To ? 12 July [1872–4]
Summary
Has not strength or time to hunt for Herminium monorchis; has failed to make orchid seeds germinate.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Unidentified |
Date: | 12 July [1872-4] |
Classmark: | National Library of Russia (Collection of P. Waxell (F. 965): no 637) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8406F |
To the Linnean Society 12 September 1872
Summary
Instructions for forwarding a parcel and outstanding issues of Transactions due him.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Linnean Society |
Date: | 12 Sept 1872 |
Classmark: | Linnean Society of London (Darwin Misc. Letters 9) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8517 |
Matches: 4 hits
- … To the Linnean Society 12 September 1872 …
- … of London (Darwin Misc. Letters 9) Charles Robert Darwin Down 12 Sept 1872 Linnean Society …
- … Down, | Beckenham, Kent. Sep. 12. 72 Dear Sir, Will you be so kind as to send me the …
- … letter to the Linnean Society, [after 12] September 1872 . CD’s copies of the Transactions …
To Francis Galton 12 August [1872]
Summary
The carrier will call at University College on Thursday 15 August.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Francis Galton |
Date: | 12 Aug [1872] |
Classmark: | The Whiting family (private collection) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8464F |
To Bartholomäus von Carneri 12 March 1872
Summary
Offers to send German editions of his works when he return home.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Bartholomäus von Carneri |
Date: | 12 Mar 1872 |
Classmark: | Wienbibliothek im Rathaus, Handschriftensammlung (H.I.N. 39418) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8241F |
From V. O. Kovalevsky [after 12 August 1872]
Summary
VOK is marking the passages [in Wundt, Menschen und Thierseele (1863)] that may interest CD.
Author: | Vladimir Onufrievich Kovalevsky (Владимир Онуфриевич Ковалевский) |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | [after 12 Aug 1872] |
Classmark: | DAR 169: 59 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8476 |
Matches: 4 hits
- … From V. O. Kovalevsky [after 12 August 1872] …
- … Онуфриевич Ковалевский) London, Euston Rd, 218 [after 12 Aug 1872] Charles Robert Darwin …
- … and the letter from V. O. Kovalevsky, [12–17 August 1872] . CD’s letter to Kovalevsky …
- … see letter from V. O. Kovalevsky, [12–17 August 1872] and n. 2). Kovalevsky’s next …
From John Murray 12 November [1872]
Summary
Price of Expression is 12s.
Sends cheque to pay CD his share of profits on Origin [6th ed.].
Author: | John Murray |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 12 Nov [1872] |
Classmark: | DAR 171: 430 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8622 |
From W. W. Reade 12 March 1872
Summary
Has just finished his work [? The martyrdom of man (1872)]. The new points are: (1) Negroes have whiskers; (2) their music is sometimes agreeable; (3) the Kaffirs are Negroes.
Author: | William Winwood Reade |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 12 Mar 1872 |
Classmark: | DAR 176: 55 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8241 |
Matches: 5 hits
- … From W. W. Reade 12 March 1872 …
- … DAR 176: 55 William Winwood Reade Kensington 12 Mar 1872 Charles Robert Darwin …
- … t . Mary Abbot’s Terrace | Kensington March 12—72 My dear Sir I’ve been morn noon & night …
- … W. W. Reade, 21 February 1871 and 12 September 1871 . In Descent 1: 64, CD referred to …
- … vol. 19, letter from W. W. Reade, 12 September 1871 and n. 3. In Descent 1: 220, CD …
From Henry Johnson 12 January [1872?]
Summary
Sends a map of a field showing the effect of earthworms.
Author: | Henry Johnson |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 12 Jan [1872?] |
Classmark: | DAR 168: 65 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-12419 |
To Williams & Norgate 12 April [1872]
Summary
Orders books: J. R. Leifchild, The higher ministry of nature (1872);
Hermann Müller, The application of the Darwinian theory to flowers [(1872?), reprint from Am. Nat. 5 (1871): 271–97];
and a review by J. B. Hunter.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Bookseller. |
Date: | 12 Apr [1872] |
Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.414) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8284 |
To the Linnean Society [after 12] September 1872
Summary
Note authorising James West to collect Transactions on CD’s behalf.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Linnean Society |
Date: | [after 12] Sept 1872 |
Classmark: | Linnean Society of London (Darwin Misc. Letters 8) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8501 |
To J. D. Hooker 12 July [1872]
Summary
