From J. D. Hooker 2 [March] 1846
Summary
Thanks for Edward Forbes’s letter. Botanical evidence conflicts with parts of his theory but supports others. Is becoming more of a migrationist.
Bentham agrees with JDH on polymorphism.
| Author: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 2 [Mar] 1846 |
| Classmark: | DAR 100: 63–8 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-958 |
To A. C. Ramsay [26 June 1859]
Summary
Has finished ACR’s article ["The old glaciers of Switzerland and N. Wales" in Peaks, passes, and glaciers, ed. J. Ball (1859)]. Asks the authority for glacial drifts in Siberia. Wishes ACR would examine the Glen Roy parallel roads and settle the problem.
Asks if it is certain that traces of organic remains have been found in Long Mynd beds.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Andrew Crombie Ramsay |
| Date: | [26 June 1859] |
| Classmark: | Imperial College of Science, Technology, and Medicine Archives |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2842 |
To Smith, Elder & Co. [14 January 1843]
Summary
Asks for account.
Discusses delay of Reptiles by Thomas Bell. Asks them to inform R. B. Hinds of delay.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Smith, Elder & Co |
| Date: | [14 Jan 1843] |
| Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-658 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … Reptiles appeared in two numbers in August 1842 and October 1843. Richard Brinsley Hinds . …
From Leonard Jenyns [before 18 April 1858]
Summary
[Copy of some rough notes.] References about species. Variations within species.
| Author: | Leonard Jenyns; Leonard Blomefield |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | [before 18 Apr 1858] |
| Classmark: | DAR 45: 20–4 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2250 |
Matches: 5 hits
- … of insects, Arachnida, Crustacea, and Entomostraca, during the year 1842. In Reports …
- … the progress of zoology and botany 1841, 1842. (Ray Society. ) Edinburgh. Geoffroy Saint- …
- … 14. Selys Longchamps, Michel Edmond de. 1842. Faune Belge. Pt 1. Liège. Sundevall, Carl J. …
- … is in the Darwin Library–CUL. Agassiz 1842 . CD’s copy of the journal in which this paper …
- … Coenraad Jacob Temminck . Selys Longchamps 1842 . Michel-Edmond de Selys Longchamps was …
To A. C. Ramsay 7 April [1848]
Summary
Asks ACR to establish height of Moel Tryfan in Caernarvonshire; "in my notice on this hill [""Ancient glaciers of Caernarvonshire"" (1842), Collected papers 1: 163–71] I give a very much less height than others". [See also another mention of the elevation of Moel Tryfan in "On the transportal of erratic boulders" (1848), Collected papers 1: 218–27.]
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Andrew Crombie Ramsay |
| Date: | 7 Apr [1848] |
| Classmark: | Imperial College of Science, Technology, and Medicine Archives |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1168 |
From J. S. Henslow 21 November 1840
Summary
Reports on abortive anthers in flowers of thyme sent by CD.
| Author: | John Stevens Henslow |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 21 Nov 1840 |
| Classmark: | DAR 109: A86 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-582 |
To J. D. Hooker 16 [March 1858]
Summary
Thanks JDH for his objections; will respond by sending fair copy of MS when written.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
| Date: | 16 [Mar 1858] |
| Classmark: | DAR 114: 229 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2242 |
To Leonard Horner [1856–7]
Summary
Thanks LH for memorandum [missing] by K. R. Lepsius.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Leonard Horner |
| Date: | [1856–7] |
| Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2618 |
To ? 10 July [1872–3]
Summary
Sends publication details of Coral reefs, which he thinks is now only available in Geology of the ‘Beagle’: Geological observations on coral reefs, volcanic islands, and on South America.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Unidentified |
| Date: | 10 July [1872-3] |
| Classmark: | Stuart Lutz Historic Documents (dealer) (January 2020) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8404F |
From Asa Gray [10–16] June [1863]
Summary
Possible dimorphism in Phlox.
Knows of no U. S. law prohibiting marriage of cousins.
Gives references to papers on phyllotaxy.
| Author: | Asa Gray |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | [10–16] June [1863] |
| Classmark: | DAR 165: 136 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4198 |
To Charles Lyell [9 March 1841]
Summary
Defends his theory [in "Parallel roads of Glen Roy" (1839), Collected papers 1: 87–137] against the view that the "roads" were formed by glacial action.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Charles Lyell, 1st baronet |
| Date: | [9 Mar 1841] |
| Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.23) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-594 |
To Leonard Jenyns [November 1841]
Summary
Details regarding volume on Fish.
