From Lawson Tait 21 February 1876
Summary
RLT to review 2d ed. of Variation and write an article on Pangenesis.
Discussion of "Survival of the Fittest".
Author: | Robert Lawson (Lawson) Tait |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 21 Feb 1876 |
Classmark: | DAR 178: 28–9 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10405 |
To Lawson Tait 22 February [1876]
Summary
Herbert Spencer invented the term "survival of the fittest". CD used it but found "natural selection" more convenient.
He has often spoken of natural selection’s destruction of individuals which do not come up to "proper standards of structure", which comes to nearly the same thing as RLT’s suggested distinction.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Robert Lawson (Lawson) Tait |
Date: | 22 Feb [1876] |
Classmark: | Randall House, Santa Barbara (dealers) (Catalogue XXV, 1993) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10406 |
From Lawson Tait 1 March 1876
Summary
Regrowth of an amputated extra thumb.
Author: | Robert Lawson (Lawson) Tait |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 1 Mar 1876 |
Classmark: | DAR 178: 30 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10412 |
To Lawson Tait 2 March 1876
Summary
Thanks RLT for his letter. CD took much trouble over his two cases [regrowth of amputated supernumerary digits, in Variation] but the evidence was shaky.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Robert Lawson (Lawson) Tait |
Date: | 2 Mar 1876 |
Classmark: | DAR 147: 527 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10414 |
To Lawson Tait 25 March [1876]
Summary
RLT’s two articles in Spectator [4 Mar and 25 Mar 1876] greatly honour CD.
Tait has made a good point about "Survival of the Fittest".
Dr Rudinger’s extensive inquiries show that all eminent German surgeons are unanimous about non-growth of extra digit after amputation.
J. Kollmann has written regretting CD has given up atavism and extra digits [in 2d ed. of Variation]; gives new evidence of a rudimentary sixth digit in batrachians.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Robert Lawson (Lawson) Tait |
Date: | 25 Mar [1876] |
Classmark: | DAR 221.5: 33 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10428 |
From Lawson Tait 26 March [1876]
Summary
Cat born tailless as a consequence of a spina bifida.
Author: | Robert Lawson (Lawson) Tait |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 26 Mar [1876] |
Classmark: | DAR 178: 31 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10429 |
From Lawson Tait 27 March [1876]
Summary
Regrowth of amputated digits is a capacity possessed by the new-born but rapidly lost.
Author: | Robert Lawson (Lawson) Tait |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 27 Mar [1876] |
Classmark: | DAR 178: 32 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10431 |
To Lawson Tait 28 March 1876
Summary
James Paget’s scepticism about regrowth of digits. Suggests RLT experiment with amputation of digits, both extra and normal, of kittens and fowls. Fears they will fail to regrow, but, if regrowth is proved, it will be an important discovery.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Robert Lawson (Lawson) Tait |
Date: | 28 Mar 1876 |
Classmark: | Roy Davids Ltd (dealer) (1996) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10434 |
To Lawson Tait 24 April 1876
Summary
The Royal Society have returned RLT’s Nepenthes paper and will not have it read because of unfavourable reports from referees.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Robert Lawson (Lawson) Tait |
Date: | 24 Apr 1876 |
Classmark: | DAR 202: 84 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10470 |
From Lawson Tait 25 April [1876]
Summary
Apologises for placing CD in the objectionable position of sponsor for a rejected paper. RLT has gone over old ground in ignorance.
Author: | Robert Lawson (Lawson) Tait |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 25 Apr [1876] |
Classmark: | DAR 178: 33 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10473 |
To Lawson Tait 29 April [1876]
Summary
Sends Thiselton-Dyer’s suggestions for references to Nepenthes,
and gives his opinion on what will influence the Royal Society’s Council in considering RLT’s candidacy.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Robert Lawson (Lawson) Tait |
Date: | 29 Apr [1876] |
Classmark: | DAR 221.5: 36 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10484 |
To Lawson Tait 5 May 1876
Summary
CD sends the gist of an extremely negative report from the [Royal Society’s] physiological referee on the value of RLT’s modifications of Brücke’s process for isolating pepsin [see 10470].
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Robert Lawson (Lawson) Tait |
Date: | 5 May 1876 |
Classmark: | Shrewsbury School, Taylor Library |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10497 |
From Lawson Tait 4 August [1876]
Summary
Wishes to make CD an Honorary Member of the Birmingham Natural History Society.
RLT has attempted [in a paper] to apply evolution to moral life.
Author: | Robert Lawson (Lawson) Tait |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 4 Aug [1876] |
Classmark: | DAR 178: 34 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10570 |
To Lawson Tait 6 August 1876
Summary
CD accepts membership in the Birmingham Natural History Society.
Thanks RLT for article. CD cannot quite agree that "under a theological point of view, the origin of evil is explained by survival".
Is glad RLT has not given up polydactylism.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Robert Lawson (Lawson) Tait |
Date: | 6 Aug 1876 |
Classmark: | DAR 221.5: 35 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10571 |
From Lawson Tait 8 August 1876
Summary
Proposes to work on the origin of diseases; is going to study syphilis.
Author: | Robert Lawson (Lawson) Tait |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 8 Aug 1876 |
Classmark: | DAR 178: 35 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10574 |
letter | (15) |
Darwin, C. R. | (8) |
Tait, Lawson | (7) |
Tait, Lawson | (8) |
Darwin, C. R. | (7) |
Darwin, C. R. | (15) |
Tait, Lawson |