To John Scott 6 March 1863
Summary
Answers JS’s criticism of natural selection, which he doubts JS understands. CD does not believe in an "innate selective principle".
To understand "utility" JS should read CD on correlation.
Origin of maize: no longer thinks husked form was wild because of Asa Gray’s evidence on its variability.
Has information from Thomas Rivers on weeping habit in trees.
JS’s experiments on coloured primroses.
Encloses bibliographical note on Passiflora.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | John Scott |
| Date: | 6 Mar 1863 |
| Classmark: | DAR 93: B66–8, B71 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4031 |
To J. D. Hooker 15 and 22 May [1863]
Summary
The Lyell–Falconer squabble.
Discusses island vs continental floras and their degree of modification.
Critical of Wallace.
CD’s observations on phyllotaxy.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
| Date: | 15 and 22 May 1863 |
| Classmark: | DAR 115: 193 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4167 |
Matches: 2 hits
- … 11 May [1863] . Hugh Falconer and Richard Owen . Bones of early fossil mammals from the middle Purbeck beds at Durlstone Bay near Swanage, Dorset, were excavated in the 1850s, the first find being described by Owen ( Owen 1854 ). In 1857, Lyell was instrumental in encouraging Samuel Husband Beckles to undertake further excavations of the beds (see C. Lyell 1857 , pp. 13–14, …
- … 14, and letter to Daniel Oliver, 2 September [1862] , and this volume, letter to J. D. Hooker, 23 April [1863] ). CD’s experimental notes on L. indica , dated August 1863, are in DAR 109: B116–17, and his findings are summarised in DAR 27.2: 17 v. These observations were published in Forms of flowers , pp. 167–8. The reference is to a squib (Anon. 1863a), part of which appeared in Public Opinion 3 (1863): 497–8 (see Correspondence vol. 11, …
From J. D. Hooker [24 March 1863]
Summary
Has been looking at separation of sexes in poplars.
Interested in reversion.
Does not understand all CD said on inheritance.
JDH now remembers that Origin was "published" some time before it was "distributed" and therefore appeared prior to his own essay [see also 2478].
Impossible to say whether some Dipterocarpaceae survived a cold period or have developed since.
| Author: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | [24 Mar 1863] |
| Classmark: | DAR 100: 154, DAR 101: 123–5 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2027 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … 11, Appendix IV). Oliver had previously requested a copy of the paper in order to give an abstract of it in the Natural History Review , of which he was one of the editors (see letter from Daniel Oliver, 27 February 1863 ). He apparently wrote the abstract that was published in the July 1863 issue of the journal ([Oliver] 1863d; see letter to J. D. Hooker, 14 …
To James Dwight Dana 7 January [1863]
Summary
Responds to JDD’s letter [3845].
Discusses his own poor health.
"Man is our great subject at present."
Lyell’s book [Antiquity of man (1863)] sold 4000 copies on day of sale.
"The fossil bird [Archaeopteryx] … is a grand case for me." Wishes a skeleton could be found in the "so-called red sandstone foot-step beds".
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | James Dwight Dana |
| Date: | 7 Jan [1863] |
| Classmark: | Yale University Library: Manuscripts and Archives (Dana Family Papers (MS 164) Series 1, Box 2, folder 44) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3905 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … 14). The Triassic sandstones of the Connecticut River Valley were renowned for the large bird-like footprints imprinted in the rock ( Hitchcock 1836 ). See letter from J. D. Dana, 4 December 1862 and n. 2. CD sent Dana a presentation copy of Origin in 1859 (see Correspondence vol. 7, letter to J. D. Dana, 11 …
To Asa Gray 23 February [1863]
Summary
Recommends Lyell’s book [Antiquity of man (1863)].
Quotes praise of AG’s pamphlet [see 2938].
