From J. F. McLennan 3 February 1874
Summary
Discusses the evolution of marriage systems; considers the scheme of development CD proposes: 1. Polygyny and monogamy; 2. Polyandry; 3. Promiscuity; 4. Polygyny and monogamy in recurrence. Explains what he understands by promiscuity. JFM believes that polygyny, monogamy, and polyandry must have occurred in "every district from the first, and grown up together into systems sanctioned by usage first and then law". Considers polygyny necessarily the privilege of the few and, as a system, believes it had less to do than any other with the history of marriage. He sees polyandry as an advance from promiscuity and the stage at which contractual obligations between men and their wives begin.
Author: | John Ferguson McLennan |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 3 Feb 1874 |
Classmark: | McLennan 1896, pp. 50–5 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-9264 |
From J. F. McLennan 5 May 1874
Summary
Would like to see C. S. Wake’s paper ["Marriage among primitive peoples", Anthropologia 1 (1873–5): 197–207].
Will return L. H. Morgan’s work [? Systems of consanguinity (1871)].
Murray suggests Macmillan’s are more likely to reprint JFMcL’s Primitive marriage.
Author: | John Ferguson McLennan |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 5 May 1874 |
Classmark: | DAR 171: 20 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-9442 |
From J. F. McLennan 8 May 1874
Summary
Thanks for issue of Anthropologia. Would be pleased if CD would write to Murray on his behalf.
Author: | John Ferguson McLennan |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 8 May 1874 |
Classmark: | DAR 171: 21 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-9447 |
From J. F. McLennan 13 May 1874
Summary
Bernard Quaritch interested in reprinting Primitive marriage.
Author: | John Ferguson McLennan |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 13 May 1874 |
Classmark: | DAR 171: 22 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-9458 |
letter | (4) |
McLennan, J. F. | (4) |