From Andrew Crombie Ramsay 29 December 1858
Summary
Responds to CD’s queries about the thickness of various geological formations. [See Origin, p. 284.]
| Author: | Andrew Crombie Ramsay |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 29 Dec 1858 |
| Classmark: | DAR 205.9: 398 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2387 |
Matches: 7 hits
- … 1985–. Dawson, John William. 1855. Acadian geology: an account of the geological structure …
- … under impossible conditions when all the Geology of the country is considered. Besides it …
- … and spent much of his career studying the geology of Wales. Roderick Impey Murchison was …
- … Geological Survey since 1842. His map of the geology of the Isle of Wight was issued in …
- … Great Britain and of the Museum of Economic Geology in London 1: 1–296. Flett, John Smith. …
- … Hull, Edward. 1857. Memoir of the geology of the country around Cheltenham. Memoirs of …
- … Britain and of the Museum of Practical Geology. (To accompany Sheet 44 of the Geological …
To the Secretary, Royal Society 5 March 1858
Summary
C. P. Smyth’s observations on geology and natural history of Tenerife are not precise enough to warrant publication in Philosophical Transactions. Suggests CPS draw up an abstract, for the Proceedings, of specific points actually observed, rather than conclusions arrived at on insufficient grounds.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Royal Society of London |
| Date: | 5 Mar 1858 |
| Classmark: | The Royal Society (RR3: 255) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2234 |
To George Bentham 27 January [1858]
Summary
Asks GB to vote for "a distant connexion of mine" at Athenaeum, and to mention this to Hooker.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | George Bentham |
| Date: | 27 Jan [1858] |
| Classmark: | Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (Bentham Correspondence, Vol. 3, Daintree–Dyer, 1830–1884, GEB/1/3: f. 676) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13778 |
To W. E. Darwin 6 October [1858]
Summary
Sends £20. Family news.
Answers WED’s questions about CD’s Journal of researches: Galapagos "productions" all came from America, but "they have since been modified by my principle of Natural Selection".
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | William Erasmus Darwin |
| Date: | 6 Oct [1858] |
| Classmark: | DAR 92: A19–21 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2334 |
To Leonard Jenyns 9 April [1858]
Summary
Asks LJ to lend him a copy of his paper ["Variation of species", Rep. BAAS 26 (1856): 101–5] and any notes or references he has. Although CD has a large accumulation of facts, it is impossible to see and consider too many.
His health is poor.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Leonard Jenyns; Leonard Blomefield |
| Date: | 9 Apr [1858] |
| Classmark: | Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2253 |
To William Erasmus Darwin 11 [February 1858]
Summary
Writes of domestic matters
and asks WED to observe cart-horses for traces of dark stripes on spine and cross-stripes on shoulder.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | William Erasmus Darwin |
| Date: | 11 [Feb 1858] |
| Classmark: | DAR 210.6: 22 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2215 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … given by CD to the Museum of Practical Geology later in his life ( Meteyard 1875 , pp. …
From T. M. Brewer to A. A. Gould [March 1858]
Summary
Writes regarding CD’s query on yellow-billed cuckoo and the laying of eggs in other birds’ nests.
| Author: | Thomas Mayo Brewer |
| Addressee: | Augustus Addison Gould |
| Date: | [Mar 1858] |
| Classmark: | DAR 160: 305, 305/1, 305/2 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2421 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … tracts, and memoirs on zoology and geology. Edited and enlarged by Hugh Edwin Strickland. …
To Trenham Reeks? 10 March [1858]
Summary
Asks whether correspondent can assist in determining value of slate slabs with relief figures executed for Josiah Wedgwood [I].
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Trenham Reeks |
| Date: | 10 Mar [1858] |
| Classmark: | British Geological Survey Archives (GSM 1/501) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2236 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … librarian of the Museum of Practical Geology, had ‘a great knowledge of pottery’ ( Nature …
To Leonard Jenyns [28 April 1858]
Summary
Returns MS [of "Variation of species"]; several facts were new to him, especially interested in wagtails.
Wishes he could swallow Florent Prévost on sparrows ["Du régime alimentaire des oiseaux", C. R. Hebd. Acad. Sci. 46 (1858): 136–8].
LJ’s facts seem to bear out CD’s conclusion that secondary sexual characters were most variable of all.
