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Darwin Correspondence Project

To G. H. Darwin   23 November [1880]1

[Down.]

My dear George—

I am extremely glad about the ripples; but you do not explain how they form long, continuous lines. Do they start on any little projection, & do your eddies, acting laterally carry them on transversely to the stream.2

I cannot remember having seen drift snow rippled. I think that rippled sand has been seen at 20 fathoms depth, where the water was very clear near the Channel Islds— I daresay your visualising is correct—anyhow my memory now-a-days is worth nothing & I ought not to have trusted to it— If I have 12 hr. to spare I will look to photographs.—3 I heard from old Anthony Rich the other day & he says that “my friend, George, if he will permit me to call him so”, ought to spend the winter in Rome, as he found it did his health such wonderful good.—4

I am delighted to hear that light is dawning on the Planetary system in your eyes.—

How goes on the Pendulum.—5

Good night my dear George | C. D.—

Nov 23d.

Footnotes

The year is established by the relationship between this letter and the letter from G. H. Darwin, 19 November 1880.
CD had asked for details about George’s ripple theory in his letter of 20 November [1880]; George’s reply has not been found.
See letter from G. H. Darwin, 19 November 1880 and nn. 2 and 3. George had queried the source of some of the woodcuts in Movement in plants.
Rich wrote ‘my “friend George” (if he will consent to accept that title)’ (see letter from Anthony Rich, 20 November [1880]).
George and Horace Darwin were constructing a pendulum to measure the lunar disturbance of gravity (G. H. Darwin 1907–16, 5: l; see letter from G. H. Darwin, 27 July 1880 and n. 3).

Bibliography

Darwin, George Howard. 1907–16. Scientific papers. 5 vols. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Summary

Discusses GHD’s ripple theory. Asks him how they are formed.

Delighted to hear that light is dawning in GHD’s eyes on the planetary system.

Letter details

Letter no.
DCP-LETT-12844
From
Charles Robert Darwin
To
George Howard Darwin
Sent from
Down
Source of text
DAR 210.1: 99
Physical description
ALS 2pp

Please cite as

Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 12844,” accessed on 28 March 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-12844.xml

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