Sends notes on Diodon.
Must give up attending Geological Society evening meetings; knocks him up.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Leonard Jenyns; Leonard Blomefield |
| Date: | [Nov 1841] |
| Classmark: | Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-611 |
From J. D. Hooker [late February 1845]
Summary
Previous letter [missing] on Edinburgh position was ill-tempered. Friends assure him that he ought to be thankful for opportunity to try for professorship.
Reports meeting with Humboldt in Paris.
| Author: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | [late Feb 1845] |
| Classmark: | DAR 100: 165–6 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-832 |
To J. D. Dana 25 November [1852]
Summary
Thanks JDD for information.
Discusses Acasta sporillus.
Comments on review of first volume of Living Cirripedia [Am. J. Sci. 2d ser. 14 (1852): 125–7].
Asks JDD to examine Lerneidae.
Will read with interest the geographical discussion of Crustacea when JDD’s volume [Crustacea (1852–5)] appears. John Lubbock will purchase a copy.
Discusses error in Living Cirripedia.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | James Dwight Dana |
| Date: | 25 Nov [1852] |
| Classmark: | Yale University Library: Manuscripts and Archives (Dana Family Papers (MS 164) Series 1, Box 2, folder 43) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1492 |
To W. D. Fox [25 March 1843]
Summary
Sympathises with WDF’s persisting grief.
Describes Down House and additions being built, which interfere with Geology [of "Beagle"].
Bodily health is improved, but cannot stand mental excitement.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | William Darwin Fox |
| Date: | [25 Mar 1843] |
| Classmark: | Christ’s College Library, Cambridge (MS 53 Fox 66) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-665 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … Fox’s wife Harriet had died on 19 March 1842. Henrietta Emma Darwin was born 25 September …
To Joseph Beete Jukes 8 October [1847]
Summary
Flattered by JBJ’s discussion of coral reefs [in Voyage of H.M.S. "Fly" 1 (1847): 347–8]. CD has always thought his Coral reefs "too bold and speculative", so he is gratified "when anyone who has had opportunities of observation does not give his verdict against it".
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Joseph Beete Jukes |
| Date: | 8 Oct [1847] |
| Classmark: | University of Oklahoma Libraries History of Science Collections |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1125 |
From Charles Lyell 30 September 1861
Summary
Asks for copy of CD’s paper ["Ancient glaciers of Caernarvonshire", Collected papers 1: 163–71]. Gathers that drift of Moel Tryfan is glacial.
Believes Glen Roy roads formed later than submergence of Scotland.
Asks CD’s opinion concerning relative chronology of various glacial deposits, particularly a flint tool find in the Ouse River near Bedford.
| Author: | Charles Lyell, 1st baronet |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 30 Sept 1861 |
| Classmark: | The University of Edinburgh Centre for Research Collections (Gen.112/2813-16) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3270 |
From J. D. Hooker 12 December 1844
Summary
Thanks for pleasant stay at Down.
Remarks on boulders found on southern islands.
Describes the alpine character of the Andes flora and relays information on other mountain floras.
Quotes instances of seeds that retained their vitality after being carried by ocean currents.
Sends notes on the comparative floras of New Zealand, Australia, and west coast of South America.
Encloses a copy of part of a letter from George Gardner in Ceylon concerning the European character of the mountain flora.
| Author: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 12 Dec 1844 |
| Classmark: | DAR 100: 29–31 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-799 |
Matches: 4 hits
- … Robertson 1841 , McCormick 1841 and 1842. Rough rocks formed at the cooling surface of …
- … Society of London 4: 299. McCormick, Robert. 1842. Geological remarks on Kerguelen’s Land. …
- … from his visitation journal, from July 1842, to January 1843. Edited by C. B. Dalton. …
- … valleys as a ‘stream of stones’. McCormick 1842 , p. 27, mentions ‘vast quantities of …
To [unidentified] 12 September [1838]
Summary
Seeks permission to make another visit to Addiscombe [Military College] to see again the model of St Helena. He needs to correct proportion of some geological sections in his Geology [see Volcanic islands, ch. 4].
