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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: 26 hits

… on the topic. Lyell also added the following note on page 11 : *Mr. John Lubbock published …
… 2 have struck out Galton & Prestwich at p. 11 who will be surprisd [ sic ] to …
… discussed the book in correspondence with Joseph Dalton Hooker, Asa Gray, and Huxley but he never …
… complaint about the book was more personal. He confided to Hooker that he was ‘deeply disappointed’ …
… but had tried, indirectly, to influence him. He told Hooker: 10 Do see Falconer …
… Falconer to tone down his attack on Lyell and agreed, on Hooker’s advice, to soften a passage in the …
… had done ‘an injustice’ to Falconer and Prestwich. 11 In the same review Lubbock expressed …
… he took exception to the wording of the note on p. 11 of C. Lyell 1863c, which implied that Lubbock …
… The statement made by Sir Charles Lyell, in a note to page 11 of his work, that my article on the …
… allude to Sir C’s explanation of the matter’. 23 Hooker, who had also been sent copies of the …
… have given Lyell’s explanation in print, he disagreed with Hooker’s assessment of Lubbock’s note, …
… his admiration for Lubbock’s book ( letter to J. D. Hooker, [4 June 1865] ). A week later he sent …
… of the note in the preface (letter to John Lubbock, 11 June [1865] ). No correspondence with …
… wished to avoid direct involvement in the dispute. When Hooker pressed him for an opinion ( letter …
… Huxley in June and July and had seen Huxley’s letter to Hooker about the affair, 24 he does …
… the dispute. Lubbock continued to seek advice from Huxley, Hooker, and other X-club friends 25 …
… of the preface of C. Lyell 1863c and reworded the note on p. 11 . Unlike the earlier …
… Lyell revised both the preface and the note on page 11 of the third edition of Antiquity of man …
… versions of the end of the preface and of the note on page 11 are included below. Preface, C …
… as well as of the subsequent issues.” Note on page 11 , C. Lyell 1863c (original version) …
… made by him in company with Mr. Busk. Note on page 11 , C. Lyell 1863c (revised version) …
… in Letters, 1863 , (introduction to Correspondence vol. 11 , pp. xv–xvii). For a comparison of …
… 1984, pp. 154–9. 7. See Correspondence vol. 11 , letter to J. D. Hooker, 24[–5] …
… Bartholomew 1973. 8. See Correspondence vol. 11 , letter to Charles Lyell, 6 March …
… vol. 14, doc. 183–4). 15. Letter from T. H. Huxley, 7 March 1865, in BL MSS ADD 49641. …
… 1851–1864. Isis 89: 410–44. Bynum, William F. 1984. Charles Lyell’s Antiquity of man …

Darwin in letters, 1863: Quarrels at home, honours abroad

Summary

At the start of 1863, Charles Darwin was actively working on the manuscript of The variation of animals and plants under domestication, anticipating with excitement the construction of a hothouse to accommodate his increasingly varied botanical experiments…

Matches: 16 hits

… Quadrumanum animal’, as he put it in a letter to J. D. Hooker of 24[–5] February [1863] . When …
… the origin of species particularly, worried Darwin; he told Hooker that he had once thought Lyell …
… regarding species change ( letter from Charles Lyell, 11 March 1863 ). The botanist Asa Gray, …
… by descent put him ‘into despair’ ( letter to Asa Gray, 11 May [1863] ). In the same letter, he …
… lack of expertise in the subject. ‘The worst of it is’, Hooker wrote to Darwin, ‘I suppose it is …
… credit to his own research and that of Joseph Prestwich. Hooker wrote: ‘I fear L. will get scant …
… had contributed to the proofs of human antiquity. Darwin and Hooker repeatedly exchanged regrets …
… bottom of seas, lakes, and rivers ( Correspondence vol. 11, Appendix VII). Quarrels at …
… Academy of Sciences, Berlin (see Correspondence vol. 11, Appendix III), and of the Société des …
… unsuccessful ( see letter from E. A. Darwin to Emma Darwin, 11 November [1863] ). The council of …
… to J. D. Hooker, [9 May 1863] , and memorandum from G. H. Darwin, [before 11 May 1863]) . …
… to drive the quietest man mad’ ( letter to Asa Gray, 11 May [1863] ). Hooker and Gray agreed …
… tropical plants than before (see Correspondence vol. 11, Appendix VI). He was fascinated with …
… pistils mature at different times ( see letter to Asa Gray, 11 May [1863] ). The fertility of …
… ‘Crossing & Sterility’ (see Correspondence vol. 11, Appendix II). When Darwin finished, by …
… animal suffering caused by them (see Correspondence vol. 11, Appendix IX). Francis Darwin later …