Overjoyed at the way the newspapers have taken up JDH’s case. The memorial has done great good this way, whatever the wretched Government does. It is enough to make one a Tory. JDH has done a service to all men of science by showing governments that they cannot be trampled on.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
Date: | 12 July [1872] |
Classmark: | DAR 94: 222–3 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8406 |
From W. W. Reade 12 September [1872]
Summary
Beginning work on his African travels [The African sketch-book (1873)].
Author: | William Winwood Reade |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 12 Sept [1872] |
Classmark: | DAR 176: 63 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8519 |
From C. L. Sutherland 12 September 1872
Summary
Sends CD a book on mule breeding in Poitou [Eugène Ayrault, De l’industrie mulassière en Poitou (1867)].
Author: | Charles Leslie Sutherland |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 12 Sept 1872 |
Classmark: | DAR 177: 320 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8518 |
To J. V. Carus 12 December [1872]
Summary
Has not strength nor time to alter and improve Variation.
First English edition of Expression now at 9000 copies.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Julius Victor Carus |
Date: | 12 Dec [1872] |
Classmark: | Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin – Preußischer Kulturbesitz (Slg. Darmstaedter Lc 1859: Darwin, Charles, Bl. 90–91) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8674 |
From R. F. Cooke 12 February 1872
Summary
Sends first copy of new [6th] edition of Origin. Expenses have been much higher than estimated because of extensive revisions. 3000 copies retailing at 6s would yield only £100 profit. Suggests fixing price at 7s 6d.
Author: | Robert Francis Cooke; John Murray |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 12 Feb 1872 |
Classmark: | DAR 171: 407 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8209 |
To John Scott 12 August 1872
Summary
Acknowledges a box of worm-casts from India and a bottle of worms in spirits. There is no memorandum.
His book on expression is finished and includes valuable information from JS.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Scott |
Date: | 12 Aug 1872 |
Classmark: | Transactions of the Hawick Archæological Society (1908): 69 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8465F |
From Herbert Spencer 12 June 1872
Summary
HS hopes in the future to show more fully "absolute emptiness" of James Martineau’s propositions; is glad CD approved of his article dealing with JM’s arguments. [J. Martineau, "The place of mind in nature", Contemp. Rev. 19 (1872): 606–23; H. Spencer, "Mr Martineau on evolution", Contemp. Rev. 20 (1872): 141–54.]
Author: | Herbert Spencer |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 12 June 1872 |
Classmark: | DAR 177: 230 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8384 |
To Charles Lyell 12 July [1872]
Summary
Comments on enclosed discussion of S. American geology by Agassiz. Mentions elevation of Patagonia and glaciation.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Charles Lyell, 1st baronet |
Date: | 12 July [1872] |
Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.420) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8405 |
From Armand de Quatrefages 12 January 1872
Summary
Battle for CD’s nomination to the French Academy continues.
Author: | Jean Louis Armand (Armand de Quatrefages) Quatrefages de Bréau |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 12 Jan 1872 |
Classmark: | DAR 175: 9 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8157 |
Matches: 4 hits
- … From Armand de Quatrefages 12 January 1872 …
- … Armand de Quatrefages) Quatrefages de Bréau Paris 12 Jan 1872 Charles Robert Darwin …
- … Paris 12 Janvier 72 Cher Monsieur La lutte pour votre existence, en qualité de …
- … Paris 12 January 72 Dear Sir The struggle for your existence, as Correspondent to our …
From V. O. Kovalevsky [12–17 August 1872]
Summary
CD cannot omit mention of Wilhelm Wundt’s Thierseele [Vorlesungen über die Menschen und Thierseele (1863)] in his book.
Murray could control the number of copies of translation of Expression sold in Russia by the number of heliotypes he will supply.
Author: | Vladimir Onufrievich Kovalevsky (Владимир Онуфриевич Ковалевский) |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | [12–17 Aug 1872] |
Classmark: | DAR 169: 57 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8464 |
letter | (128) |
Darwin, C. R. | (82) |
Cooke, R. F. | (3) |
Denny, John | (3) |
Hooker, J. D. | (3) |
John Murray | (3) |
Darwin, C. R. | (125) |
Hooker, J. D. | (9) |
Reade, W. W. | (8) |
Cooke, R. F. | (7) |
John Murray | (7) |

