To William Shoberl [22 or 23 September 1837]
Summary
Thanks WS for a document [see 379]. Promises to send MS and woodcuts before night. Discusses details of printing and correction. Thanks WS and Henry Colburn for assistance.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | William Shoberl |
Date: | [22–3 Sept 1837] |
Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.8) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-380 |
Matches: 5 hits
- … of 2 September 1839, p. 267 and Freeman 1977 , p. 34). CD travelled to Shrewsbury on …
- … By Charles Darwin. London: Henry Colburn. 1839. Narrative : Narrative of the surveying …
- … and 1836. [Edited by Robert FitzRoy. ] 3 vols. and appendix. London: Henry Colburn. 1839. …
- … the time the Narrative was published in May 1839, Colburn had apparently decided that CD’s …
- … Narrative and brought it out with a new title in August 1839 ( The Publishers’ Circular …
To William Whewell [10 March 1837]
Summary
CD seeks to decline the Secretaryship [of the Geological Society] by citing his obligation to FitzRoy to write his volume of the narrative of their expedition. His youth, inexperience, and ignorance of English geology.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | William Whewell |
Date: | [10 Mar 1837] |
Classmark: | Trinity College, Cambridge (Add c 88: 2) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-347 |
To Leonard Jenyns 3 December [1837]
Summary
CD is glad LJ is describing the fishes [for Zoology]; would not have permitted J. E. Gray to describe them. New species will be lithographed.
Suggests books; offers coloured drawings made by artist on Beagle voyage.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Leonard Jenyns; Leonard Blomefield |
Date: | 3 Dec [1837] |
Classmark: | Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-391 |
To Frederick William Hope [21 June 1837]
Summary
Discusses insect specimens he left with FWH. Asks if he may state on FWH’s authority that a third or a half of the specimens from Sydney and Hobart Town are undescribed – a striking fact, showing imperfect knowledge of the insects in the close neighbourhood of the two Australian capitals.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Frederick William Hope |
Date: | [21 June 1837] |
Classmark: | Oxford University Museum (Hope Entomological collections) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-362 |
From Emily Catherine Darwin 15 [January 1837]
Summary
Morning Herald had an account of CD’s 80 specimens of Mammalia and 450 birds at the Zoological Society.
John Gould has described new species in CD’s Galapagos birds.
Much interest in CD’s "Laurels".
Family news.
Author: | Emily Catherine (Catherine) Darwin; Emily Catherine (Catherine) Langton |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 15 [Jan 1837] |
Classmark: | DAR 204: 142 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-341 |
To Richard Owen [28 December 1837]
Summary
CD sorry RO is not well and fears work on Macrauchenia may have contributed. Thinks new name very good. Other details concerning publication [of Zoology, pt 1, no. 1].
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Richard Owen |
Date: | [28 Dec 1837] |
Classmark: | Archives of the New York Botanical Garden (Charles Finney Cox Collection) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-396 |
To Leonard Jenyns [4 December 1837]
Summary
Is sorry the fish [for Zoology] give LJ so much trouble. Urges him not to give up. Describes publication plan of Zoology.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Leonard Jenyns; Leonard Blomefield |
Date: | [4 Dec 1837] |
Classmark: | Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-392 |
To J. S. Henslow [12 or 13 July 1837]
Summary
Has been "cramming up learning to ornament my journal with".
Sends a list of questions on his botanical specimens. Needs answers for Journal of researches, which he expects to go to press in August.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Stevens Henslow |
Date: | [12 or 13 July 1837] |
Classmark: | Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (Henslow letters: 37 DAR/1/1/37) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-366 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … 1837, but he did not reside in Hitcham permanently until 1839 ( Jenyns 1862 , pp. 65–6). …
From Catherine and Caroline Sarah Darwin [16 February 1837]
Summary
News of family and friends.
Caroline repeats story told to R. W. Darwin of FitzRoy’s feeling of obligation to Captain John White, from whom he gained release to marry Miss O’Brien.
Fanny Biddulph has had a son.
Author: | Emily Catherine (Catherine) Darwin; Emily Catherine (Catherine) Langton; Caroline Sarah (Caroline) Darwin; Caroline Sarah (Caroline) Wedgwood |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | [16 Feb 1837] |
Classmark: | DAR 204: 143 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-344 |
To W. D. Fox 7 July [1837]
Summary
Has finished the Journal; is readying it for the press.
Adds family news including Caroline’s forthcoming marriage to Josiah Wedgwood III.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | William Darwin Fox |
Date: | 7 July [1837] |
Classmark: | Christ’s College Library, Cambridge (MS 53 Fox 52) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-364 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries in 1839 and later (1842–6) served as Director of the …
To J. S. Henslow 18 [May 1837]
Summary
Plans to apply to Government for assistance with publishing Zoology.
Robert Brown has taken an interest in the fossil woods.
CD is at work on his journal. Has not begun his geology yet. Has seen much of Lyell.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Stevens Henslow |
Date: | 18 [May 1837] |
Classmark: | Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (Henslow letters: 35 DAR/1/1/35) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-355 |
