To James Dwight Dana 7 January [1863]
Summary
Responds to JDD’s letter [3845].
Discusses his own poor health.
"Man is our great subject at present."
Lyell’s book [Antiquity of man (1863)] sold 4000 copies on day of sale.
"The fossil bird [Archaeopteryx] … is a grand case for me." Wishes a skeleton could be found in the "so-called red sandstone foot-step beds".
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | James Dwight Dana |
| Date: | 7 Jan [1863] |
| Classmark: | Yale University Library: Manuscripts and Archives (Dana Family Papers (MS 164) Series 1, Box 2, folder 44) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3905 |
To J. D. Dana 20 February [1863]
Summary
Received JDD’s book [Manual of geology (1862)]
and pamphlet on man ["On the higher subdivisions in the classification of mammals", Am. J. Sci. 2d ser. 35 (1863): 65–71].
Fully admits JDD’s objections are valid. But is convinced of the general truth of his own views (with much incidental error), because they embrace so many phenomena and explain them.
Discusses some mistakes Owen has made;
Falconer’s disagreement with Owen ["On the mammalian genus Plagiaulax", Q. J. Geol. Soc. Lond. 18 (1862): 348–69].
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | James Dwight Dana |
| Date: | 20 Feb [1863] |
| Classmark: | Yale University Library: Manuscripts and Archives (Dana Family Papers (MS 164) Series 1, Box 2, folder 44) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4000 |
| Dana, J. D. | (2) |
| Dana, J. D. | (2) |
| Darwin, C. R. | (2) |