Lost in translation: From Auguste Forel, 12 November 1874
Summary
You receive a gift from your scientific hero Charles Darwin. It is a book that contains sections on your favourite topic—ants. If only you had paid attention when your mother tried to teach you English you might be able to read it. But you didn’t, and you…
Matches: 1 hits
- … barely understand a word. Writing in French on 12 November 1874 to thank Darwin for the …

Darwin’s hothouse and lists of hothouse plants
Summary
Darwin became increasingly involved in botanical experiments in the years after the publication of Origin. The building of a small hothouse - a heated greenhouse - early in 1863 greatly increased the range of plants that he could keep for scientific…
Matches: 9 hits
- … Correspondence vol. 10, letter to J. D. Hooker, 12 [December 1862] and n. 13). Initially, …
- … Stove [that is, cool hothouse]’ ( Correspondence vol. 12, letter to J. D. Hooker, 26[–7] March …
- … of different temperatures’ (letter to W. C. Tait, 12 and 16 March [1869] , Calendar no. 6661) …
- … 100 yards’ to the greenhouses ( Correspondence vol. 12, letter to J. D. Hooker, [25 January …
- … in mid-February (see letter from L. C. Treviranus, 12 February 1863 ). The second list is …
- … Anoectochilus argenteus 12 5 s . …
- … punctatum. 11. Mormodes aurantiaca 12. ‘Anoectochilus argenteus 5 s .’ deleted in …
- … Bolbophyllum barbigerum 12 major …
- … Ampelidae. 11. Alloplectus chrysanthus. 12. Bulbophyllum barbigerum. 13. …

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: 12 hits
- … Seventy years old Darwin’s seventieth birthday on 12 February was a cause for international …
- … and good as could be’ ( letter from Karl Beger, [ c. 12 February 1879] ). The masters of …
- … ). The botanist and schoolteacher Hermann Müller wrote on 12 February to wish Darwin a ‘long and …
- … well, and with little fatigue’ ( letter to G. H. Darwin, 12 July 1879 , and letter from Leonard …
- … ever about life of D r . D’ ( letter to Francis Darwin, 12 July [1879] ). It was little …
- … Thiselton-Dyer, 5 June 1879 , and letter to G. H. Darwin, 12 July 1879 ). Darwin’s final task …
- … inn ‘ very comfortable’, but told Leonard Darwin on 12 August that there were ‘too many human …
- … not to have come up when the Darwins lunched with him on 12 August (Darwin’s ‘Journal’). Nor did …
- … the world. At the end of the year he was awarded a prize of 12,000 francs by the Turin Academy of …
- … which greatly pleased Darwin ( letter from Grant Allen, 12 February 1879 ). One of Allen’s targets …
- … engagement being made public ( letter from T. H. Farrer, 12 October 1879 ). Darwin’s response not …
- … accurate in its treatment’ ( letter from Francis Galton, 12 November 1879 ). The comment that …

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: 11 hits
- … (letters from George Cupples, 21 February 1874 and 12 March 1874 ); the material was …
- … the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii; letters from T. N. Staley, 12 February 1874 and 20 February 1874 …
- … was published in November 1874 ( letter from R. F. Cooke, 12 November 1874 ). Though containing …
- … print runs would be very good ( letter from R. F. Cooke, 12 November 1874 ). Darwin's …
- … Review & in the same type’ ( letter from John Murray, 12 August 1874 ). George’s letter …
- … he finally wrote a polite, very formal letter to Mivart on 12 January 1875 , refusing to hold any …
- … & snugness’ ( letter from Emma Darwin to J. B. Innes, 12 October [1874] ). More …
- … vicar of Deptford ( letter from Emma Darwin to J. B. Innes, 12 October [1874] ), but to her …
- … mechanism that Darwin agreed with ( letter to F. J. Cohn, 12 October 1874 ). Darwin’s American …
- … bank with enormous tips to his ears ( letter from Asa Gray, 12 May 1874 ). The Manchester …
- … excellent, & as clear as light’ ( letter to John Tyndall, 12 August [1874] ). Hooker …
1.2 George Richmond, marriage portrait
Summary
< Back to Introduction Few likenesses of Darwin in his youth survive, although more may once have existed. In a letter of 1873 an old Shrewsbury friend, Arthur Mostyn Owen, offered to send Darwin a watercolour sketch of him, painted many years…
Matches: 1 hits
- … < Back to Introduction Few likenesses of Darwin in his youth survive, although more …