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Unidentified |
| Date: | 12 Sept [1838] |
| Classmark: | The Morgan Library and Museum, New York (Gordon N. Ray Collection MA 13958) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-427 |
To Caroline Wedgwood [May 1838]
Summary
His books grow in size. Hopes to bring out work on volcanic islands and coral formations in the autumn or winter. The Journal of researches will not be published until autumn [actually not until 1839]. Whewell and Lyell flatter him about it. Has given up all society.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Caroline Sarah (Caroline) Darwin; Caroline Sarah (Caroline) Wedgwood |
| Date: | [May 1838] |
| Classmark: | DAR 154: 53 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-411 |
| Darwin, C. R. | (331) |
| Hooker, J. D. | (27) |
| Lyell, Charles | (12) |
| Blyth, Edward | (6) |
| Darwin, E. A. | (5) |
| Darwin, C. R. | (166) |
| Hooker, J. D. | (52) |
| Lyell, Charles | (26) |
| Smith, Elder & Co | (13) |
| Fox, W. D. | (12) |
| Darwin, C. R. | (496) |
| Hooker, J. D. | (79) |
| Lyell, Charles | (38) |
| Smith, Elder & Co | (16) |
| Henslow, J. S. | (13) |
| 1836 | (3) |
| 1837 | (2) |
| 1838 | (6) |
| 1839 | (13) |
| 1840 | (7) |
| 1841 | (10) |
| 1842 | (57) |
| 1843 | (22) |
| 1844 | (26) |
| 1845 | (20) |
| 1846 | (11) |
| 1847 | (16) |
| 1848 | (12) |
| 1849 | (8) |
| 1850 | (3) |
| 1851 | (5) |
| 1852 | (5) |
| 1853 | (5) |
| 1854 | (2) |
| 1855 | (11) |
| 1856 | (20) |
| 1857 | (14) |
| 1858 | (16) |
| 1859 | (10) |
| 1860 | (18) |
| 1861 | (11) |
| 1862 | (8) |
| 1863 | (12) |
| 1864 | (8) |
| 1865 | (9) |
| 1866 | (9) |
| 1867 | (7) |
| 1868 | (14) |
| 1869 | (5) |
| 1870 | (4) |
| 1871 | (5) |
| 1872 | (6) |
| 1873 | (6) |
| 1874 | (29) |
| 1875 | (8) |
| 1876 | (8) |
| 1877 | (4) |
| 1878 | (3) |
| 1879 | (4) |
| 1880 | (9) |
| 1881 | (8) |
| 1882 | (2) |
Darwin and Down
Summary
Charles and Emma Darwin, with their first two children, settled at Down House in the village of Down (later ‘Downe’) in Kent, as a young family in 1842. The house came with eighteen acres of land, and a fifteen acre meadow. The village combined the…
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…
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…
Natural Selection: the trouble with terminology Part I
Summary
Darwin encountered problems with the term ‘natural selection’ even before Origin appeared. Everyone from the Harvard botanist Asa Gray to his own publisher came up with objections. Broadly these divided into concerns either that its meaning simply wasn’t…
Matches: 1 hits
- … heading in the earliest outline of his theory written in 1842 , and, as he told Asa Gray in …
Darwin & coral reefs
Summary
The central idea of Darwin's theory of coral reef formation, as it was later formulated, was that the islands were formed by the upward growth of coral as the Pacific Ocean floor gradually subsided. It overturned previous ideas and would in itself…
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: 30 hits
- … Illustrations of the Domestic animals of Gt. Britain [D. Low 1842].— 23 must be read carefully. …
- … Erasmus—— Lavater. Life & Correspondence [?Heisch 1842] Coleridge. Literary …
- … Cicero [Middleton 1741] W. Meister’s Life [Goethe 1842].— Malcolm’s History of Persia …
- … [DAR *119: 15] Zanoni by Bulwer [Bulwer-Lytton 1842]. Life of D. of Marlborough [A. …
- … organs read A. Alison on Population. 2 vols. Feb. 1842 [A. Alison 1840].— Youatt in …
- … 1836]: worth looking at. Low has probably told all [D. Low 1842] Madras Journal [ Madras …
- … Soc. appears to be good Papers on Sewalik Fossils in 1842 [Cautley 1840 and Cautley and Falconer …
- … Read “Bronn’s Geschicte der Natur.” [Bronn 1842–3] Kingdons translat …
- … Jussieus introduct to Bot. price 6 s [Jussieu 1842] [DAR *119: 20v.] …
- … Cerealia [Loiseleur Deslongchamps 1842–3] Phytologist [ …
- … (List from Muller & Bronn [Müller 1837–42 and Bronn 1842–3] in this Book) 52 Royle …