Comments on U. S. politics.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Asa Gray |
| Date: | 23 Feb [1863] |
| Classmark: | Gray Herbarium of Harvard University (55) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4006 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … 14 February 1863 (see letter to Charles Lyell, 4 [February 1863] ). CD had supervised the arrangements for the publication of Gray’s pamphlet ( A. Gray 1861a ), which was originally published as a series of articles in the American periodical Atlantic Monthly . CD and Gray shared the cost of having 500 copies printed, and 250 copies were put on sale at the London publishing firm Trübner & Co. (see Correspondence vol. 8, letter to Asa Gray, 11 …
From Hugh Falconer 10 September 1863
Summary
Is having E. Suess’s essay [see 4284] translated; will forward it as soon as it is done.
| Author: | Hugh Falconer |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 10 Sept 1863 |
| Classmark: | DAR 164: 18 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4298 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … 11, Appendix II)). Falconer refers to his ongoing research on the palaeontological evidence relating to prehistoric humans, and on Pleistocene mammals ( DSB ). Falconer had arranged to visit the Auvergne with Édouard Lartet , who organised visits to palaeontological collections and meetings with palaeontologists (see the letter from Lartet to Falconer of 3 September 1863 in the Falconer Museum, Forres, ZF/300). Falconer travelled to Le Puy, in the Velay region, and to Clermont, the capital of the Auvergne, between 14 …
From John Hutton Balfour 22 April 1863
Summary
Thanks for paper on Linum [Collected papers 2: 93–105].
One of his gardeners [John Scott] is also studying such fertilisation and appreciates CD’s encouragement; Scott has paper to read for Edinburgh Botanical Society.
| Author: | John Hutton Balfour |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 22 Apr 1863 |
| Classmark: | DAR 160: 32 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4119 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … 11, Appendix IV). The reference is to John Scott , keeper of the propagating department at the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, where Balfour was director ( R. Desmond 1994 ). CD had become a mentor for Scott’s experimental work (see, for example, letter from John Scott, [after 12] April [1863] and n. 5). Balfour refers to Scott’s paper on orchid pollination, Scott 1863a , which Scott himself read before the Botanical Society of Edinburgh on 14 …
To Asa Gray 20 March [1863]
Summary
Discusses the meaning of C. K. Sprengel’s term "dichogamy". Dichogamous plants are functionally monoecious; Primula is functionally dioecious.
Reports Hermann Crüger’s observations of Cattleya and of bees pollinating Catasetum. Crüger will observe Melastomataceae.
Has built a hothouse.
Fears Amsinckia cannot be dimorphic.
Ill health slows his work on Variation.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Asa Gray |
| Date: | 20 Mar [1863] |
| Classmark: | Gray Herbarium of Harvard University (58) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4053 |
To J. D. Hooker 30 January [1863]
Summary
Naudin has not answered CD’s letter.
Reactions of Candolle, Naudin, Decaisne, and Gaston de Saporta to Origin.
CD’s new hothouse.
CD’s Linum paper.
JDH’s work on Welwitschia.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
| Date: | 30 Jan [1863] |
| Classmark: | DAR 115: 180 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3953 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … 14 February 1863. CD’s paper on dimorphic flowers in Linum , ‘Two forms in species of Linum ’ , was read at a meeting of the Linnean Society on 5 February 1863, which CD was too ill to attend (see letter to W. B. Tegetmeier, 19 February [1863] and n. 6). According to Emma Darwin’s diary (DAR 242), the Darwins visited the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, on 11 …
To J. D. Hooker 23 April [1863]
Summary
Grieved by Falconer’s and Prestwich’s treatment of Lyell.
Reproductive anatomy of the common ash reminds CD of JDH’s Welwitschia because of its transitional forms.
Pleased JDH encourages Oliver to do orchids.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
| Date: | 23 Apr [1863] |
| Classmark: | DAR 115: 191 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4122 |
To John Scott 2 May [1863]
Summary
Impressed by JS’s attempts to fertilise Gongora.
CD has large collection of notes on orchids, but does not know when he will publish on them again.
Asks for JS’s papers on sterility of individual orchids and on Drosera.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | John Scott |
| Date: | 2 May [1863] |
| Classmark: | DAR 93: B25–6 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4137 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … 14 May 1863. In his letter of [after 12] April [1863] , Scott had thanked CD for the encouraging remarks in his letter to Scott of 12 April [1863] . CD refers to Scott’s draft paper on his experiments with species of Oncidium and Maxillaria (see letter from John Scott, [after 12] April [1863] ); the paper was published as Scott 1863a (see n. 8, above). The second reference is to Scott’s paper on Drosera and Dionaea ( Scott 1862b ), read before the Botanical Society of Edinburgh on 11 …
To G. H. K. Thwaites 30 March [1863]
Summary
Thanks GHKT for specimens of Sethia. Discusses functions of their dimorphism for insect fertilisation.