To William Whewell 18 June [1837]
Summary
Asks Whewell questions on earthquake wave action.
Thanks him for signature [to CD’s request to Chancellor of the Exchequer for funds for Zoology].
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | William Whewell |
Date: | 18 June [1837] |
Classmark: | Trinity College, Cambridge (Add c 88: 3) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-361 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … of the globe. London: Henry Colburn. 1839. [Separately published as Journal of …
From Robert FitzRoy 16 November 1837
Summary
CD’s response [missing] comes from the heart. RF explains that CD’s preface [to Journal and remarks, vol. 3 of Narrative] offended him in not acknowledging the part RF and the other officers had in helping CD. Beagle voyage was the first on which officers could have kept any specimens they collected, but they gave preference to CD.
Author: | Robert FitzRoy |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 16 Nov 1837 |
Classmark: | DAR 164: 133 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-387 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … pp. vii–viii, which was not published until 1839. The answers appear in the preface to …
To Charles Lyell 30 July 1837
Summary
Galapagos land birds and reptiles.
No two naturalists agree on any fundamental idea [of species]. "Everything is arbitrary."
Has been with Richard Owen going over the S. American fossils.
Has worked out the non-relation between animals’ bulk and luxuriance of vegetation.
The horse once common on the Pampas. The mystery of the extinction of these animals.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Charles Lyell, 1st baronet |
Date: | 30 July 1837 |
Classmark: | Kinnordy MS (private collection) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-367 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … Darwin. London: Smith, Elder and Co. 1839–43. Notebook B. See Barrett 1960; de Beer 1960; …
To Henry Colburn [23 October 1837]
Summary
Has returned from the country, and will superintend the revises [of Journal and remarks].
Can Mr Whiting send slips more often?
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Henry Colburn |
Date: | [23 Oct 1837] |
Classmark: | Peter Harrington (dealer) (September 2020) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-383F |
Matches: 1 hit
- … of the globe. London: Henry Colburn. 1839. [Separately published as Journal of …
To John Lort Stokes [after 31 May 1837]
Summary
Asks JLS: "Are there masses of coral or beds of shells some yards above high water mark, on the coast fronting the barrier reef?" [In reference to JLS’s proposed exploration of Australian coasts and rivers.]
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Lort Stokes |
Date: | [after 31 May 1837] |
Classmark: | Stokes 1846, 1: 331 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-356F |
Matches: 1 hit
- … to further the objects of science. In June 1839 Stokes discovered a raised beach of coral …
From Robert FitzRoy 15 November 1837
Summary
RF declines to give an opinion on the wording of the preface to CD’s volume [Journal and remarks, vol. 3 of Narrative, published separately as Journal of researches] and refers him to a disinterested third party.
Author: | Robert FitzRoy |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 15 Nov 1837 |
Classmark: | DAR 164: 132 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-386 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … 3 vols. and appendix. London: Henry Colburn. 1839. Zoology : The zoology of the voyage of …
To Caroline Darwin [19 May – 16 June 1837]
Summary
Sends a number of questions (to put to his father), mainly concerned with transmission of diseases, between Europeans and natives, "people packed together", etc.
Is investigating how to get Government support [for Zoology].
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Caroline Sarah (Caroline) Darwin; Caroline Sarah (Caroline) Wedgwood |
Date: | [19 May – 16 June 1837] |
Classmark: | DAR 154: 52 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-360 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … of the globe. London: Henry Colburn. 1839. [Separately published as Journal of …
From Adam Sedgwick to the Geological Society of London 10 July 1837
Summary
Referee’s report on "Elevation on the coast of Chili" [(1838), Collected papers 1: 41–3] and paper by Alexander Caldcleugh on same subject. Recommends printing CD’s in Transactions and shortening Caldcleugh’s. [W. Lonsdale’s note shows CD’s paper withdrawn 15 Nov 1837, Caldcleugh’s ordered not printed 15 Nov 1837.]
Author: | Adam Sedgwick |
Addressee: | Geological Society of London |
Date: | 10 July 1837 |
Classmark: | Geological Society of London (GSL/COM/P/4/2/49) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-365 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … and 1836. [Edited by Robert FitzRoy. ] 3 vols. and appendix. London: Henry Colburn. 1839. …
To William Lonsdale [May? 1837]
Summary
Sends an abstract made by J. F. Royle of CD’s paper ["On certain areas of elevation and subsidence in the Pacific and Indian Oceans"]. G. B. Greenough will have problems with the altered references in the coral island section.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | William Lonsdale |
Date: | [May? 1837] |
Classmark: | Geological Society of London (GSL/L/R/3/169) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-383A |
Matches: 1 hit
- … of the globe. London: Henry Colburn. 1839. [Separately published as Journal of …
letter | (20) |
Darwin, C. R. | (15) |
Darwin, Catherine | (2) |
FitzRoy, Robert | (2) |
Langton, Catherine | (2) |
Darwin, Caroline | (1) |
Darwin, C. R. | (4) |
Blomefield, Leonard | (2) |
Henslow, J. S. | (2) |
Jenyns, Leonard | (2) |
Whewell, William | (2) |
Darwin, C. R. | (19) |
Blomefield, Leonard | (2) |
Darwin, Caroline | (2) |
Darwin, Catherine | (2) |
FitzRoy, Robert | (2) |

