To W. B. Tegetmeier 15 March [1856]
Summary
Asks WBT to try to purchase some specific pigeons.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | William Bernhard Tegetmeier |
Date: | 15 Mar [1856] |
Classmark: | Archives of the New York Botanical Garden (Charles Finney Cox Collection) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1842 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … DCP-LETT-1842 …
To the Geological Society of London 4 October 1842
Summary
Papers by T. J. Newbold [Proc. Geol. Soc. Lond. 3 (1842): 702–5], T. C. Hunt [3 (1842): 565–6] and J. Phillips [3 (1842): 705–6] need not be printed in Transactions of the Geological Society.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Geological Society of London |
Date: | 4 Oct 1842 |
Classmark: | Geological Society of London (GSL/COM/P/4/2/130) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-647 |
Matches: 12 hits
- … To the Geological Society of London 4 October 1842 …
- … GSL/COM/P/4/2/130) Charles Robert Darwin Down 4 Oct 1842 Geological Society of London …
- … Papers by T. J. Newbold [ Proc. Geol. Soc. Lond. 3 (1842): 702–5], T. …
- … C. Hunt [3 (1842): 565–6] and J. …
- … Phillips [3 (1842): 705–6] need not be printed in Transactions of the Geological Society . …
- … Newbold 1842 . …
- … Phillips 1842 . This is not John Phillips, the Yorkshire geologist, but possibly an …
- … 1838–42): 565–6. Newbold, Thomas John. 1842. On rock-basins in the bed of the Toombuddra, …
- … lat. 15 o to 16 o N. ). [Read 9 March 1842. ] Proceedings of the Geological Society of …
- … communications need not be printed in the Transactions Charles Darwin October 4 th . 1842 …
- … London 3 (1838–42): 702–5. Phillips, J. 1842. Three notices. [ …
- … Read 9 March 1842. ] Proceedings of the Geological Society of London 3 (1838-42): 705–6. …
To Charles Babbage 19 [February 1839 – August 1842]
Summary
Asks to be allowed to bring his sister to CB’s party "that she may see the World".
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Charles Babbage |
Date: | 19 [Feb 1839 - Aug 1842] |
Classmark: | The British Library (Add MS 37191: 299) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-479 |
From Thomas Blunt 11 August 1842
Summary
Gives the height of Shrewsbury above sea-level.
Author: | Thomas Blunt |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 11 Aug 1842 |
Classmark: | DAR 5: B17–18 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-639 |
Matches: 6 hits
- … From Thomas Blunt 11 August 1842 …
- … DAR 5: B17–18 Thomas Blunt Shrewsbury 11 Aug 1842 Charles Robert Darwin …
- … Shrewsbury August 11 th 1842 Dear Sir, I have ascertained that the elevation of the town …
- … Collected papers 1: 163–71. See letters from John Provis, 14 July 1842 and …
- … 20 July 1842 . …
- … Darwin. Philosophical Magazine 3d ser. 21 (1842): 180–8. [ Shorter publications , pp. 140– …
To Francis Boott [3 February 1842]
Summary
"My Dear Sir, I have called on you, to solicit your vote & interest at the Athenaeum Club […] in favour of my brother, Erasmus Darwin".
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Francis Boott |
Date: | [3 Feb 1842] |
Classmark: | Christie’s (dealers) (13 December 2006, lot 34) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-617F |
Matches: 5 hits
- … To Francis Boott [3 February 1842] …
- … See n. 1, above. Erasmus became a member of the Athenaeum Club in 1842 (Waugh [1888]). …
- … s (dealers) (13 December 2006, lot 34) Charles Robert Darwin [3 Feb 1842] Francis Boott …
- … of the Athenaeum Club, Monday 7 February 1842 (see Correspondence vol. 2, letter to J. …
- … F. Royle, [2 February 1842] and n. 1, and n. 4, below). The preceding Thursday was 3 …
To Charles Lyell [5 and 7 October 1842]
Summary
Cancelled: same as DCP-LETT-649. Discusses growth of various species of coral. Explains significance of dead reefs.
