To J. W. Lubbock [December 1848–9]
Summary
Obliged for drawings and coins. Cannot tell what the stone is.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | John William Lubbock, 3d baronet |
| Date: | [Dec 1848–9] |
| Classmark: | Archives of the New York Botanical Garden (Charles Finney Cox Collection) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1210 |
To J. W. Lubbock [December 1848–9]
Summary
Thanks JWL for the use of a schoolroom.
Arranges to meet JWL’s son [John] to discuss use of microscope.
Mentions illness.
Thanks JWL for his paper ["Shooting stars", London Edinburgh & Dublin Philos. Mag. 32 (1848): 81–8, 170–2; 35 (1849): 356–7].
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | John William Lubbock, 3d baronet |
| Date: | [Dec 1848–9] |
| Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.77) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1212 |
To William Alexander Baillie Hamilton 28 March [1848]
Summary
Sir John Herschel has not received the parcel of "Scientific Instructions", which was posted on the 15th. He requests an accurate search at the Admiralty.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | William Alexander Baillie Hamilton |
| Date: | 28 Mar [1848] |
| Classmark: | The National Archives (TNA) (ADM/5580 009075) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1166A |
To John Phillips 14 February [1848]
Summary
Asks for the reference in which JP states that some erratic boulders came from a lower to a higher level. CD is writing a paper ["Transportal of erratic boulders", Collected papers 1: 218–26] in which he believes he has the true explanation. Would like as many instances, with details, as possible.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | John Phillips |
| Date: | 14 Feb [1848] |
| Classmark: | Oxford University Museum of Natural History Archive Collections (John Phillips collection)) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1157 |
To Richard Owen [4 February 1848]
Summary
Has been invited to contribute geological instructions [to J. F. W. Herschel, ed., Manual of scientific enquiry (1849); Collected papers 1: 227–50]. Asks RO whether remarks on coral reefs appertain to geology rather than zoology.
Looks forward to visit by Owens.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Richard Owen |
| Date: | [4 Feb 1848] |
| Classmark: | Archives of the New York Botanical Garden (Charles Finney Cox Collection) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1150 |
To J. D. Hooker 6 October [1848]
Summary
CD makes progress with barnacles. Describes "supplemental" males in detail. In working out metamorphosis, their crustacean homologies followed automatically.
CD opposes appending first describer’s name to specific name.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
| Date: | 6 Oct [1848] |
| Classmark: | DAR 114: 112a |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1202 |
To J. F. W. Herschel 7 May [1848]
Summary
Sends MS of "Geology" for Manual [Collected papers 1: 227–50]. First parcel lost. Asks JFWH to give advice on an unclear note, translated from Élie de Beaumont, on measuring incline of lava-flows.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | John Frederick William Herschel, 1st baronet |
| Date: | 7 May [1848] |
| Classmark: | The Royal Society (HS6: 15) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1173 |
Matches: 2 hits
- … manual (Herschel ed. 1849). It appears that the earlier letter and its enclosure had been …
- … letter from E. A. Darwin, [May 1844 – 1 October 1846], n. 1). The note, translated from élie de Beaumont 1838, 4: 173, was retained in CD’s chapter in the Admiralty manual ( Collected papers 1: 243 and n. 11). CD’s copy of Herschel ed. 1849 …
To John Thomas Quekett 7 September [1848]
Summary
Asks about collection of mollusc specimens he had lent to Richard Owen.
Asks about seeing cirripede collection of the College.
Comments on larva of Scalpellum.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | John Thomas Quekett; Royal College of Surgeons of England |
| Date: | 7 Sept [1848] |
| Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.62) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1114 |
To J. S. Bowerbank [January–August 1848]
Summary
Thanks him for Balanus specimens. Comments on his findings. A large Acasta in the wet state would be valuable. Asks JSB to mention his work to J. T. Quekett at the College of Surgeons.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | James Scott Bowerbank |
| Date: | [Jan–Aug 1848] |
| Classmark: | John Hay Library, Brown University (Albert E. Lownes Manuscript Collection) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1045 |
To J. F. W. Herschel [21 March 1848]
Summary
Sends MS of his chapter on geology for Manual [Collected papers 1: 227–50]. Fears it may be too long. Does not much like it but can do no better. After hesitation, has recommended books. Defends his point that mere collection of rock specimens is "of hardly any use to Geology".