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: 21 hits
- … to read in Notebook C ( Notebooks , pp. 319–28). In 1839, these lists were copied and continued in …
- … in the Royal Society of London (Royal Society of London 1839) has been heavily marked, and quite a …
- … Pierquin, published in Paris (in 2 vols.), so long ago as 1839 4 [Pierquin de Gembloux 1839]. …
- … 1814–29] D r Royle on Himmalaya types [Royle 1839] (read) Smellie Philosophy of …
- … 12 by Owen in Encyclop. of Anat. & Physiology [R. Owen 1839] Dampier probably worth …
- … on subjects of science connected with Nat. Theol: [Brougham 1839] on instinct & animal …
- … 1808] Brit. & Foreign Medical Rev. N o 14. Ap 1839 [Anon. 1839b] Rev. on Walker on …
- … Smart 17 Beginning of a New School of metaphysic. [Smart 1839] about connection of language & …
- … Babbington on Flora of Channel Isl d . [Babington 1839] says he has remarks on affinities of …
- … 1816 [Gallesio 1816]— quoted by D r . Holland [Holland 1839] (p. 27) as good— Decandoelle …
- … [Thacker 1834–5] p. 291 Athenæum 1839. p. 546— M r Conrad has published …
- … Arboretum [Loudon 1838] in Edinburgh Review July 1839 [Anon. 1839a]— there are pencil remarks on it. …
- … would contain facts for me [DAR *119: 9v.] 1839. Decemb. Advertised . …
- … Dog with illustrations of about 100 varieties [?C. H. Smith 1839–40] 24 Flourens “Resume …
- … publishing Travels into interior of N. America [Wied-Neuwied 1839–41]— in Geograph Soc …
- … 1840. Octob & Jan. Papers on Instinct by Flourens [Flourens 1839] (read) Index of Clarkes …
- … S. Bellamy on Nat. Hist. of S. Devonshire [Bellamy 1839] chiefly on distribution of forms said to be …
- … at end of Catalogue of Royal Soc. [Royal Society of London 1839]— Meckel’s Anatomy. French …
- … ed. 1834] read Vol. (2 d ) on Dogs [C. H. Smith 1839–40] /on Ruminants [Jardine ed. 1835–6] …
- … on the Obligations of man to the inferior animals’ [Youatt 1839] discusses their minds. …
- … by Hooker . [A. P. de Candolle 1839–40] Jussieus …

