From Charles Lyell 3 October 1859
Summary
Praises the Origin: a "splendid case of close reasoning".
Objects to CD’s having ignored Lamarck and Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire.
Thinks CD should omit mentioning problem of explaining the eye at the beginning of chapter 14. Suggests rewording several passages.
Thinks want of peculiar birds in Madeira a difficulty, considering presence of them in Galapagos.
Has always felt that the case of man and his races is one and the same with animals and plants.
Author: | Charles Lyell, 1st baronet |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 3 Oct 1859 |
Classmark: | DAR 98: B1–6 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2501 |
To J. D. Hooker 20 January [1859]
Summary
At work on abstract.
Continues argument on effectiveness of dispersal. Has doubts about relationship of isolation to highness of Australian flora. Questions about survival of European plants introduced in Australia.
CD receives the Wollaston Medal of the Geological Society.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
Date: | 20 Jan [1859] |
Classmark: | DAR 115: 2 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2401 |
From Whitwell Elwin to John Murray 3 May 1859
Summary
Charles Lyell has asked WE to pass his opinions on the MS of Origin to CD via Murray. WE is convinced of the value of CD’s researches but "to put forth the theory without the evidence", as in the MS, "would do grievous injustice to his views". The omission of these facts reduces both the philosophical and popular value of the work, by virtue of its dryness.
Supports Charles Lyell’s suggestion that CD should first publish his observations on pigeons with a theoretical outline, for "[e]very body is interested in pigeons". Such a work would generate wider interest and be better understood. A subsequent, larger book would then be approached with impartiality "not to say favour" by a wider public.
Author: | Whitwell Elwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 3 May 1859 |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms. 42197) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2457A |
From Henry Holland 10 December [1859]
Summary
Comments on the Origin. Outlines difficulties he finds in CD’s theory. Believes CD must define natural selection more accurately and mentions instances in which that principle is an insufficient cause to account for the form of certain structures.
Author: | Henry Holland, 1st baronet |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 10 Dec [1859] |
Classmark: | DAR 47: 148–9 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2578 |
To Hugh Falconer 17 December [1859]
Summary
Suggests HF investigate hippopotamus tooth.
Has heard HF is very antagonistic to his views on species. Cannot believe a false theory would explain so many classes of facts.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Hugh Falconer |
Date: | 17 Dec [1859] |
Classmark: | DAR 144: 22 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2587 |
To Charles Lyell 28 March [1859]
Summary
Has heard that CL has spoken to John Murray about publication [of Origin]. Encloses prospective title-page. Asks whether he ought to tell John Murray about unorthodoxy of the book.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Charles Lyell, 1st baronet |
Date: | 28 Mar [1859] |
Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.163) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2437 |
To J. D. Hooker 25 [December 1859]
Summary
CD will not write to L. Descaisne to defend his priority over C. V. Naudin.
Feels success of theory depends on acceptance and application by good and well-known workers, like JDH, Huxley, and Lyell.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
Date: | 25 [Dec 1859] |
Classmark: | DAR 115: 31 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2602 |
To Charles Lyell 11 October [1859]
Summary
CL’s comments on Origin. Mentions corrections to last chapter suggested by CL.
Comments on lack of peculiar bird species on Madeira and Bermuda. Emphasises importance of American types in Galapagos.
Denies necessity of continued creation of primitive "Monads".
Denies need for new powers and any principle of improvement.
Discusses gradations of intellectual powers.
Adaptive inferiority and extinction of groups of species and genera.
Asserts that climate is less important than the struggle with other organisms.
Suggests an experiment involving primroses and cowslips.
The chapter on hybridisation.
Rudimentary organs.
Gives opinion of Lamarck’s work.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Charles Lyell, 1st baronet |
Date: | 11 Oct [1859] |
Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.172) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2503 |
To J. D. Hooker 15 March [1859]
Summary
Will finish last chapter (except recapitulation) tomorrow.
Pleased with JDH’s response to geographical distribution chapter;
CD disagrees with Lyell’s view that glacial epoch is connected with position of continents.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
Date: | 15 Mar [1859] |
Classmark: | DAR 115: 8 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2432 |
Matches: 2 hits
- … 1856, he had not written up the material on the means of dispersal nor his views on land- bridges and oceanic islands. These sections, as he states in the letter, were first composed for Origin . Charles Lyell’ …
- … Lyell, Charles. 1830–3. Principles of geology, being an attempt to explain the former changes of the earth’s surface, by reference to causes now in operation. 3 vols. London: John Murray. Natural selection : Charles Darwin’s Natural selection: being the second part of his big species book written from 1856 …
To William Henry Sykes 20 December [1859]
Summary
Urges appointment of Edward Blyth as naturalist on an expedition to China.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | William Henry Sykes |
Date: | 20 Dec [1859] |
Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.185) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2588 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … Charles Lyell, 29 [December 1859] . Sykes had been heavily involved with Indian natural history during his service in the East India Company, and since his return to England in 1831 he had been an influential figure in Indian affairs in general. He served as chairman of the East India Company from 1856 …
To Charles Lyell [10 December 1859]
Summary
Discuss CL’s suggestions for revisions to the chapter on the geological record [Origin, ch. 9].
Henry Holland’s reaction to the book.
Comments on CL’s work on flint tools of early men.
Describes at length a conversation with Owen concerning Origin. Notes "that at bottom he goes immense way with us", but emphasises Owen’s unfriendly manner. Remarks that Owen accepted a relationship between bears and whales. "By Jove I believe he thinks a sort of Bear was the grandpapa of Whales!"
Has heard Herschel considered his book "the law of higgledy-piggledy".
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Charles Lyell, 1st baronet |
Date: | [10 Dec 1859] |
Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.184) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2575 |
To J. D. Hooker [23 October 1859]
Summary
Congratulates JDH on finishing his introductory essay [to Flora Tasmaniae].
Lyell’s position on mutability appears more positive in his letters to JDH than in those to CD. Considers JDH a convert.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
Date: | [23 Oct 1859] |
Classmark: | DAR 115: 24 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2509 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … Charles Lyell, 22 October 1859 , and n. 7. CD intended to forward copies of Origin to foreign naturalists through the firm of Williams and Norgate, booksellers in London who specialised in foreign literature. William Pamplin was a botanical bookseller in Frith Street, Soho, who obviously offered the same service. The list of naturalists to whom CD intended to give a presentation copy of Origin is not with the letter, but see letter to J. D. Hooker, 15 October [1859] , for two of his suggestions. [Hooker] 1856. …
letter | (12) |
Darwin, C. R. | (9) |
Elwin, Whitwell | (1) |
Holland, Henry | (1) |
Lyell, Charles | (1) |
Hooker, J. D. | (4) |
Lyell, Charles | (3) |
Darwin, C. R. | (2) |
Falconer, Hugh | (1) |
Murray, John (b) | (1) |
Darwin, C. R. | (11) |
Hooker, J. D. | (4) |
Lyell, Charles | (4) |
Elwin, Whitwell | (1) |
Falconer, Hugh | (1) |