To James Dwight Dana 30 July [1860]
Summary
Has been able to do nothing in science of late due to illness [of Henrietta].
When JDD reads Origin, CD knows he will be opposed to it, but he will be liberal and philosophical, which is more than he can say for his English opponents.
Has not yet seen L. Agassiz’s attack, but in principle avoids answering.
No one understands Origin so well as Asa Gray.
At BAAS meeting at Oxford, CD’s side seems almost to have got the best of the battle.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | James Dwight Dana |
Date: | 30 July [1860] |
Classmark: | Yale University Library: Manuscripts and Archives (Dana Family Papers (MS 164) Series 1, Box 2, folder 44) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2882 |
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 |
To James Dwight Dana 12 August [1849]
Summary
Describes his research on cirripedes: an "anatomical and systematic catalogue". Asks to borrow specimens.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | James Dwight Dana |
Date: | 12 Aug [1849] |
Classmark: | Yale University Library: Manuscripts and Archives (Dana Family Papers (MS 164) Series 1, Box 2, folder 43) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1250 |
To J. D. Dana 8 October 1849
Summary
Discusses cirripedes collected by JDD.
Gratified that he agrees "to some extent" with CD’s views on coral reefs.
Mentions his health.
Asks for JDD’s publication on cirripedes.
Sends message from William Baird concerning Crustacea research of J. O. Westwood.
Mentions Joseph Leidy’s discovery of cirripede eyes.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | James Dwight Dana |
Date: | 8 Oct 1849 |
Classmark: | Yale University Library: Manuscripts and Archives (Dana Family Papers (MS 164) Series 1, Box 2, folder 43) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1259 |
To J. D. Dana 5 December [1849]
Summary
Comments on JDD’s book [Geology (1849)]. Is sending copies of various geological papers. Their agreements and differences on coral reefs, volcanic geology, denudation, and subsidence.
Comments on Robert Chambers’ book [Ancient sea-margins (1848)].
Asks to borrow cirripede specimens.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | James Dwight Dana |
Date: | 5 Dec [1849] |
Classmark: | Yale University Library: Manuscripts and Archives (Dana Family Papers (MS 164) Series 1, Box 2, folder 43) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1276 |
To J. D. Dana 24 February [1850]
Summary
Regrets delay in sending pamphlets for JDD.
Thanks him for information concerning cirripedes.
Sends thanks to Charles Pickering for information about plant distribution.
Discusses boring species of cirripedes.
Believes Harry D. S. Goodsir mistaken about parasites on Balanus ["Observations on organs of generation in Crustacea", Edinburgh New Philos. J. 36 (1843–4): 183–6]. In fact parasites are the males of the species.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | James Dwight Dana |
Date: | 24 Feb [1850] |
Classmark: | Yale University Library: Manuscripts and Archives (Dana Family Papers (MS 164) Series 1, Box 2, folder 43) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1305 |
To J. D. Dana 29 December [1850]
Summary
Discusses attachment of antennae in larvae of cirripedes.
Asks for information about how parasitic cirripedes are attached to host.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | James Dwight Dana |
Date: | 29 Dec [1850] |
Classmark: | Smith College Library |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1381 |
To James Dwight Dana 9 September [1851]
Summary
Thanks him for letter and Balanus specimen.
Acasta is curious; may be a new genus.
Is sending copy [of Fossil Cirripedia 1]. Correcting proofs [of Living Cirripedia 1].
Mentions comment by Hermann Abich on JDD’s chapters on the Sandwich Islands [in Geology (1849)].
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | James Dwight Dana |
Date: | 9 Sept [1851] |
Classmark: | Yale University Library: Manuscripts and Archives (Dana Family Papers (MS 164) Series 1, Box 2, folder 43) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1453 |
To J. D. Dana 15 February [1852]
Summary
Sending first volumes on Living and Fossil Cirripedia. Solicits JDD’s opinion, especially on sexual relations of Scalpellum and Ibla, on which he "hardly expect[s] to be believed".
Sends unusual crustacean specimen collected by B. J. Sulivan.
The Sporillus sent by JDD is a very curious species of Acasta [see Living Cirripedia 2: 319].
Asks JDD to identify and give geographical distribution of pieces of coral in which some cirripedes are imbedded.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | James Dwight Dana |
Date: | 15 Feb [1852] |
Classmark: | Yale University Library: Manuscripts and Archives (Dana Family Papers (MS 164) Series 1, Box 2, folder 43) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1473 |
To J. D. Dana 8 May [1852]
Summary
Gratified by JDD’s opinion of his work.
Discusses problem of homologies of cirripede larva in first stage and reasons for his view.
JDD’s information on corals was just what CD needed.
Would like specimen of blind cave rat described by B. Silliman [Jr] ["On the Mammoth Cave of Kentucky", Am. J. Sci. 2d ser. 11 (1851): 336] for Waterhouse to examine.