Darwin in letters, 1837–1843: The London years to 'natural selection'
Summary
The seven-year period following Darwin's return to England from the Beagle voyage was one of extraordinary activity and productivity in which he became recognised as a naturalist of outstanding ability, as an author and editor, and as a professional…
Matches: 5 hits
- … they show for one another’s sensibilities. Early in 1839 the couple set up house in London and at …
- … and set in type by November 1837, though not published until 1839, when it appeared as the third …
- … of species” ( Letter to J. S. Henslow, [November 1839] ). note book, after note …
- … Marriage Darwin married Emma Wedgwood in January 1839. His hopes and fears about married life …
- … to act’ ( Letter from Emma Darwin, [ c. February 1839] ). These are not matters that she would …

Science: A Man’s World?
Summary
Discussion Questions|Letters Darwin's correspondence show that many nineteenth-century women participated in the world of science, be it as experimenters, observers, editors, critics, producers, or consumers. Despite this, much of the…
Matches: 1 hits
- … Letter 489 - Darwin to Wedgwood, E., [20 January 1839] Written shortly before their …

Natural Science and Femininity
Summary
Discussion Questions|Letters A conflation of masculine intellect and feminine thoughts, habits and feelings, male naturalists like Darwin inhabited an uncertain gendered identity. Working from the private domestic comfort of their homes and exercising…
Matches: 1 hits
- … Letter 542 - Darwin to Wedgwood, C. S., [27 October 1839] Darwin details his typical …

Darwin’s observations on his children
Summary
Charles Darwin’s observations on the development of his children, began the research that culminated in his book The Expression of the emotions in man and animals, published in 1872, and his article ‘A biographical sketch of an infant’, published in Mind…
Matches: 4 hits
- … races, lunatics, the blind, and animals. And as early as 1839 Darwin had begun to collect …
- … development from the day of his birth, 27 December 1839, until September 1844. Parallels in the …
- … 1 [9] W. Erasmus. Darwin born. Dec. 27 th . 1839.—[10] During first week. yawned, streatched …
- … vol. 2, letter from Emma Wedgwood, [23 January 1839] . [7] Correspondence vol. 2, …

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…
Matches: 3 hits
- … on subjects connected with natural theology (1839), Brougham commented that bees acted with a …
- … suppose when we recollect who is her teacher’ (Brougham 1839, 1: 35, 77). William Kirby wrote of the …
- … no bee in the world ever made cylindrical cells (Brougham 1839, 1: 32). However, Darwin knew that …

Introduction to the Satire of FitzRoy's Narrative of the Voyages of the Adventure and Beagle
Summary
'a humble toadyish follower…': Not all pictures of Darwin during the Beagle voyage are flattering. Published here for the first time is a complete transcript of a satirical account of the Beagle’s brief visit in 1836 to the Cocos Keeling islands…
Matches: 4 hits
- … voyages of His Majesty's Ships Adventure and Beagle (1839), was written by John Clunies Ross, …
- … in the Beagle , and especially the works published in 1839 by her captain, Robert FitzRoy and his …
- … are marked in roman numerals. Others relate to Darwin’s 1839 or 1845 volumes and Belcher’s …
- … star in the scientific world, and had copies of both the 1839 Narrative and the 1845 second edition …

Syms Covington
Summary
When Charles Darwin embarked on the Beagle voyage in 1831, Syms Covington was ‘fiddler & boy to Poop-cabin’. Covington kept an illustrated journal of his observations and experiences on the voyage, noting wildlife, landscapes, buildings and people and,…
Religion
Summary
Design|Personal Belief|Beauty|The Church Perhaps the most notorious realm of controversy over evolution in Darwin's day was religion. The same can be said of the evolution controversy today; however the nature of the disputes and the manner in…
Matches: 1 hits
- … Letter 471 — Darwin, Emma to Darwin, C. R., [c. Feb 1839] Emma discusses Darwin’s religious …