Discusses polymorphism and fertilisation in Lythraceae.
Asks for seed of Limnanthemum.
Describes his interest in galls.
Discusses curious specimens of Gomphia and Lesemia.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | George Henry Kendrick Thwaites |
| Date: | 30 Mar [1863] |
| Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.293) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4067 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … 14). CD’s paper, ‘Two forms in species of Linum ’ , was read before the Linnean Society on 5 February 1863. It was published in the number of the Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society (Botany) that was issued on 13 May 1863 ( General index to the Journal of the Linnean Society , p. vi). However, CD obtained a number of offprints of the paper in mid-April for distribution to those he thought would be interested; Thwaites’s name appears on CD’s presentation list (see Correspondence vol. 11, …
From John Scott 22 May 1863
Summary
J. H. Balfour has arranged a position for him at a Cinchona nursery. Reluctant to take this position in part because of his experiments for CD.
Asks CD’s advice and solicits his aid in finding a better colonial position. James McNab mistreats him.
| Author: | John Scott |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 22 May 1863 |
| Classmark: | DAR 177: 90 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4177 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … 14 (1883): 160; Birse 1994 , p. 65). Thomas Anderson was superintendent of the Calcutta botanic gardens ( R. Desmond 1994 ). On the history of Cinchona plantations in Darjeeling, India, see the letter from J. D. Hooker, [23–7 May 1863] , nn. 3 and 5. In 1863, Scott performed a series of crossing experiments with Passiflora , Disemma , and Tacsonia , with dimorphic and non-dimorphic species of Primula , and with species of Oncidium (see letters from John Scott , 3 March 1863 , 21 March [1863] , [1–11] …
From Julius von Haast 21 July [– 7? August] 1863
Summary
In a forthcoming paper JvH will show geological age of the world to be "incalculable" and will confirm CD’s theory that "the old system of chronological sequence of formations all over the world must be abandoned in a great degree".
Predicts the links between species, genera, and classes will be found.
CD elected an Honorary Member [of Philosophical Institute of Canterbury].
| Author: | John Francis Julius (Julius) von Haast |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 21 July [– 7? Aug] 1863 |
| Classmark: | DAR 166: 4, 6; Darwin Pamphlet Collection–CUL (G304) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4249 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … 11 November 1863 ). A somewhat modified version of a portion of the letter was published in J. D. Hooker 1864 , pp. 126–7. James Cook was the first to circumnavigate and accurately chart New Zealand; he first arrived there in 1769 ( DNB ). C. Lyell 1863a . According to the letter from the secretary of the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury, New Zealand, 14 …
From Asa Gray 26 May 1863
Summary
Discusses recent correspondence in the Athenæum: the disagreement between Lyell and Hugh Falconer and Owen’s remarks on heterogeny [see 4110].
Briefly discusses orchids and some problems in phyllotaxy.
Mentions the political situation and the quarrelsome behaviour of the English.
| Author: | Asa Gray |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 26 May 1863 |
| Classmark: | DAR 165: 135 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4186 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … 11 May [1863] . The reference is to Introduction to structural and systematic botany and vegetable physiology ( A. Gray 1858a , pp. 236–7 and 133–41), which formed the fifth revised edition of The botanical text-book . Hitherto, CD had been consulting First lessons in botany ( A. Gray 1857 ) for information on phyllotaxy, following Hugh Falconer’s claim that the angles of leaves in a spiral up a stem ‘go by as fixed a law as that of Gravity & never vary ’ (see letter to Asa Gray, 20 April [1863] and n. 14, …
| letter | (75) |
| Darwin, C. R. | (44) |
| Scott, John | (6) |
| Anderson Henry, Isaac | (3) |
| Anderson, Isaac | (3) |
| Fox, W. D. | (2) |
| Darwin, C. R. | (30) |
| Hooker, J. D. | (11) |
| Scott, John | (7) |
| Gray, Asa | (3) |
| Falconer, Hugh | (2) |
| Darwin, C. R. | (74) |
| Hooker, J. D. | (13) |
| Scott, John | (13) |
| Gray, Asa | (5) |
| Anderson Henry, Isaac | (4) |