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | John Frederick William Herschel, 1st baronet |
| Date: | [21 Mar 1848] |
| Classmark: | The Royal Society (HS6: 14) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1164 |
To J. F. W. Herschel 4 February 1848
Summary
Undertakes to write geological part of Admiralty Instructions [A manual of scientific enquiry (1849), Collected papers 1: 227–50]. Has doubts as to his success.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | John Frederick William Herschel, 1st baronet |
| Date: | 4 Feb 1848 |
| Classmark: | The Royal Society (HS6: 11) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1151 |
To J. F. W. Herschel 6 June [1848]
Summary
Sends two valves of Ibla.
In his chapter [for Manual, Collected papers 1: 227–50], he will strike out any part that JFWH wants struck out, but if much shortening is required it will need rewriting.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | John Frederick William Herschel, 1st baronet |
| Date: | 6 June [1848] |
| Classmark: | The Royal Society (HS6: 13) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1183 |
To Richard Owen [2 April 1848]
Summary
Apologises for length of notes of advice for microscopic work.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Richard Owen |
| Date: | [2 Apr 1848] |
| Classmark: | Houghton Library, Harvard University (MS Hyde 77: 2. 82. 1) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1167F |
Matches: 3 hits
- … ed. 1849, pp. 389–95). CD had emphasised the importance of such a section in his letter to …
- … 1849, pp. 156–95) on 20 March 1848, and sent it to John Frederick William Herschel on 21 March (see Correspondence vol. 7, Supplement, letter …
- … letter to J. D. Hooker, [26 October 1846] ). Robert Brown was a highly skilled microscopist. For the relative merits of CD’s microscopes and an assessment of CD’s skill in microscopy, see Jardine 2009 . Owen retained CD’s note informing readers that the microscope could be viewed at ‘Messrs. Smith and Beck’s, opticians, of Colman Street, London’ (Herschel ed. 1849, …
To Richard Owen [26 March 1848]
Summary
Describes his new microscope and its advantages for dissecting. Suggests RO might discuss topic [in his contribution to J. F. W. Herschel, ed., Manual of scientific enquiry (1849)].
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Richard Owen |
| Date: | [26 Mar 1848] |
| Classmark: | Archives of the New York Botanical Garden (Charles Finney Cox Collection) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1166 |
To J. D. Hooker 10 May 1848
Summary
Confident of species theory as result of applying it to cirripede sexual systems.
CD’s opinion of E. Blyth. JDH should meet Blyth, inquire about domesticated varieties, study insular flora, solve coal-plant problem.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
| Date: | 10 May 1848 |
| Classmark: | DAR 114: 112 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1174 |
Matches: 2 hits
- … ed. 1849 was written by William Jackson Hooker , J. D. Hooker’s father. See letter to …
- … letter to J. D. Hooker, [1 May 1847] , and subsequent correspondence with Hooker during May 1847. ‘On the transportal of erratic boulders from a lower to a higher level’ ( Collected papers 1: 218–27) and the chapter on geology in Herschel ed. 1849 ( …
To John Higgins 14 June [1848]
Summary
Discusses possible land transactions.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | John Higgins |
| Date: | 14 June [1848] |
| Classmark: | Lincolnshire Archives (HIG/4/2/1/20) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1185 |
To Daniel Sharpe 23 August [1848?]
Summary
Thanks for note.