Describes meeting of the Council of the Geological Society; the controversy involving Edward Charlesworth.
Mentions conversations with William Lonsdale about Lonsdale’s work on corals and the financial support for his work.
Murchison’s views on glaciation in Wales.
Agassiz’s observations at Glen Roy.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Charles Lyell, 1st baronet |
Date: | 5 and 7 Oct 1842 |
Classmark: | CUL DAR 146: 149 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-645 |
Maclaren, Charles. 1842. Coral islands. (From the Scotsman of 29 October and 9 November 1842). Pamphlet reprint. [Edinburgh.]
Phillips, J. 1842. Three notices. [Read 9 March 1842.] Proceedings of the Geological Society of London 3 (1838-42): 705–6.
To Julian Jackson 13 October [1842]
Summary
Discusses JJ’s proposed review of his volume [Coral reefs].
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Julian Jackson |
Date: | 13 Oct [1842] |
Classmark: | Royal Geographical Society |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-650 |
Matches: 4 hits
To Charles Lyell [5 and 7 October 1842]
Summary
Discusses growth of various species of coral. Explains significance of dead reefs.
Describes meeting of the Council of the Geological Society; the controversy involving Edward Charlesworth.
Mentions conversations with William Lonsdale about Lonsdale’s work on corals and the financial support for his work.
Murchison’s views on glaciation in Wales.
Agassiz’s observations at Glen Roy.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Charles Lyell, 1st baronet |
Date: | 5 and 7 Oct 1842 |
Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.28) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-649 |
Matches: 7 hits
- … To Charles Lyell [5 and 7 October 1842] …
- … American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.28) Charles Robert Darwin Down 5 Oct 1842 7 …
- … Oct 1842 Charles Lyell, 1st baronet …
- … by Louis Agassiz and James David Forbes. L. Agassiz 1842, pp. 236–7 and plate 4. …
- … Darwin. Philosophical Magazine 3d ser. 21 (1842): 180–8. [ Shorter publications , pp. 140– …
- … 1837 , n. 9). See letter to Anne Susan Horner, [4 October 1842] , n. 4. See letter to …
- … W. H. Fitton, 23 June 1842 . For R. I. Murchison’s disbelief in Welsh glaciers see …
From John Provis 14 July 1842
Author: | John Provis |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 14 July 1842 |
Classmark: | DAR 27.1: B23 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-635 |
Matches: 5 hits
- … From John Provis 14 July 1842 …
- … DAR 27.1: B23 John Provis Holyhead 14 July 1842 Charles Robert Darwin …
- … glaciers of Caernarvonshire’ , Collected papers 1: 163–71) published in September 1842. …
- … Darwin. Philosophical Magazine 3d ser. 21 (1842): 180–8. [ Shorter publications , pp. 140– …
- … Holyhead. 14 th . July 1842. Sir, In compliance with your request I now send you the …
To Charles Lyell [September–December 1842]
Summary
Discusses relationship of subsidence to the formation of coral reefs.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Charles Lyell, 1st baronet |
Date: | [Sept–Dec 1842] |
Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.30) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-605 |
Matches: 7 hits
- … To Charles Lyell [September–December 1842] …
- … Robert Darwin London, Upper Gower St, 12 [Sept–Dec 1842] Charles Lyell, 1st baronet …
- … for CD’s coral theory. See CD’s letter to Charles Maclaren, [15 November–December 1842]. …
- … Charles Maclaren, [15 November – December 1842] , and Journal of researches, 2d ed. , p. …
- … By Charles Darwin. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1842. Correspondence : The correspondence of …
- … Lyell had returned from America (August 1842) and had discussed CD’s Coral reefs with him. …
- … Charles Maclaren, [15 November–December 1842], and makes it probable that CD revised his …
To ? [1842–82]
Summary
Will be glad to see recipient and Mr Morris at Down the following day.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Wickham Flower |
Date: | [1842–82] |
Classmark: | eBay (April 2001) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13867G |
To Anne Susan Horner [4 October 1842]
Summary
Emma recovering well from birth of third child, Mary Eleanor.