Explains how he intends to deal with variation, and general facts in natural history in the light of species theory. Can only afford one chapter on variation in nature. It seems more important to make out variation in domestic animals.
Asks for facts on birds’ nests for his chapter on instincts.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Leonard Jenyns; Leonard Blomefield |
| Date: | [28 Apr 1858] |
| Classmark: | Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2264 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … how far general facts in Nat History & Geology seem best explained by each species having …
To a librarian [c. June 1858 or later]
Summary
Will return Benjamin Jowett’s Epistles of St Paul (Jowett 1855) and requests several books, of which the latest is Hugh Miller’s Cruise of the Betsey (Miller 1858).
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Librarian |
| Date: | [c. June 1858 or later] |
| Classmark: | Yale University, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library (James Marshall and Marie-Louise Osborn Collection: Edward G. and Hortense R. Levy Autograph Collection, Part 2 (OSB MSS 137) Box 25, folder 1188) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2199F |
Matches: 1 hit
- … in May 1858, was an account of Scottish geology, landscape, and current affairs (see …
To Asa Gray 11 August [1858]
Summary
Species migration since the Pliocene. Effect of the glacial epoch. Present geographical distribution, especially similarities of mountain floras, explained by such migration; mountain summits as remnants of a once continuous flora and fauna.
Cross-fertilisation in Fumariaceae.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Asa Gray |
| Date: | 11 Aug [1858] |
| Classmark: | Archives of the Gray Herbarium, Harvard University (42 and 9a) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2321 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … Britain, and of the Museum of Economic Geology in London 1: 336–432. Foundations : The …
From J. D. Hooker 15 January 1858
Summary
Has gone over to CD’s side on the fertilisation of clover in New Zealand by bees.
| Author: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 15 Jan 1858 |
| Classmark: | DAR 100: 120–1; L. Huxley ed. 1918, 1: 453 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2204 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … researches into the natural history and geology of the countries visited during the voyage …
From J. D. Hooker 22 December 1858
Summary
Would appreciate loan of CD’s chapter on transmigration across tropics, which may help with the difficulties of Australian distribution.
Still regards plant types as older than animal types.
The Cape of Good Hope and Australian temperate floras cannot be connected by the highlands of Abyssinia.
| Author: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 22 Dec 1858 |
| Classmark: | DAR 100: 128–30 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2382 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … 20’ brown crayon , circled brown crayon ; ‘& Geology’ brown crayon , underl brown crayon …
To J. D. Hooker 26 [April 1858]
Summary
Confidential revelation concerning W. F. Daniell.
Georg Hartung confirms CD’s supposition from flora of Azores that icebergs had been stranded there.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
| Date: | 26 [Apr 1858] |
| Classmark: | DAR 114: 232 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2263 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … they had carried out researches into the geology of the islands and of Madeira. Although …
To Leonard Jenyns 1 April [1858]
Summary
Thanks LJ for his book [Observations in meteorology (1858)].
CD has been working on his species book [Natural selection].
Has become dreadfully heterodox on immutability of species.
His work on pigeons: variation under domestication throws the greatest light on variation in a state of nature.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Leonard Jenyns; Leonard Blomefield |
| Date: | 1 Apr [1858] |
| Classmark: | Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2251 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … is to look at all facts in Nat. Hist & Geology under the two points of view,—has each …
From J. D. Hooker [26 December 1858]
Summary
JDH cannot abide CD’s connection of wide-ranging species and "highness". Australian flora contradicts this in many ways.
| Author: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | [26 Dec 1858] |
| Classmark: | DAR 100: 125–6 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2385 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … of ADC. where I indicate my views that Geology gives no evidence of a progression in …
To J. D. Hooker 24 December [1858]
Summary
Wide-ranging species more "improved" than relics in small areas because they exist in large numbers and thus are subject to intense competition.
His abstract is 330 folio pages long so far.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
| Date: | 24 Dec [1858] |
| Classmark: | DAR 114: 257 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2384 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … and sixth editions of Principles of geology (1837 and 1840) are in the Darwin Library–CUL. …
To Herbert Spencer 25 November [1858]
Summary
Thanks for HS’s Essays: [scientific, political, and speculative, vol. 1 (1858)]. Admires his general argument for the development theory.
CD is preparing an abstract on change of species. He treats subject as a naturalist, not from a general point of view. Otherwise he might have quoted HS’s argument to great advantage.