Discusses origin of Australian valleys; he disagrees with JDD’s river-erosion hypothesis.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | James Dwight Dana |
Date: | 8 May [1852] |
Classmark: | Yale University Library: Manuscripts and Archives (Dana Family Papers (MS 164) Series 1, Box 2, folder 43) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1481 |
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 J. D. Dana 27 September [1853]
Summary
Admires JDD’s work on Crustacea, corals, and geology.
Commends young John Lubbock to his attention. Hopes JDD can give him encouragement; if he can resist his "great wealth, business, and rank, he may do good work in Natural History".
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | James Dwight Dana |
Date: | 27 Sept [1853] |
Classmark: | Yale University Library: Manuscripts and Archives (Dana Family Papers (MS 164) Series 1, Box 2, folder 43) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1533 |
To J. D. Dana 10 October [1853]
Summary
Thanks JDD for copy of his Crustacea [1852–5]
and D. D. Owen’s Report [of a geological survey of Wisconsin, etc. (1852)].
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | James Dwight Dana |
Date: | 10 Oct [1853] |
Classmark: | Yale University Library: Manuscripts and Archives (Dana Family Papers (MS 164) Series 1, Box 2, folder 43) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1534 |
To J. D. Dana 6 December [1853]
Summary
Responds to JDD’s objections to his views on the three pairs of appendages in larvae of cirripedes. Reports observations which confirm his views.
Gives his confidential opinion of A. White, C. S. Bate, T. Bell, and W. Baird.
Interested in JDD’s observation that Crustacea are not most developed in the tropics. If JDD ever works it out either in number of species or rank, CD would be glad to have result.
Comments on article by Henri Milne-Edwards ["Crustacés", Ann. Sci. Nat. (Zool.) 18 (1852): 109–66].
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | James Dwight Dana |
Date: | 6 Dec [1853] |
Classmark: | Yale University Library: Manuscripts and Archives (Dana Family Papers (MS 164) Series 1, Box 2, folder 43) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1542 |
To James Dwight Dana 14 July [1856]
Summary
Asks whether the blind cave animals described by B. Silliman Jr [Am. J. Sci. 2d ser. 11 (1851): 332–9] belong to genera found only on the American continent.
On geographical distribution of Crustacea, CD asks whether northern genera sent species to the Southern Hemisphere or did southern genera send species north?
Does he know of any author who has described fossil trees in South Shetland Islands?
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | James Dwight Dana |
Date: | 14 July [1856] |
Classmark: | Yale University Library: Manuscripts and Archives (Dana Family Papers (MS 164) Series 1, Box 2, folder 44) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1925 |
To J. D. Dana 29 September [1856]
Summary
Thanks JDD for replies to queries [in 1925]; would like to know whether teeth of cave rat are of New or Old World type.
Wishes Louis Agassiz would publish his theory of parallels of geological and embryological development. "I wish to believe but have not seen nearly enough as yet to make me a disciple."
Is working hard on variations and origin of species, but fears it will be a couple of years before he publishes.
Describes his recent work on rabbits and pigeons.
The dispersal of land Mollusca is a most difficult problem.
Confesses he is sceptical of immutability of species; discusses difficulty of proving it.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | James Dwight Dana |
Date: | 29 Sept [1856] |
Classmark: | Yale University Library: Manuscripts and Archives (Dana Family Papers (MS 164) Series 1, Box 2, folder 44) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1964 |
To James Dwight Dana 21 December [1856]
Summary
Thanks for sending paper on geological development (Dana 1856). Discusses infertility of species. Discusses first part of Asa Gray’s paper (A. Gray 1856–7). Thanks for note on the Cave Rat. Discusses a new species of fossil cirripede, in the genus Chthamalus. Explains his interest in pigeon breeding.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | James Dwight Dana |
Date: | 21 Dec [1856] |
Classmark: | Catherine Barnes (dealer) (2003) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2020F |
To J. D. Dana 5 April [1857]
Summary
Asks whether Crustacea from temperate parts of the Southern Hemisphere are more strongly analogous to those in same latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere than are Arctic to Antarctic Crustacea.
Discusses astonishing finds of mammalian and reptilian remains in Purbeck beds; notes reactions of Lyell.
Has doubts about Richard Owen’s recent classification of mammals [J. Proc. Linn. Soc. Lond. (Zool.) 2 (1858): 1–37].
Works away [on Natural selection].
Asa Gray has given valuable assistance.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | James Dwight Dana |
Date: | 5 Apr [1857] |
Classmark: | Yale University Library: Manuscripts and Archives (Dana Family Papers (MS 164) Series 1, Box 2, folder 44) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2072 |
To J. D. Dana 25 May [1857]
Summary
Thanks him for information concerning Crustacea.
Comments on natural history study in the U. S.
Mentions work done by Huxley on Crustacea ["Description of a new crustacean", J. Geol. Soc. Lond. 13 (1857): 363–9];
John Lubbock on larvae of Diptera.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | James Dwight Dana |
Date: | 25 May [1857] |
Classmark: | Yale University Library: Manuscripts and Archives (Silliman Family Papers (MS 450) Box 19, folder 25) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2094 |