To Richard Owen1 [November 1847–51]2
before3 of Whewell having scolded you; I am rather glad of it, as it shows that this typical Don feels the pressure from without.—4
What a grand number of novelties Hooker no doubt will bring home.5
Ever yours | C. Darwin
Footnotes
The original has a notation: ‘Part of a letter to Professor Owen’. The ascription is likely, but no corroboration of the reference to William Whewell’s ‘scolding’ has been found. Whewell and Owen had been schoolfellows at the Blue School, Lancaster, and were lifelong friends.
Dated by CD’s reference to Joseph Dalton Hooker’s expedition to India, 1847–51.
‘I had not heard’ was inserted preceding ‘before’, presumably by Richard Owen.
This may refer to Whewell’s reaction to those who wanted to reform the university curriculum to provide a greater emphasis on the study of science at Cambridge. Whewell had earlier criticised Charles Lyell’s chapter on university education in Travels in North America (C. Lyell 1845; Whewell 1845, ch. 2, sec. 2). See letter to Charles Lyell, [2 June 1847], and K. M. Lyell ed. 1881, 2: 127.
Hooker sailed for India on 11 November 1847.
Bibliography
Whewell, William. 1845. Of a liberal education in general; and with particular reference to the leading studies of the University of Cambridge. London.
Summary
"I had not heard before of Whench [Whewell?] having scolded you; I am rather glad of it …
What a grand number of novelties Hooker no doubt will bring home".
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-13833
- From
- Charles Robert Darwin
- To
- Richard Owen
- Sent from
- unstated
- Source of text
- John K. Lattimer (private collection)
- Physical description
- ALS ** 1p inc
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 13833,” accessed on 18 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-13833.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 4
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