find him …
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: 31 hits
- … Marcel de Serres Cavernes d’Ossements 7 th Ed. 10 8 vo . [Serres 1838] good to trace Europ. …
- … on wheat [Le Couteur 1836] Bechstein on Caged Birds. 10 s 6 d . translated by Rennie …
- … Soc read Prichards. Nat: History of Man. Bailliere. 1.10 [Prichard 1843] must be studied . …
- … Des ). De leur Anatomie, Reproduction et Culture. 4to. Avec 10 planches. Amsterdam, 1768. 12 s . …
- … G. Browne 1799]— well skimmed 1839 Jan 10 All life of W. Scott [Lockhart 1837–8] …
- … Voyage of Kolff to the Molucca Sea [Kolff 1840] 10 th Surville-Marion [Crozet 1783]. …
- … 1839]. References at end. chiefly on instincts 10 th . Blackwalls Researches in Zoology …
- … 1839–40]. references at end.— Maer (June 10 to Nov. 14. 1840) Smellies Buffon 3 d …
- … Hilaire: [I. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire 1841] d[itt]o: 10 th Journal de Phys. [ Observations …
- … [Lyman 1781] [DAR 119: 10b] Dec. 10 th The Hour & Man. H. Martineau [H. …
- … Dog [C. H. Smith 1839–40] 2 d . vol. d[itt]o Nov. 10 th Sprengel. Endeckte Geheimniss. …
- … Nat. Lib. vol 14 [Waterhouse 1841] Marked—— 10 th Veterinary [ Veterinarian ] 1828 Vol 1 …
- … & Mary. & Anne [Smollett 1805].— 1842 Jan 10 M rs Hamilton Grays Etruria [E …
- … Royle Prod. Resources of India [Royle 1840] abst June 10 th Miller’s old Red Sandstone [H. …
- … Clarendons History [Hyde 1704]. 1843 Jan 10. Last Vol of Clarendons History [Hyde …
- … 26 Hinds Regions of Vegetation [Hinds 1843]. June 10 th . Linnæan Trans. [ Transactions of …
- … 3. vols. [Bradley 1724] (nothing) scarcely —— 10 Johnson’s Field Sports of India [D. Johnson …
- … or Geograph. Distrib:” [Gérard 1844–5] Dec. 10 Ray. Society. Vol I. Reports [Ray Society 1845 …
- … French in Algiers [Lamping 1845] 1846 Jan 10 th Mackintosh life of More …
- … St. Lecons de Morph. Bot. [Saint-Hilaire 1841] April 10 Wagners Anatomy by Tulk [Wagner 1845] …
- … of Ægyptians [J. G. Wilkinson 1837–41].— April 10 3 d vol of d[itt]o W. Scotts Life …
- … May 5. Ray’s Memorials of [Ray 1846] —— 10 th The Falcon Family [Savage] 1845] 27 …
- … Misc. Works. 3 vols: [Mackintosh 1846] Aug 10. Appendix to Carlyle’s Cromwell [Carlyle 1845]. …
- … Travels in Brazil [Gardner 1846]. —— 10 th D r . Joseph Adams. Philosoph. Treatise on …
- … Miller First Impressions of England [H. Miller 1847]. Nov. 10 Prichard Physical Researches. Hist. of …
- … et d'Histoire Naturelle de Genève ]. Tom I to 10. —— Annales du Museum [ Annales …
- … W. Tone Autobiography [Tone 1826] very amusing March 10 John Galt Autobiography [Galt 1833] …
- … Chancellors [J. Campbell 1845–7] —— 10 Neander’s Life of St Bernard [Neander 1843] …
- … Miller Footsteps of the Creator [H. Miller 1849] Dec. 10. Dana’s Geology. U.S. Expedition [J. …
- … to 1837. & thence I have read in Journals June 10 th Goulds Birds of Australia [Gould …
- … . Feb. 1. Emigrants Manual [Burton 1851] March 10 th Hind’s Solar System [Hind 1852 …
The evolution of honeycomb
Summary
Honeycombs are natural engineering marvels, using the least possible amount of wax to provide the greatest amount of storage space, with the greatest possible structural stability. Darwin recognised that explaining the evolution of the honey-bee’s comb…
