To W. E. Darwin 4 [November 1862]
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | William Erasmus Darwin |
Date: | 4 [Nov 1862] |
Classmark: | DAR 210.6: 105 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3682 |
To J. D. Hooker 3 November [1862]
Summary
Requests reference to Jules Planchon’s monograph on Linum [Lond. J. Bot. 6 (1847): 588–603; 7 (1848): 165–86, 473–501, 507–28].
Sends list of seeds, including Oxalis, Boraginaceae especially Alkanna.
Asa Gray says JDH wrote reviews of Orchids in Gardeners’ Chronicle.
His experiments amuse him after dull day’s work on vegetables and fruit-trees.
Leschenaultia formosa has exterior stigma, thus eminently requiring insect aid, and thus ensuring crossing almost inevitably.
Asks whether Samuel Haughton at Dublin who made important medical discovery could be the same who reviewed Origin so hostilely [in Nat. Hist. Rev. 7 (1860): 23–32]; if so, he can sneer at and abuse CD to his heart’s content.
Asa Gray as rabid as ever [on Civil War].
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
Date: | 3 Nov [1862] |
Classmark: | DAR 115: 171 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3793 |
To J. D. Hooker 4 November [1862]
Summary
Cannot see how J. W. Dawson can accuse JDH of asserting a subsidence of Arctic America. Much of evidence for subsidence during glacial period will prove false as it largely rests on ice action which is more and more viewed as subaerial.
Dawson is biased against Darwinism.
Suggests Greenland may have been repopulated after glacial period extinguished flora, by migration in sea-currents.
Max Müller’s view of origin of language is weakest part of his book [see 3752].
Would like to examine the rare Cypripedium hirsutissimum.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
Date: | 4 Nov [1862] |
Classmark: | DAR 115: 168 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3795 |
To Asa Gray 6 November [1862]
Summary
Agrees Max Müller’s book [see 3752] is interesting but cannot see how it will further his "cause".
A book by J. W. Colenso [The Pentateuch and book of Joshua critically examined, pt 1 (1862)] has just appeared and will "make a noise".
Would like some observations made on Cypripedium.
Will not publish yet on Lythrum as he must make many more crosses; the mid-styled is fertile with half of its own stamens.
Would like to try a few experiments on tendrils.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Asa Gray |
Date: | 6 Nov [1862] |
Classmark: | Gray Herbarium of Harvard University (78) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3796 |
To Gardeners’ Chronicle [before 8 November 1862]
Summary
Asks whether T. A. Knight’s tall blue and white marrow peas were raised by Knight himself.
Also asks whether anyone who has saved seed peas grown close to other kinds observed that the succeeding crop came up "untrue" or crossed? CD would expect that such crossing would occasionally happen.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Gardeners’ Chronicle |
Date: | [before 8 Nov 1862] |
Classmark: | Gardeners’ Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette, 8 November 1862, p. 1052 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3798 |
To J. D. Hooker [10–]12 November [1862]
Summary
So JDH did write the Gardeners’ Chronicle review [of Orchids]! CD guessed it from the little slap at R. Brown.
Dawson’s lecture has nothing new. Absurd to assume Greenland under water during whole of glacial period. Suggests absence of certain plants in Greenland due to seeds not surviving in sea-water. Suggests an experiment on vitality in sea-water of plants that might be in Greenland. Is more willing to admit a Norway–Greenland land connection than most other cases.
Urges JDH to warn Tyndall on his glacial theory of valleys in Switzerland.
Is working on cultivated plants.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
Date: | [10–]12 Nov [1862] |
Classmark: | DAR 115: 169 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3801 |
To John Scott 12 November [1862]
Summary
Discusses whether or not "male" Acropera bear fruit. JS’s interpretation of Acropera pollination is ingenious. Pollen-tubes of some cleistogamous flowers germinate in the anthers.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Scott |
Date: | 12 Nov [1862] |
Classmark: | DAR 93: B7–10 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3805 |
To Hugh Falconer 14 November [1862]
Summary
Comments on HF’s paper on Plagiaulax from the Purbeck beds. Paper "dreadfully severe" on Owen.
"I am worse than ever in bearing any excitement."
Glad HF attacked Australian Mastodon. Never did believe in him.
Mentions Primula paper [Collected papers 2: 45–63].
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Hugh Falconer |
Date: | 14 Nov [1862] |
Classmark: | DAR 144: 27 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3806 |
To P. G. King 16 November [1862]
Summary
J. C. Wickham, B. J. Sulivan, and Arthur Mellersh visited a fortnight ago.
Oldest son [William] now a banker.
Sends photograph.
Health too bad to see anyone at present. Rarely sees FitzRoy.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Philip Gidley King |
Date: | 16 Nov [1862] |
Classmark: | Mitchell Library, Sydney (MLMSS 3447/2 Item 3) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3809 |
To Ludwig Büchner 17 November [1862]
Summary
Thanks LB for copy of his Aus Natur und Wissenschaft [1862]. Responds to LB’s comment [on Origin].
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Friedrich Karl Christian Ludwig (Ludwig) Büchner |
Date: | 17 Nov [1862] |
Classmark: | Cleveland Health Sciences Library (Robert M. Stecher collection) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3810 |
To J. D. Hooker 18 [November 1862]
Summary
A German scholar says JDH first applied natural selection to replacement of races of men, the ruder races of Polynesians yielding to civilised Europeans. CD cannot remember reading this.