- … . Smollets William & Mary. & Anne [Smollett 1805].— 1842 Jan 10 M rs …
- … —— 17 th Laing notes of a Traveller 1 vol [Laing 1842] —— Finished Wordsworth 6 vols. …
- … such instincts .— [DAR 119: 12b] 1842 March. 26 th Holcroft’s Memoirs …
- … [Hyde 1704] Feb. Vol. of Madame D’Arblay [Burney 1842–6] Mar 1. Lieut. Eyres Narrative …
- … nothing —— Doubleday on Population [Doubleday 1842] —— Ramond’s voyage in Pyrenees …
- … 1774] —— F. Bremer’s little novels [Bremer 1842, 1843b, 1844a, 1844c] March 7 th M …
- … 1839] 14 th Arnolds lectures on History [Arnold 1842] —— History of Civilization by …
- … very poor Oct 1 Owen on Mylodon Robustus [R. Owen 1842]. References at end. 7 th . …
- … June 8 th Wilson Voyage Round Scotland [J. Wilson 1842] (poor) M. Gerard sur l’Espece …
- … [Chambers 1845] —— Bronn’s Gesickte [Bronn 1842–3] 2 d . Vol [DAR 119: 16b] …
- … [M. G. Lewis 1834] Nov 7. Life of Lavater [?Heisch 1842] —— 25. M rs . Meredith. N.S …
- … April VI & VII. vol. of Madame d’Arblay [Burney 1842–6]. —— 15 th . Phillip’s life of W …
- … —— Jussieu. Cours Elementaire Botanique [Jussieu 1842] —— Transactions of Amer. Philosoph Soc …
- … des Naturalistes de Moscou ]. Vols for 1833, 1837, 1838, 1842, 43, 44—not all these latter vols: …
- … 17 th Thompson’s Birds of Ireland [W. Thompson 1842] Part I. Sept. 17. Sir J. Ross. Voyage …
- … Nov. 15 th Wilson Voyage. Scotland [J. Wilson 1842] —— Southey. Book of the Church [R. W. …
- … Keppell. 1853 [Keppel 1853] Dickens America [Dickens 1842] Thackerays Lectures on …
- … et exp. pages 248. 8 vo [Loiseleur Deslongchamps 1842–3] Linn. Soc.? must be read.— not in Royal. …
- … of Indies [Acosta 1604].— Report, Brit. Assoc. 1842 . Richardson N.Z. Fish [J. Richardson …
3.1 Antoine Claudet, daguerreotype
Summary
< Back to Introduction This daguerreotype of Darwin with his firstborn child, William, was, according to a label on the glass, taken on 23 August 1842, just before the family moved from London to Down. It is generally attributed to the French…
Matches: 4 hits
- … was, according to a label on the glass, taken on 23 August 1842, just before the family moved from …
- … daguerreotype of the Darwins. Darwin’s account book for 1842 records the purchase of a daguerreotype …
- … this information does not tally with the dating: in August 1842, William would have been only two …
- … Claudet date of creation 23 August 1842 computer-readable date 1842-08-23 …
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: 7 hits
- … their first child, William Erasmus, was born. In September 1842, the family, now increased by a …
- … and explore new avenues of thought, and by the summer of 1842 he felt that his research had …
- … of species was published, but the general outline of 1842 is, to a surprising degree, present in …
- … far from their original locations. The following year, 1842, having heard of evidence of glaciation …
- … research required. The trip to North Wales in June 1842 was his last field trip: thereafter his …
- … stays at Shrewsbury and Maer during the summers of 1841 and 1842 show that he was making botanical …
- … obvious relevance to the theory of descent (Pencil sketch of 1842, in Foundations , p. 74). …
Darwin’s Photographic Portraits
Summary
Darwin was a photography enthusiast. This is evident not only in his use of photography for the study of Expression and Emotions in Man and Animal, but can be witnessed in his many photographic portraits and in the extensive portrait correspondence that…
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: 14 hits
- … his mouth to do so.—[35] 25v. Feb. 20 th . 1842. Anny (, same age) has learned to shake …
- … 28v. [39] Anny was to day March 1 st 1842 rather amused, at a wafer sticking first to one hand …
- … case of my watch.— 29v. March 1 st 1842— Anny says Papa pretty clearly—[40] A few days …
- … pretty & Papa for a week past perfectly clear Feb 1842 I have long observed that the …