Glad DS sticks to cleavage and foliation question. Bernhard Studer one of few to take correct view on subject.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Daniel Sharpe |
| Date: | 23 Aug [1848?] |
| Classmark: | DAR 147: 47 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-991 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … letter makes 1848 more probable. The reference to Sharpe continuing to work on cleavage and foliation indicates that time had passed since his first paper (Sharpe 1847, read 2 December 1846). Sharpe supplied CD with fossil cirripedes he had found in Tertiary beds near Lisbon ( Fossil Cirripedia (1854): 17). Sharpe’s fossils were essential to his explanation of cleavage (Sharpe 1847). In his section on cleavage in the chapter on geology for the Admiralty manual, written in March 1848 (Herschel ed. 1849, …
From J. D. Hooker 13 October 1848
Summary
Hugh Falconer’s misbehaviour.
Waiting out rains at Brian Hodgson’s.
Will make botanical transverse section of Himalayas from plains to snow.
Arrangements to pass Sikkim Rajah’s territory.
No evidence of glacial or diluvial action in sub-Himalayan mountains. No evidence of detrital coal formation.
Hodgson’s replies to CD on introduced species and hybrids.
| Author: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 13 Oct 1848 |
| Classmark: | Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (India letters 1847–51: 112–14 JDH/1/10) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1203 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … 1849 . Darjeeling had been leased to the British by the Sikkim Rajah in 1840 for the establishment of a hill-station and ‘sanitarium’. Once established, the town also served as a military and political base from which representatives of the British government could oversee the Himalayan kingdoms of Sikkim, Nepal, and Bhutan (J. D. Hooker 1854, 1: 115–18). The British did eventually annex the plains ( tarai ) mentioned by Hooker, and a portion of the hills beyond, in retaliation for a later incident involving Hooker in 1850 ( letter …
| letter | (18) |
| Darwin, C. R. | (17) |
| Hooker, J. D. | (1) |
| Herschel, J. F. W. | (4) |
| Owen, Richard | (3) |
| Hooker, J. D. | (2) |
| Lubbock, J. W. (b) | (2) |
| Bowerbank, J. S. | (1) |
| Darwin, C. R. | (18) |
| Herschel, J. F. W. | (4) |
| Hooker, J. D. | (3) |
| Owen, Richard | (3) |
| Lubbock, J. W. (b) | (2) |
Darwin's health
Summary
On 28 March 1849, ten years before Origin was published, Darwin wrote to his good friend Joseph Hooker from Great Malvern in Worcestershire, where Dr James Manby Gully ran a fashionable water-cure establishment. Darwin apologised for his delayed reply to…
Matches: 1 hits
- … On 28 March 1849, ten years before Origin was published, Darwin wrote to his good friend …
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…
Matches: 1 hits
- … Species theory In November 1845, Charles Darwin wrote to his friend and confidant Joseph …
1.3 Thomas Herbert Maguire, lithograph
Summary
< Back to Introduction This striking portrait of Darwin, dating from 1849, belonged to a series of about sixty lithographic portraits of naturalists and other scientists drawn by Thomas Herbert Maguire. They were successively commissioned over a…
Matches: 1 hits
- … < Back to Introduction This striking portrait of Darwin, dating from 1849, belonged …
Women’s scientific participation
Summary
Observers | Fieldwork | Experimentation | Editors and critics | Assistants Darwin’s correspondence helps bring to light a community of women who participated, often actively and routinely, in the nineteenth-century scientific community. Here is a…
Matches: 1 hits
- … Observers | Fieldwork | Experimentation | Editors and critics | Assistants …
Scientific Practice
Summary
Specialism|Experiment|Microscopes|Collecting|Theory Letter writing is often seen as a part of scientific communication, rather than as integral to knowledge making. This section shows how correspondence could help to shape the practice of science, from…
Matches: 1 hits
- … Specialism | Experiment | Microscopes | Collecting | Theory Letter writing …
Species and varieties
Summary
On the origin of species by means of natural selection …so begins the title of Darwin’s most famous book, and the reader would rightly assume that such a thing as ‘species’ must therefore exist and be subject to description. But the title continues, …or…
Matches: 1 hits
- … On the origin of species by means of natural selection …so begins the title of Darwin’s most …
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: 1 hits
- … In April 1838, Darwin began recording the titles of books he had read and the books he wished to …
Scientific Networks
Summary
Friendship|Mentors|Class|Gender In its broadest sense, a scientific network is a set of connections between people, places, and things that channel the communication of knowledge, and that substantially determine both its intellectual form and content,…
Matches: 1 hits
- … Friendship | Mentors | Class | Gender In its broadest sense, a scientific …
Darwin's notes for his physician, 1865
Summary
On 20 May 1865, Emma Darwin recorded in her diary that John Chapman, a prominent London publisher who had studied medicine in London and Paris in the early 1840s, visited Down to consult with Darwin about his ill health. In 1863 Chapman started to treat…
Matches: 1 hits
- … On 20 May 1865, Emma Darwin recorded in her diary that John Chapman, a prominent London publisher …
What is an experiment?