CD particularly liked articles on music and style. Expression is a favourite topic with CD. Agrees all expression is biological.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Herbert Spencer |
| Date: | 25 Nov [1858] |
| Classmark: | University of London, Senate House Library (MS.791/41) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2373 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … Charles Darwin’s notebooks, 1836–1844. Geology, transmutation of species, metaphysical …
| letter | (18) |
| Darwin, C. R. | (13) |
| Hooker, J. D. | (3) |
| Brewer, T. M. | (1) |
| Ramsay, A. C. | (1) |
| Darwin, C. R. | (4) |
| Blomefield, Leonard | (3) |
| Jenyns, Leonard | (3) |
| Darwin, W. E. | (2) |
| Hooker, J. D. | (2) |
| Darwin, C. R. | (17) |
| Hooker, J. D. | (5) |
| Blomefield, Leonard | (3) |
| Jenyns, Leonard | (3) |
| Darwin, W. E. | (2) |
Darwin & Geology
Summary
The lessons Darwin learned from Adam Sedgwick at Cambridge, and in the field in North Wales, stood him in good stead during the Beagle voyage. While he was attached to the Beagle from 1831 to 1835, Darwin actually spent about two-thirds of his time ashore,…
Matches: 8 hits
- … actually spent about two-thirds of his time ashore, where geology was his single most frequent …
- … and the coral reefs of the Pacific, Darwin’s notes on geology accumulated twice as fast as those on …
- … he believed the same basic processes that had shaped the geology of South America were also at work …
- … of the previous decade by publishing three volumes on the geology of the Beagle voyage, but as …
- … for further reading… On Darwin’s work in geology: Herbert, Sandra. 2005. …
- … A. 1991. The discovery of a vocation: Darwin’s early geology. British Journal for the History of …
- … of Science 9: 199–218. On the history of geology: Greene, Mott C. 1982. …
- … Laudan, Rachel. 1994 [1987]. From mineralogy to geology . Chicago: University of Chicago Press …
The geology of the Beagle voyage
Summary
The primary concern that linked much of Darwin’s geological work in the Beagle years was to understand the changing relation between the levels of land and sea. As he studied the shores of South America, and discovered shells inland at thousands of feet…
Darwin’s introduction to geology
Summary
Darwin collected minerals as a child and was introduced to the science of geology at the University of Edinburgh, but he only became actively interested in the subject as he was completing his degree at Cambridge.
Bibliography of Darwin’s geological publications
Summary
This list includes papers read by Darwin to the Geological Society of London, his books on the geology of the Beagle voyage, and other publications on geological topics. Author-date citations refer to entries in the Darwin Correspondence Project’s…
Matches: 10 hits
- … Darwin to the Geological Society of London, his books on the geology of the Beagle voyage, and …
- … and distribution of coral reefs. Being the first part of the geology of the voyage of the Beagle, …
- … of HMS Beagle, together with some brief notices on the geology of Australia and the Cape of Good …
- … observations on South America. Being the third part of the geology of the voyage of the Beagle, …
- … London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1846. [F273.] —On the geology of the Falkland Islands. …
- … [ Shorter publications , pp. 209-17. F1677.] —Geology. Section VI, pp. 156-95, in A …
- … for further reading… On Darwin’s work in geology: Herbert, Sandra. 2005. …
- … James A. 1991. The discovery of a vocation: Darwin’s early geology. British Journal for the …
- … of Science 9: 199–218. On the history of geology: Greene, Mott C. 1982. …
- … Laudan, Rachel. 1994 [1987]. From mineralogy to geology . Chicago: University of Chicago Press. …
Darwin in letters, 1847-1850: Microscopes and barnacles
Summary
Darwin's study of barnacles, begun in 1844, took him eight years to complete. The correspondence reveals how his interest in a species found during the Beagle voyage developed into an investigation of the comparative anatomy of other cirripedes and…
Matches: 8 hits
- … Hooker: ‘I hope this next summer to finish my S. American geology; then to get out a little zoology …
- … from these years and a series of interesting exchanges on geology with David Milne, Robert Chambers, …
- … through the mountains. Hooker writes of the complicated geology of the area, of the community of …
- … with which they had come to regard each other. Geology, and geological controversy …
- … Sir John Frederick William Herschel, to write the chapter on geology ( letter to J. F. W. Herschel, …