Sorry to hear Leonard Horner has been ill.
Has received high praise of Coral reefs from Lyell.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Anne Susanna Horner |
Date: | [4 Oct 1842] |
Classmark: | DAR 261.11: 1 (EH 88206053) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-648 |
Matches: 5 hits
- … To Anne Susan Horner [4 October 1842] …
- … DAR 261.11: 1 (EH 88206053) Charles Robert Darwin Down [4 Oct 1842] Anne Susanna Horner …
- … Lonsdale on Friday, 30 September (see letter to Charles Lyell, [5 and 7 October 1842] ). …
- … December. See letters to Lyell, [5 and 7 October 1842], and William Hallowes Miller, [ …
- … 16 October – 27 November 1842]. Lonsdale had retired from his position because of ill …
To Charles Lyell [November–December 1842]
Summary
Believes "absurd letter" hastily read at last Geological Society Council meeting was from Charlesworth’s solicitor. Suggests that it may have been sent to entrap the Council and that it should be read over carefully.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Charles Lyell, 1st baronet |
Date: | [Nov–Dec 1842] |
Classmark: | The British Library (Surrogate RP 7381(i)) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-653 |
Matches: 4 hits
- … To Charles Lyell [November–December 1842] …
- … RP 7381(i)) Charles Robert Darwin unstated [Nov–Dec 1842] Charles Lyell, 1st baronet …
- … letter to Charles Lyell, [5 and 7 October 1842] for CD’s account of Charlesworth’s efforts …
- … the letter to Austen mentioned in the letter to Charles Lyell, [5 and 7 October 1842] . …
From Hensleigh Wedgwood 25 September [1842]
Summary
Gives an account of his father’s illness.
Author: | Hensleigh Wedgwood |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 25 Sept [1842] |
Classmark: | V&A / Wedgwood Collection (MS W/M 258) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-644 |
Matches: 4 hits
- … From Hensleigh Wedgwood 25 September [1842] …
- … Collection (MS W/M 258) Hensleigh Wedgwood Maer 25 Sept [1842] Charles Robert Darwin …
- … A letter (21 September 1842) from Charlotte Langton to Emma Darwin, describing a crisis in …
- … on until 12 July 1843. Mary Eleanor Darwin was born on 23 September 1842 at Down House. …
To A. Y. Spearman 29 April 1842
Summary
The fourth number of part four is now published; the Smith, Elder & Co. account is presented.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Alexander Young Spearman |
Date: | 29 Apr 1842 |
Classmark: | The National Archives (TNA) (T1/4723 paper 15949) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-625A |
Matches: 4 hits
- … To A. Y. Spearman 29 April 1842 …
- … Charles Robert Darwin London, Upper Gower St, 12 29 Apr 1842 Alexander Young Spearman …
- … from Smith, Elder & Co. , dated April 1842, detailing the various costs of Fish, No. 4. …
- … 12 Upper Gower St April 29 th . —1842 Sir I have the honour to transmit, as on former …
To A. Y. Spearman 5 August 1842
Summary
The Smith, Elder & Co. account for the first number of part five of the Zoology, now published, is presented.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Alexander Young Spearman |
Date: | 5 Aug 1842 |
Classmark: | The National Archives (TNA) (T1/4723 paper 15949) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-637A |