Summary
Darwin is not usually regarded as an experimenter, but rather as an astute observer and a grand theorist. His early career seems to confirm this. He began with detailed note-taking, collecting and cataloguing on the Beagle, and edited a descriptive zoology…
Matches: 1 hits
- … Darwin is not usually regarded as an experimenter, but rather as an astute observer and a grand …
Barnacles
Summary
Sources|Discussion Questions|Experiment Darwin and barnacles Darwin’s interest in Cirripedia, a class of marine arthropods, was first piqued by the discovery of an odd burrowing barnacle, which he later named “Mr. Arthrobalanus," while he was…
Matches: 1 hits
- … Sources | Discussion Questions | Experiment Darwin and barnacles …
George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans)
Summary
George Eliot was the pen name of celebrated Victorian novelist Mary Ann Evans (1819-1880). She was born on the outskirts of Nuneaton in Warwickshire and was educated at boarding schools from the age of five until she was 16. Her education ended when she…
Matches: 1 hits
- … George Eliot was the pen name of the celebrated Victorian novelist Mary Ann Evans (1819-1880). She …
John Murray
Summary
Darwin's most famous book On the origin of species by means of natural selection (Origin) was published on 22 November 1859. The publisher was John Murray, who specialised in non-fiction, particularly politics, travel and science, and had published…
Matches: 1 hits
- … Darwin's most famous book On the origin of species by means of natural selection (Origin) was …
'An Appeal' against animal cruelty
Summary
The four-page pamphlet transcribed below and entitled 'An Appeal', was composed jointly by Emma and Charles Darwin (see letter from Emma Darwin to W. D. Fox, [29 September 1863]). The pamphlet, which protested against the cruelty of steel vermin…
Matches: 1 hits
- … The four-page pamphlet transcribed below and entitled 'An Appeal', was composed jointly by Emma …
Dramatisation script
Summary
Re: Design – Adaptation of the Correspondence of Charles Darwin, Asa Gray and others… by Craig Baxter – as performed 25 March 2007
Matches: 1 hits
- … Re: Design – performance version – 25 March 2007 – 1 Re: Design – Adaptation of the …
Darwin's illness
Summary
Was Darwin an invalid? In many photographs he looks wearied by age, wrapped in a great coat to protect him from cold. In a letter to his cousin William Fox, he wrote: "Long and continued ill health has much changed me, & I very often think with…
Matches: 1 hits
- … Was Darwin an invalid? In many photographs he looks wearied by age, wrapped in a great coat to …
Fritz Müller
Summary
Fritz Müller, a German who spent most of his life in political exile in Brazil, described Darwin as his second father, and Darwin's son, Francis, wrote that, although they never met 'the correspondence with Müller, which continued to the close of…
Matches: 1 hits
- … Francis Darwin, in Life and letters of Charles Darwin , wrote of Fritz Müller They …
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
- … Darwin published four volumes on the crustacean sub-class Cirripedia between 1851 and 1854, two on …
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…
Matches: 1 hits
- … This list includes papers read by Darwin to the Geological Society of London, his books on the …
Darwin and Design
Summary
At the beginning of the nineteenth century in Britain, religion and the sciences were generally thought to be in harmony. The study of God’s word in the Bible, and of his works in nature, were considered to be part of the same truth. One version of this…
Matches: 1 hits
- … At the beginning of the nineteenth century in Britain, religion and the sciences were generally …
