From James Geikie 15 December 1881
Summary
Seeks a testimonial for the Chair of Geology at Edinburgh.
| Author: | James Murdoch (James) Geikie |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 15 Dec 1881 |
| Classmark: | DAR 202: 103 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13552 |
To James Geikie [after 15 December 1881]
Summary
Testimonial letter stating his belief in JG’s suitability for the Chair of Geology at Edinburgh.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | James Murdoch (James) Geikie |
| Date: | [after 15 Dec 1881] |
| Classmark: | DAR 202: 103v |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13553 |
To John Lubbock [18 September 1881]
Summary
JL’s address [Presidential Address, 31 Aug 1881, Rep. BAAS (1881): 1–51] has made him think about important steps in advancing geology. Lists major advances in his lifetime.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | John Lubbock, 4th baronet and 1st Baron Avebury |
| Date: | [18 Sept 1881] |
| Classmark: | DAR 261.7: 11 (EH 88205936) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13308 |
Matches: 4 hits
- … think about important steps in advancing geology. Lists major advances in his lifetime. …
- … over what have been the great steps in Geology during the last 50 years, & there can be no …
- … cannot remember what you have said on Geology. — I suppose that the classification of the …
- … which included a summary of advances in geology over the past fifty years (see Lubbock …
From Francisco de Arruda Furtado 29 July 1881
Summary
Many thanks for CD’s advice and suggestions. His letter is a great source of encouragement.
| Author: | Francisco de Arruda Furtado |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 29 July 1881 |
| Classmark: | DAR 159: 114a |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13258 |
Matches: 5 hits
- … to England in 1836. CD described the geology of the area briefly in his diary of the …
- … together with some brief notices on the geology of Australia and the Cape of Good Hope. …
- … Being the second part of the geology of the voyage of the Beagle, under the command of …
- … 2d ed. ). Volcanic islands does describe the geology of Terceira, but does not note the …
- … researches into the natural history and geology of the countries visited during the voyage …
To T. H. Huxley 22 January 1881
Summary
Asks THH to sign a certificate of nomination to Geological Society for his son William, if an interest in geology is still enough to qualify for election.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Thomas Henry Huxley |
| Date: | 22 Jan 1881 |
| Classmark: | Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine Archives (Huxley 5: 358) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13023 |
To John Lubbock 6 November 1881
Summary
Supports the statements on Henry Hicks in JL’s address.
Bonney is an "objector general".
CD has always supported A. C. Ramsay.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | John Lubbock, 4th baronet and 1st Baron Avebury |
| Date: | 6 Nov 1881 |
| Classmark: | The British Library (Add MS 49645: 104–5) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13463 |
From J. D. Hooker 4 August 1881
Summary
Outlines address to York BAAS meeting on history of geographical distribution. Organising theme: advancement in this science based on ideas enunciated by scientific voyagers. Asks CD’s advice.
| Author: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 4 Aug 1881 |
| Classmark: | DAR 104: 154–7 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13272 |
Matches: 4 hits
- … the third edition of Principles of geology ( C. Lyell 1834–5 , 3: 376; Hooker 1881 , p. …
- … Britain, and of the Museum of Economic Geology in London 1: 336–432. Gray, Asa. 1858–9. …
- … Press. Lyell, Charles. 1834–5. Principles of geology: or, the modern changes of the earth …
- … its inhabitants, considered as illustrative of geology . 3d edition. 4 vols. London: John …
From J. D. Hooker 11 August 1881
Summary
Working on York BAAS address; finds CD’s comments helpful. JDH writes detailed response and expansion.
| Author: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 11 Aug 1881 |
| Classmark: | DAR 104: 158–61 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13286 |
To Alexander Agassiz 5 May 1881
Summary
Responds to comments on geology of Florida.
Discusses coral reefs and paper by John Murray ["On the structure and origin of coral reefs and islands", Proc. R. Soc. Edinburgh 10 (1880): 505–18].
Comments on AA’s paper ["Paleontological and embryological development", Proc. Am. Assoc. Adv. Sci. 29 (1880): 389–414].
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Alexander Agassiz |
| Date: | 5 May 1881 |
| Classmark: | DAR 143: 11 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13145 |
From James Geikie 10 October 1881
Summary
Thanks for Earthworms.
Terraces on the Cheviot Hills.
| Author: | James Murdoch (James) Geikie |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 10 Oct 1881 |
| Classmark: | DAR 165: 33 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13388 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … Appendix IV). Geikie had written on the geology of the Cheviot Hills in 1876 ( J. Geikie …
To Nature 7 November [1881]
Summary
Summarises letter of William Nation [13350]. The facts given strongly support the conclusion that there is some close connection between the parasitic habits of birds that lay their eggs in others’ nests and the fact of their laying eggs at "considerable intervals of time".