- … the zoological chapter, show how they divided the topics of geology and zoology between them. Owen …
- … contribute most to the leading questions of contemporary geology. Perhaps with himself in mind, he …
- … in the preparation of new editions of his Principles of geology and Manual of elementary …
Darwin in letters, 1837–1843: The London years to 'natural selection'
Summary
The seven-year period following Darwin's return to England from the Beagle voyage was one of extraordinary activity and productivity in which he became recognised as a naturalist of outstanding ability, as an author and editor, and as a professional…
Matches: 8 hits
- … on various subjects to major theoretical monographs in geology. In addition, he organised and …
- … and sold separately as Journal of researches into the geology and natural history of the various …
- … one of Darwin’s visits to Maer in Staffordshire. Geology Darwin’s work and …
- … an application of his Beagle work, and it too was in geology. In 1838 he set out on a geological …
- … of the Beagle voyage In addition to his work on geology Darwin undertook to provide a …
- … network that Darwin established as he worked on the geology and zoology of the voyage a most …
- … lately been sadly tempted to be idle, that is as far as pure geology is concerned, by the delightful …
- … these years was that it put an end to further field work in geology. From his South American days he …
The Lyell–Lubbock dispute
Summary
In May 1865 a dispute arose between John Lubbock and Charles Lyell when Lubbock, in his book Prehistoric times, accused Lyell of plagiarism. The dispute caused great dismay among many of their mutual scientific friends, some of whom took immediate action…
Matches: 4 hits
- … Lyell had begun work on a sixth edition of Elements of geology (C. Lyell 1865). At the same time …
- … book had been completed and set in type for Elements of geology in 1860 and then re-set in 1861 …
- … in 1860 for the sixth edition of the ‘ Elements of geology ’ 34 [C. Lyell 1865], and the …
- … , pp. lx–lxxv. Lyell, Charles. 1865. Elements of geology, or the ancient changes of the …
Commentary
Summary
This section provides pages of commentary on the following themes: Evolution Geology Life sciences Human nature Religion
Matches: 1 hits
- … on the following themes: Evolution Geology Life sciences …
Darwin & coral reefs
Summary
The central idea of Darwin's theory of coral reef formation, as it was later formulated, was that the islands were formed by the upward growth of coral as the Pacific Ocean floor gradually subsided. It overturned previous ideas and would in itself…
Darwin & the Geological Society
Summary
The science of geology in the early nineteenth century was a relatively new enterprise forged from the merging of several distinct traditions of inquiry, from mineralogy and the very practical business of mining, to theories of the earth’s origin and the…
Science, Work and Manliness
Summary
Discussion Questions|Letters In 1859, popular didactic writer William Landels published the first edition of what proved to be one of his best-selling works, How Men Are Made. "It is by work, work, work" he told his middle class audience, …
Darwin in letters, 1844–1846: Building a scientific network
Summary
The scientific results of the Beagle voyage still dominated Darwin's working life, but he broadened his continuing investigations into the nature and origin of species. Far from being a recluse, Darwin was at the heart of British scientific society,…
Matches: 3 hits
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: 26 hits
- … Natural History, and Journal of Zoology, Botany, Mineralogy, Geology and Meteorology ] read …
- … [Lisyansky 1814]— nothing Lyell’s Elements of Geology [Lyell 1838] Gibbon’s Life of …
- … my subjects Elie de Beaumont’s 2 vol of memoirs on Geology of France [Dufrénoy and Élie de …
- … life of Johnsons [Boswell 1831] 4 vols 25 Phillips Geology [J. Phillips 1837–9] Lardners 2 …
- … need not try them again. 18 th . Maclarens Geology of Fife [Maclaren 1839] References at …
- … Natural History, and Journal of Zoology, Botany, Mineralogy, Geology and Meteorology ] 4. Vol. …
- … the Horse [W. C. L. Martin 1845b] —— Hitchock’s Geology of Mass: [Hitchcock 1841] (skimmed) …
- … [DAR 119: 22a] 1849. Feb 8 th . Geology of Russia by Murchison. Veneuil &c …
- … of the Creator [H. Miller 1849] Dec. 10. Dana’s Geology. U.S. Expedition [J. D. Dana 1849] …
- … Sanatory Reform [Anon. 1850].— April 5 Manual of Geology Lyell [Lyell 1851] —— 30 …
- … it. & buy it.— 112 Jukes. “Students Manual of Geology” [Jukes 1857]— published a few …