Journal of researches
Summary
Within two months of the Beagle’s arrival back in England in October 1836, Darwin, although busy with distributing his specimens among specialists for description, and more interested in working on his geological research, turned his mind to the task of…
Matches: 3 hits
George James Stebbing
Summary
George James Stebbing (1803—1860) travelled around the world with Charles Darwin on board HMS Beagle and helped him with measuring temperature on at least one occasion. However, Stebbing barely registers in Darwin’s correspondence. The only mention omits…

Elleparu (York Minster)
Summary
Elleparu was one of the Alakaluf, or canoe people from the western part of Tierra del Fuego. He was captured by Robert FitzRoy, captain of HMS Beagle, in 1830 after one the small boats used for surveying the narrow inlets of the coast of Tierra del Fuego…
Matches: 1 hits
- … FitzRoy.] 3 vols. and appendix. London: Henry Colburn. 1839. …

Bibliography of Darwin’s geological publications
Summary
This list includes papers read by Darwin to the Geological Society of London, his books on the geology of the Beagle voyage, and other publications on geological topics. Author-date citations refer to entries in the Darwin Correspondence Project’s…

Yokcushlu (Fuegia Basket)
Summary
Yokcushlu was one of the Alakaluf, or canoe people from the western part of Tierra del Fuego. She was one of the hostages seized by Robert FitzRoy, captain of HMS Beagle, after the small boat used for surveying the narrow inlets of the coast of Tierra del…
Matches: 1 hits
- … FitzRoy.] 3 vols. and appendix. London: Henry Colburn. 1839. …

Orundellico (Jemmy Button)
Summary
Orundellico was one of the Yahgan, or canoe people of the southern part of Tierra del Fuego. He was the fourth hostage taken by Robert FitzRoy, captain of HMS Beagle, in 1830 following the theft of the small surveying boat. This fourteen-year old boy was…
Matches: 1 hits
- … FitzRoy.] 3 vols. and appendix. London: Henry Colburn. 1839. …

Darwin in letters, 1821-1836: Childhood to the Beagle voyage
Summary
Darwin's first known letters were written when he was twelve. They continue through school-days at Shrewsbury, two years as a medical student at Edinburgh University, the undergraduate years at Cambridge, and the of the voyage of H.M.S. Beagle.…
Matches: 1 hits
- … until FitzRoy completed his volume of the Narrative in 1839. London scientific society …
William Darwin born
Summary
The Darwins' first child, William Erasmus Darwin, is born. His father immediately starts to record observations on his behaviour and development. Years later these are published in the journal Mind.
Matches: 1 hits
- … The Darwins' first child, William Erasmus Darwin, is born. His father immediately starts to …

Journal of Researches published
Summary
Darwin's account of the Beagle voyage, based on his personal diaries, is published and is a great success. It appeared as the third volume of the Narrative of the surveying voyage of H.M.S. Adventure and Beagle, with the title Journal and remarks but…
Matches: 1 hits
- … Darwin's account of the Beagle voyage, based on his personal diaries, is published and is a …

Darwin and Fatherhood
Summary
Charles Darwin married Emma Wedgwood in 1839 and over the next seventeen years the couple had ten children. It is often assumed that Darwin was an exceptional Victorian father. But how extraordinary was he? The Correspondence Project allows an unusually…
Matches: 1 hits
- … Charles Darwin married Emma Wedgwood in 1839 and over the next seventeen years the couple had ten …

Orchids
Summary
Why Orchids? Darwin wrote in his Autobiography, ‘During the summer of 1839, and, I believe, during the previous summer, I was led to attend to the cross-fertilisation of flowers by the aid of insects, from having come to the conclusion in my…
Matches: 1 hits
- … wrote in his Autobiography , ‘During the summer of 1839, and, I believe, during the previous …