Matches: 4 hits
- … To A. Y. Spearman 5 August 1842 …
- … Charles Robert Darwin London, Upper Gower St, 12 5 Aug 1842 Alexander Young Spearman …
- … from Smith, Elder & Co. , dated August 1842, detailing the various costs of Reptiles, No. …
- … 12 Upper Gower St August 5. 1842 Sir I have the honour to transmit, as on former …
letter | (478) |
people | (318) |
bibliography | (121) |
Darwin, C. R. | (316) |
Hooker, J. D. | (26) |
Lyell, Charles | (12) |
Blyth, Edward | (5) |
Darwin, E. A. | (5) |
Darwin, C. R. | (158) |
Hooker, J. D. | (51) |
Lyell, Charles | (26) |
Smith, Elder & Co | (13) |
Fox, W. D. | (12) |
Darwin, C. R. | (473) |
Hooker, J. D. | (77) |
Lyell, Charles | (38) |
Smith, Elder & Co | (16) |
Henslow, J. S. | (13) |
1836 | (3) |
1837 | (2) |
1838 | (6) |
1839 | (11) |
1840 | (6) |
1841 | (8) |
1842 | (57) |
1843 | (17) |
1844 | (26) |
1845 | (19) |
1846 | (10) |
1847 | (16) |
1848 | (13) |
1849 | (8) |
1850 | (3) |
1851 | (5) |
1852 | (4) |
1853 | (5) |
1854 | (2) |
1855 | (10) |
1856 | (19) |
1857 | (14) |
1858 | (15) |
1859 | (10) |
1860 | (18) |
1861 | (11) |
1862 | (8) |
1863 | (12) |
1864 | (8) |
1865 | (9) |
1866 | (9) |
1867 | (7) |
1868 | (14) |
1869 | (5) |
1870 | (3) |
1871 | (5) |
1872 | (6) |
1873 | (6) |
1874 | (29) |
1875 | (8) |
1876 | (8) |
1877 | (4) |
1878 | (3) |
1879 | (3) |
1880 | (6) |
1881 | (6) |
1882 | (1) |
Historical documents in Commentary

Darwin’s reading notebooks
Summary
In April 1838, Darwin began recording the titles of books he had read and the books he wished to read in Notebook C (Notebooks, pp. 319–28). In 1839, these lists were copied and continued in separate notebooks. The first of these reading notebooks (DAR 119…
Matches: 30 hits
- … Illustrations of the Domestic animals of Gt. Britain [D. Low 1842].— 23 must be read carefully. …
- … Erasmus—— Lavater. Life & Correspondence [?Heisch 1842] Coleridge. Literary …
- … Cicero [Middleton 1741] W. Meister’s Life [Goethe 1842].— Malcolm’s History of Persia …
- … [DAR *119: 15] Zanoni by Bulwer [Bulwer-Lytton 1842]. Life of D. of Marlborough [A. …
- … organs read A. Alison on Population. 2 vols. Feb. 1842 [A. Alison 1840].— Youatt in …
- … 1836]: worth looking at. Low has probably told all [D. Low 1842] Madras Journal [ Madras …
- … Soc. appears to be good Papers on Sewalik Fossils in 1842 [Cautley 1840 and Cautley and Falconer …
- … Read “Bronn’s Geschicte der Natur.” [Bronn 1842–3] Kingdons translat …
- … Jussieus introduct to Bot. price 6 s [Jussieu 1842] [DAR *119: 20v.] …
- … Cerealia [Loiseleur Deslongchamps 1842–3] Phytologist [ …
- … (List from Muller & Bronn [Müller 1837–42 and Bronn 1842–3] in this Book) 52 Royle …
- … . Smollets William & Mary. & Anne [Smollett 1805].— 1842 Jan 10 M rs …
- … —— 17 th Laing notes of a Traveller 1 vol [Laing 1842] —— Finished Wordsworth 6 vols. …
- … such instincts .— [DAR 119: 12b] 1842 March. 26 th Holcroft’s Memoirs …
- … [Hyde 1704] Feb. Vol. of Madame D’Arblay [Burney 1842–6] Mar 1. Lieut. Eyres Narrative …
- … nothing —— Doubleday on Population [Doubleday 1842] —— Ramond’s voyage in Pyrenees …
- … 1774] —— F. Bremer’s little novels [Bremer 1842, 1843b, 1844a, 1844c] March 7 th M …
- … 1839] 14 th Arnolds lectures on History [Arnold 1842] —— History of Civilization by …