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Nature |
| Date: | 7 Nov [1881] |
| Classmark: | Nature, 17 November 1881, p. 51 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13471 |
From James Geikie 19 December 1881
Summary
Thanks CD for his support.
| Author: | James Murdoch (James) Geikie |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 19 Dec 1881 |
| Classmark: | DAR 165: 34 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13567 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … the event, Geikie became professor of geology at Edinburgh University , while Henry Hyatt …
To Francisco de Arruda Furtado 3 and 6 July 1881
Summary
Thanks Fd’AF for his interesting letter. CD suggests observations it would be worth making [in the Azores] although he is too old to make any direct use of them. Fauna and flora of different islands should be compared and the plants and animals from all high mountain summits collected. Suggests Fd’AF investigate the presence of glacial deposits and fossils on the islands. Survival of eggs in salt-water should be tested, as the wide distribution of lizards, land molluscs, and earthworms is a perplexing problem.
Will be very glad to read the essays Fd’AF sent.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Francisco de Arruda Furtado |
| Date: | 3 and 6 July 1881 |
| Classmark: | Historical Archive of the Museums of the University of Lisbon (PT/MUL/FAF/C/01/0017) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13231 |
To ? 23 November 1881
Summary
Sends copies of Variation, Descent, and Journal of researches from "the library of my late brother".
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Unidentified |
| Date: | 23 Nov 1881 |
| Classmark: | Charles Hamilton (dealer) (29 January 1970) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13507 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … of researches : Journal of researches into the geology and natural history of the various …
To V. O. Kovalevsky 1 and 6 January 1881
Summary
Thanks VOK for the Russian tea.
Rejoices at his prosperity and appointment at Moscow [Associate Professor, Moscow University, 1880–3].
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Vladimir Onufrievich Kovalevsky (Владимир Онуфриевич Ковалевский) |
| Date: | 1 and 6 Jan 1881 |
| Classmark: | Institut Mittag-Leffler (Sophie Kowalevski collections, box 3) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-12963 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … had been appointed associate professor of geology at Moscow University (see ibid. , letter …
To Alexander Agassiz 1 [June] 1881
Summary
Thanks AA for letter on coral reefs. "I used to think … that areas of elevation and of subsidence must – as a general rule be separated by a single great line of fissure, or rather of several".
Suggests that AA urge again his views on reappearance of old characters.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Alexander Agassiz |
| Date: | 1 [June] 1881 |
| Classmark: | DAR 143: 10 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-12965 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … South America. Being the third part of the geology of the voyage of the Beagle, under the …
To J. D. Hooker 6 August 1881
Summary
Responds to JDH’s outline history of plant geography.
Considers Humboldt the "greatest scientific traveller who ever lived".
Discusses the origin and rapid radiation of angiosperms in Cretaceous period.
Comments on importance of work of Alphonse de Candolle, Saporta, Axel Blytt.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
| Date: | 6 Aug 1881 |
| Classmark: | DAR 95: 518–23 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13277 |
To K. M. Lyell 20 November 1881
Summary
Thanks for Life, letters and journals of Sir Charles Lyell, Bart. (K. M. Lyell ed. 1881), but he has already ordered a copy. Can he send the ordered copy to her to give to another, or can he send it on her behalf?
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Katharine Murray Horner; Katharine Murray Lyell |
| Date: | 20 Nov 1881 |
| Classmark: | Kinnordy MS (private collection) (Sold at Sotheby’s (dealers), 9–10 July 2018, lot 375) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13492F |
Matches: 1 hit
- … noted the influence of Lyell’s Principles of geology on his early geological work and his …
From W. P. Snow 21 November 1881
Summary
Is planning a revised edition of his Cruise in Tierra del Fuego [1857], and finds his opinions on the natives the reverse of CD’s.
Hopes he may call some time.
| Author: | William Parker Snow |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 21 Nov 1881 |
| Classmark: | DAR 177: 214 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13495 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … of researches : Journal of researches into the geology and natural history of the various …
From C. E. Södling 14 October 1881
Summary
Sends a likeness [missing] of a monstrous woman who may be considered as "Darwin’s lost link".
| Author: | Carl Erik Södling |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 14 Oct 1881 |
| Classmark: | DAR 177: 216 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13157 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … researches into the natural history and geology of the countries visited during the voyage …
| letter | (37) |
| Darwin, C. R. | (17) |
| Geikie, James | (3) |
| Hooker, J. D. | (3) |
| Arruda Furtado, Francisco de | (2) |
| Carus, J. V. | (1) |
| Darwin, C. R. | (20) |
| Agassiz, Alexander | (2) |
| Hooker, J. D. | (2) |
| Lubbock, John | (2) |
| Arruda Furtado, Francisco de | (1) |
| Darwin, C. R. | (37) |
| Hooker, J. D. | (5) |
| Geikie, James | (4) |
| Arruda Furtado, Francisco de | (3) |
| Agassiz, Alexander | (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…