Warns JDH to take care Welwitschia does not turn into a case of barnacles and consume years instead of months.
In what months do flowers appear in Acropera loddigesia and A. luteola? CD is alarmed by John Scott’s observations on them, which differ from his own. "I am very uneasy."
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
Date: | 18 [Nov 1862] |
Classmark: | DAR 115: 170 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3812 |
To John Scott 19 November [1862]
Summary
Praises JS’s experimenting.
Has he ever studied the relative fertility of varieties? CD very interested in this subject.
Discusses Acropera.
Wants to quote JS on Zea [Variation 1: 321].
CD sends his Primula paper [Collected papers 2: 45–63].
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Scott |
Date: | 19 Nov [1862] |
Classmark: | DAR 93: B11–B14, DAR 147: 431 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3814 |
To H. W. Bates 20 November [1862]
Summary
Just finished HWB’s paper ["Contributions to an insect fauna of the Amazon valley", Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 23 (1862): 495–566], one of the most remarkable he has ever read. Found mimetic cases and connection of facts marvellous. Finds equally important the facts on variation and segregation of complete and semi-complete species. Questions whether insect mimicry is not due to small size and defencelessness. Criticises title of paper. Mentions that Wallace will appreciate it.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Henry Walter Bates |
Date: | 20 Nov [1862] |
Classmark: | Cleveland Health Sciences Library (Robert M. Stecher collection) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3816 |
To T. F. Jamieson 21 November 1862
Summary
CD expresses his high opinion of TFJ’s scientific qualifications for lecturing on agriculture.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Thomas Francis Jamieson |
Date: | 21 Nov 1862 |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (MS.5406:171–2) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3818 |
To John Higgins 21 November 1862
Summary
Acknowledges receipt of £245 18s.
JH’s account of the Tomline estate gives CD some regret.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Higgins |
Date: | 21 Nov 1862 |
Classmark: | Dominic Winter Auctioneers (dealers) (10 April 2019, lot 138) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3818F |
To Daniel Oliver 23 [November 1862]
Summary
Examined Epilobium 20 or 30 years ago at Shrewsbury. In a flash remembered it as dimorphic, but had forgotten its name.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Daniel Oliver |
Date: | 23 [Nov 1862] |
Classmark: | DAR 261.10: 57 (EH 88206040) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3819 |
To Asa Gray 23 November [1862]
Summary
Recommends H. W. Bates’s paper on butterflies of Amazonia ["Insect fauna of the Amazon valley", Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 23 (1862): 495–566].
Lyell’s book [Antiquity of man (1863)] is eagerly awaited.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Asa Gray |
Date: | 23 Nov [1862] |
Classmark: | Gray Herbarium of Harvard University (49) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3820 |
To J. D. Hooker 24 [November 1862]
Summary
Sends Asa Gray letter: "nearly as mad as ever in our English eyes".
Bates’s paper is admirable. The act of segregation of varieties into species was never so plainly brought forth.
CD is a little sorry that his present work is leading him to believe rather more in the direct action of physical conditions. Regrets it because it lessens the glory of natural selection and is so confoundedly doubtful.
JDH laid too much stress on importance of crossing with respect to origin of species; but certainly it is important in keeping forms stable.
If only Owen could be excluded from Council of Royal Society Falconer would be good to put in. CD must come down to London to see what he can do.
Falconer’s article in Journal of the Geological Society [18 (1862): 348–69] shows him coming round on permanence of species, but he does not like natural selection.
Sends Lythrum salicaria diagram.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
Date: | 24 [Nov 1862] |
Classmark: | DAR 115: 173, 279b; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (Hooker letters 2: 46 JDH/2/1/2) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3822 |
To Journal of Horticulture [before 25 November 1862]
Summary
Asks correspondents whether any kinds of strawberries now cultivated have been raised from a cross between the wood or alpine strawberry and the scarlet, pine, or Chili strawberry.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Journal of Horticulture |
Date: | [before 25 Nov 1862] |
Classmark: | Journal of Horticulture, Cottage Gardener, and Country Gentleman, n.s. 3 (1862): 672 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3826 |
To H. W. Bates 25 November [1862]
Summary
[Apparently in reply to question in missing portion of 3825.] A written agreement is unnecessary, but a letter stating terms would prevent misundertanding. He will attempt to have a review of HWB’s paper published.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Henry Walter Bates |
Date: | 25 Nov [1862] |
Classmark: | Cleveland Health Sciences Library (Robert M. Stecher collection) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3827 |
letter | (23) |
Hooker, J. D. | (6) |
Gray, Asa | (3) |
Bates, H. W. | (2) |
Scott, John | (2) |
Büchner, Ludwig | (1) |
Bates, H. W. | (2) |
Büchner, Ludwig | (1) |
Darwin, C. R. | (23) |
Darwin, W. E. | (1) |
Falconer, Hugh | (1) |
Gardeners’ Chronicle | (1) |
Gray, Asa | (3) |
Higgins, John | (1) |
Hooker, J. D. | (6) |
Jamieson, T. F. | (1) |
Journal of Horticulture | (1) |
King, P. G. | (1) |
Leighton, W. A. | (1) |
Oliver, Daniel | (1) |
Scott, John | (2) |