- … Insects [T. W. Harris 1842] Jukes Student Manual of Geology [Jukes 1857] Azara’s …
- … the years 1797 and 1798, including observations on the geology and geography, the natural …
- … Library.] 119: 2a Buckland, William. 1836. Geology and mineralogy considered with …
- … *119: 3v.; 119: 5a Dana, James Dwight. 1849. Geology . Vol. 10 of United States …
- … New Zealand; with contributions to the geography, geology, botany, and natural history …
- … their scientific institutions, and a few notices of the geology and mineralogy of those …
- … Survey of Great Britain, and of the Museum of Practical Geology in London 2, pt 2: 457–82. …
- … Survey of Great Britain, and of the Museum of Practical Geology in London 2, pt 2: 483–534. …
- … or, original memoirs in medicine, surgery, physiology, geology, zoology, and comparative anatomy …
- … 13a Hitchcock, Edward. 1841. Final report on the geology of Massachusetts . 2 vols. …
- … 119: 20a ——. 1857. The student’s manual of geology. Edinburgh. [Darwin Library.] *128 …
- … 119: 3a Lyell, Charles. 1837. Principles of geology: being an inquiry how far the …
- … Library.] 119: 3a ——. 1838. Elements of geology . London. [Darwin Library.] 119: 2a …
- … 119: 16a ——. 1847. Principles of geology; or, the modern changes of the earth and its …
- … 22a Lyell, Charles. 1851. A manual of elementary geology; or, the ancient changes of …
Living and fossil cirripedia
Summary
Darwin published four volumes on barnacles, the crustacean sub-class Cirripedia, between 1851 and 1854, two on living species and two on fossil species. Written for a specialist audience, they are among the most challenging and least read of Darwin’s works…
John Murray
Summary
Darwin's most famous book On the origin of species by means of natural selection (Origin) was published on 22 November 1859. The publisher was John Murray, who specialised in non-fiction, particularly politics, travel and science, and had published…
Matches: 5 hits
- … as head of the business in 1843, had spent a year studying geology at Edinburgh University; as a …
- … he asked his friend Charles Lyell, whose Principles of geology (1830-3) had proved to be a …
- … contributed a section on using a microscope and a chapter on geology to A manual of scientific …
- … his authors and added Origin to his list: but although geology was his favourite hobby and he …
- … pseudonym ‘Verifier’ an essay entitled Scepticism in Geology (1877), an argument against Lyell’s …
Darwin’s earthquakes
Summary
Darwin experienced his first earthquake in 1834, but it was a few months later that he was really confronted with their power. Travelling north along the coast of Chile, Darwin and Robert FitzRoy, captain of HMS Beagle, were confronted with a series of…
Matches: 1 hits
- … the low coral islands of the Pacific Ocean, and even the geology of Europe. In his Red Notebook …
Journal of researches
Summary
Within two months of the Beagle’s arrival back in England in October 1836, Darwin, although busy with distributing his specimens among specialists for description, and more interested in working on his geological research, turned his mind to the task of…
Matches: 5 hits
- … with the new title Journal of Researches into the geology and natural history of the various …
- … of animals will occupy a large portion, sketches of the geology, the appearance of the country, and …
- … where he set out his views on human migration and reconciled geology with the Biblical account. ‘You …
- … food as an egg ’; William Henry Fitton considered the geology to be ‘excellent’ while relishing the …
- … title Journal of researches into the natural history and geology of the countries visited during …
Darwin & Glen Roy
Summary
Although Darwin was best known for his geological work in South America and other remote Beagle destinations, he made one noteworthy attempt to explain a puzzling feature of British geology. In 1838, two years after returning from the voyage, he travelled…
Matches: 1 hits
- … noteworthy attempt to explain a puzzling feature of British geology. In 1838, two years after …
Darwin in letters, 1821-1836: Childhood to the Beagle voyage
Summary
Darwin's first known letters were written when he was twelve. They continue through school-days at Shrewsbury, two years as a medical student at Edinburgh University, the undergraduate years at Cambridge, and the of the voyage of H.M.S. Beagle.…
Matches: 3 hits
Charles Lyell
Summary
As an author, friend and correspondent, Charles Lyell played a crucial role in shaping Darwin's scientific life. Born to a wealthy gentry family in Scotland in 1797, Lyell had a classical and legal education but by the 1820s had become entranced by…