- … for their feelings— 31 [42] In Jan ry . 1842 it was first perceived that Willy began to …
- … “bub my crumps” & 31v. March 29 th . 1842.— I have some months remarked how much …
- … gabble nonsense words,— 33 March 20: th .— 1842 Doddy is a great adept at throwing …
- … the eyes & is a full face.— 36 March 26 th 1842 2 years & 3 mth— Doddy was …
- … not the “beast in house”.— 37v. [50] May 1. 1842. 14 months old It is curious to see how …
- … down the corners of his mouth[51] June 1 st . 1842 Observed the first day I put on a new …
- … stuck to it, “no Doddy did not”. Aug 26 th .. 1842 About a fortnight ago, I met Willy …
- … at Upper Gower Street between 12 February and 16 March 1842. [43] Stammering ran in the …
- … [51] Emma Darwin and the children went to Maer on 3 May 1842; CD joined them on 18 May (Emma Darwin …
- … of bees in pollination, made in the summers between 1840 and 1842, are in DAR 46.2 and DAR 205.5: 53 …
Species theory outlined
Summary
Darwin writes a 32-page outline of his ideas on species change, known as 'the pencil sketch'
Matches: 1 hits
- … Darwin writes a 32-page outline of his ideas on species change, known as 'the pencil sketch' …
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…
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 ones, …
People featured in the Dutch photograph album
Summary
Here is a list of people that appeared in the photograph album Darwin received for his birthday on 12 February 1877 from scientific admirers in the Netherlands. Many thanks to Hester Loeff for identifying and researching them. No. …
Matches: 5 hits
Living and fossil cirripedia
Summary
Darwin published four volumes on barnacles, the crustacean sub-class Cirripedia, between 1851 and 1854, two on living species and two on fossil species. Written for a specialist audience, they are among the most challenging and least read of Darwin’s works…
Matches: 1 hits
- … had also completed two outlines of his ‘species theory’ (1842 Pencil sketch and 1844 Essay). …
People featured in the Dutch photograph album
Summary
List of people appearing in the photograph album Darwin received from scientific admirers in the Netherlands for his birthday on 12 February 1877. We are grateful to Hester Loeff for providing this list and for permission to make her research available.…
Matches: 1 hits
- … obst. doct. 35 Den Haag 20 December 1842 Rotterdam 23 …
Darwin in letters, 1844–1846: Building a scientific network
Summary
The scientific results of the Beagle voyage still dominated Darwin's working life, but he broadened his continuing investigations into the nature and origin of species. Far from being a recluse, Darwin was at the heart of British scientific society,…
Matches: 1 hits
- … should be denied him. After prolonged illnesses in 1841 and 1842, years poorly represented in the …
Before Origin: the ‘big book’
Summary
Darwin began ‘sorting notes for Species Theory’ on 9 September 1854, the very day he concluded his eight-year study of barnacles (Darwin's Journal). He had long considered the question of species. In 1842, he outlined a theory of transmutation in a…
Hensleigh Wedgwood
Summary
Hensleigh Wedgwood, Emma Darwin’s brother and Charles’s cousin, was a philologist, barrister and original member of the Philological Society, which had been created in 1842. In 1857, while Wedgwood was preparing a dictionary of English etymology, he wrote…
Matches: 1 hits
- … of the Philological Society, which had been created in 1842. In 1857, while Wedgwood was preparing a …
Darwin and working from home
Summary
Ever wondered how Darwin worked? As part of our For the Curious series of simple interactives, ‘Darwin working from home’ lets you explore objects from Darwin’s study and garden at Down House to learn how he worked and what he had to say about it. And not…
Matches: 1 hits
- … Darwin moved into Down House in Kent on 17 th September 1842 and remained there for the rest of …