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: 6 hits
- … made a small omission ’. Stephen’s reply on 12 January was flattering, reassuring, and …
- … books being ‘a game of chance’ ( letter to R. F. Cooke, 12 April 1881 ). On 18 May he described …
- … Darwin had difficulty in obtaining mature plants. On 12 April, he reported to Müller , ‘I have …
- … to make me happy & contented,’ he told Wallace on 12 July , ‘but life has become very …
- … fight’ (letters to J. D. Hooker, 6 August 1881 and 12 August 1881 ). Darwin may have …
- … else’s judgment on the subject ( letter to A. R. Wallace, 12 July 1881 ). However, some requests …

Darwin's in letters, 1873: Animal or vegetable?
Summary
Having laboured for nearly five years on human evolution, sexual selection, and the expression of emotions, Darwin was able to devote 1873 almost exclusively to his beloved plants. He resumed work on the digestive powers of sundews and Venus fly traps, and…
Matches: 3 hits

Darwin in letters, 1862: A multiplicity of experiments
Summary
1862 was a particularly productive year for Darwin. This was not only the case in his published output (two botanical papers and a book on the pollination mechanisms of orchids), but more particularly in the extent and breadth of the botanical experiments…
Matches: 6 hits
- … Hooker: ‘he is no common man’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 12 [December 1862] ). Two sexual …
- … of the year, he wrote to Hooker ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 12 [December 1862] ): ‘my notions on …
- … least 3 classes of dimorphism’ ( letter to Daniel Oliver, 12 [April 1862] ), and experimenting to …
- … passed so miserable a nine months’ ( letter to W. D. Fox, 12 September [1862] ). A family …
- … ‘Botany is a new subject to me’ ( letter to John Scott, 12 November [1862] ), but, impressed by …
- … into Tyndall’s ears’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 10–12 November [1862] ). Another of Darwin’s …
German and Dutch photograph albums
Summary
Darwin Day 2018: To celebrate Darwin's 209th birthday, we present two lavishly produced albums of portrait photographs which Darwin received from continental admirers 141 years ago. These unusual gifts from Germany and the Netherlands are made…
Matches: 1 hits
- … their generous sympathy. ( Letter to A. A. van Bemmelen, 12 February 1877 ) View the …

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…
Matches: 5 hits
- … than insectivorous plants. As he confessed to Hooker on 12 December , ‘I have not felt so angry …
- … from his family, he sent a curt note to Mivart on 12 January , breaking off all future …
- … of a bill that was presented to the House of Commons on 12 May, one week after a rival bill based on …
- … The author, Fritz Schultze, contacted Darwin himself on 12 June , describing the aims of his book …
- … scientific Socy. has done in my time,’ he told Hooker on 12 December . ‘I wish that I knew what …

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: 3 hits

Diagrams and drawings in letters
Summary
Over 850 illustrations from the printed volumes of The Correspondence of Charles Darwin have been added to the online transcripts of the letters. The contents include maps, diagrams, drawings, sketches and photographs, covering geological, botanical,…
Matches: 1 hits
- … Rubiaceae with enclosures containing bud samples, 12 May 1878 G. H. Darwin's …

Darwin in letters, 1869: Forward on all fronts
Summary
At the start of 1869, Darwin was hard at work making changes and additions for a fifth edition of Origin. He may have resented the interruption to his work on sexual selection and human evolution, but he spent forty-six days on the task. Much of the…

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, 1847-1850: Microscopes and barnacles
Summary
Darwin's study of barnacles, begun in 1844, took him eight years to complete. The correspondence reveals how his interest in a species found during the Beagle voyage developed into an investigation of the comparative anatomy of other cirripedes 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: 3 hits

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…

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…
Matches: 3 hits

Darwin & Glen Roy
Summary
Although Darwin was best known for his geological work in South America and other remote Beagle destinations, he made one noteworthy attempt to explain a puzzling feature of British geology. In 1838, two years after returning from the voyage, he travelled…