From Grant Allen 12 February 1879
Summary
Has sent copy of his new book, Colour-sense [1879]; in anticipation of criticism, he justifies his reliance on recorded observations rather than experiments, by the heavy demands of his career as a journalist.
Author: | Charles Grant Blairfindie (Grant) Allen |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 12 Feb 1879 |
Classmark: | DAR 159: 43 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-11873 |
From Grant Allen 21 February [1879]
Summary
Thanks for criticisms of Colour-sense.
Clarifies his views that actions desirable for species result in development of nervous organs capable of pleasurable stimulation.
Believes that all "tastes" occurring in nature are explicable with reference to ancestral habits and that none is purely arbitrary.
Author: | Charles Grant Blairfindie (Grant) Allen |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 21 Feb [1879] |
Classmark: | DAR 159: 44 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-11894 |
From Grant Allen 29 May 1879
Summary
Thanks for postcard informing him of Delboeuf’s review of his book; he had already seen review.
Author: | Charles Grant Blairfindie (Grant) Allen |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 29 May 1879 |
Classmark: | DAR 159: 45 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-12068 |
To Grant Allen [before 21 February 1879]
Summary
Read GA’s book [The colour-sense] with "great interest". Makes criticisms and suggestions.
Cannot believe in GA’s theory of the origin of pleasure and pain.
Is glad he defends sexual selection;
CD finds A. R. Wallace’s explanations "mere empty words" and for many years he has "quite doubted [ARW’s] scientific judgment".
Considers the possible effect of environmental colour on the colour tastes of animals.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Charles Grant Blairfindie (Grant) Allen |
Date: | [before 21 Feb 1879] |
Classmark: | Cleveland Health Sciences Library (Robert M. Stecher collection) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-11891 |
To Grant Allen 2 [May] 1879
Summary
Has just read GA’s article in Fortnightly Review ["A problem of human evolution", 31 (1879): 778–86]. GA’s views very probable. Something wonderful to hear anyone defending sexual selection.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Charles Grant Blairfindie (Grant) Allen |
Date: | 2 [May] 1879 |
Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-11967 |
To Grant Allen 26 May [1879]
Summary
Has GA seen an article on GA’s Colour-sense by a great man, J. R. L. Delboeuf, in Revue Scientifique 24 May 1879? It has pleased CD greatly.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Charles Grant Blairfindie (Grant) Allen |
Date: | 26 May [1879] |
Classmark: | Cleveland Health Sciences Library (Robert M. Stecher collection) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-12062 |
letter | (6) |
Allen, Grant | (3) |
Darwin, C. R. | (3) |