- … very poor Oct 1 Owen on Mylodon Robustus [R. Owen 1842]. References at end. 7 th . …
- … June 8 th Wilson Voyage Round Scotland [J. Wilson 1842] (poor) M. Gerard sur l’Espece …
- … [Chambers 1845] —— Bronn’s Gesickte [Bronn 1842–3] 2 d . Vol [DAR 119: 16b] …
- … [M. G. Lewis 1834] Nov 7. Life of Lavater [?Heisch 1842] —— 25. M rs . Meredith. N.S …
- … April VI & VII. vol. of Madame d’Arblay [Burney 1842–6]. —— 15 th . Phillip’s life of W …
- … —— Jussieu. Cours Elementaire Botanique [Jussieu 1842] —— Transactions of Amer. Philosoph Soc …
- … des Naturalistes de Moscou ]. Vols for 1833, 1837, 1838, 1842, 43, 44—not all these latter vols: …
- … 17 th Thompson’s Birds of Ireland [W. Thompson 1842] Part I. Sept. 17. Sir J. Ross. Voyage …
- … Nov. 15 th Wilson Voyage. Scotland [J. Wilson 1842] —— Southey. Book of the Church [R. W. …
- … Keppell. 1853 [Keppel 1853] Dickens America [Dickens 1842] Thackerays Lectures on …
- … et exp. pages 248. 8 vo [Loiseleur Deslongchamps 1842–3] Linn. Soc.? must be read.— not in Royal. …
- … of Indies [Acosta 1604].— Report, Brit. Assoc. 1842 . Richardson N.Z. Fish [J. Richardson …

Darwin’s observations on his children
Summary
Charles Darwin’s observations on the development of his children, began the research that culminated in his book The Expression of the emotions in man and animals, published in 1872, and his article ‘A biographical sketch of an infant’, published in Mind…
Matches: 14 hits
- … his mouth to do so.—[35] 25v. Feb. 20 th . 1842. Anny (, same age) has learned to shake …
- … 28v. [39] Anny was to day March 1 st 1842 rather amused, at a wafer sticking first to one hand …
- … case of my watch.— 29v. March 1 st 1842— Anny says Papa pretty clearly—[40] A few days …
- … pretty & Papa for a week past perfectly clear Feb 1842 I have long observed that the …
- … for their feelings— 31 [42] In Jan ry . 1842 it was first perceived that Willy began to …
- … “bub my crumps” & 31v. March 29 th . 1842.— I have some months remarked how much …
- … gabble nonsense words,— 33 March 20: th .— 1842 Doddy is a great adept at throwing …
- … the eyes & is a full face.— 36 March 26 th 1842 2 years & 3 mth— Doddy was …
- … not the “beast in house”.— 37v. [50] May 1. 1842. 14 months old It is curious to see how …
- … down the corners of his mouth[51] June 1 st . 1842 Observed the first day I put on a new …
- … stuck to it, “no Doddy did not”. Aug 26 th .. 1842 About a fortnight ago, I met Willy …
- … at Upper Gower Street between 12 February and 16 March 1842. [43] Stammering ran in the …
- … [51] Emma Darwin and the children went to Maer on 3 May 1842; CD joined them on 18 May (Emma Darwin …
- … of bees in pollination, made in the summers between 1840 and 1842, are in DAR 46.2 and DAR 205.5: 53 …

Introduction to the Satire of FitzRoy's Narrative of the Voyages of the Adventure and Beagle
Summary
'a humble toadyish follower…': Not all pictures of Darwin during the Beagle voyage are flattering. Published here for the first time is a complete transcript of a satirical account of the Beagle’s brief visit in 1836 to the Cocos Keeling islands…
Matches: 1 hits
- … China, Borneo, and the Philippines in HMS Samarang from 1842 to 1845, and ended his naval career …