Darwin in letters, 1874: A turbulent year

Summary

The year 1874 was one of consolidation, reflection, and turmoil for Darwin. He spent the early months working on second editions of Coral reefs and Descent of man; the rest of the year was mostly devoted to further research on insectivorous plants. A…

Matches: 26 hits

… backwards much more than forwards’ ( letter to W. D. Fox, 11 May [1874] ). I feel …
… to believe in such rubbish’, he confided to Joseph Dalton Hooker ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 18 …
… Williams was ‘a cheat and an imposter’ ( letter from T. H. Huxley, 27 January 1874 ). Darwin …
… he was thus free to perform his antics’ ( letter to T. H. Huxley, 29 January [1874] ). This did …
… the publishers, he applied first to his friend Joseph Dalton Hooker, and finally borrowed one from …
… sweetly all the horrid bother of correction’ ( letter to H. E. Litchfield, 21 [March 1874] ). The …
… I have pounded the enemy into a jelly’ ( letter from T. H. Huxley, 14 April 1874 ). The technical …
… and never mind where it goes’ ( letter from T. H. Huxley, 16 April 1874 ). The second …
… subsequent print runs would be very good ( letter from R. F. Cooke, 12 November 1874 ). …
… conciseness & clearness of your thought’ ( letter from G. H. Darwin, 20 April 1874 ). …
… the spread of various mental and physical disorders (G. H. Darwin 1873b). In July 1874, an anonymous …
… over the ‘scurrilous libel’ on his son ( letter to G. H. Darwin, [27 July 1874] ). George, …
… review me in a hostile spirit’ ( letter to John Murray, 11 August 1874 ). Darwin was …
… Correspondence vol. 20, letter to St G. J. Mivart, 11 January [1872] ). To Darwin’s relief, …
… views. In December, he sought advice from Huxley and Hooker, sending them a draft letter that …
… had written the article ( enclosure to letter from J. D. Hooker, 21 December 1874 ). Huxley’s …
… to write to Mivart directly after he knew the full result of Hooker’s and Huxley’s representations ( …
… the moment of being hatched ( letter to Nature , 7 and 11 May [1874] ; Spalding 1872a). …
… & that must be enough for me’ ( letter to W. D. Fox, 11 May [1874] ). Plants that eat . …
… cartilage, bone & meat &c. &c.’ ( letter to W. D. Fox, 11 May [1874] ). His research …
… Correspondence vol. 21, letter from Francis Darwin, [11 October 1873] ). Darwin wasted …
… more in my life than this day’s work’ ( letter to D. F. Nevill, 18 September [1874] ).Francis’s …
… structure and mechanism that Darwin agreed with ( letter to F. J. Cohn, 12 October 1874 ). Darwin …
… she valued the photograph he sent highly ( letter from D. F. Nevill, [11 September 1874] ). …
… of his children shedding tears as tiny babies ( letter from F. S. B. François de Chaumont, 29 April …
… edition was published in January 1875 ( letter from C.-F. Reinwald , 4 February 1874 ). Barbier …

Darwin in letters, 1865: Delays and disappointments

Summary

The year was marked by three deaths of personal significance to Darwin: Hugh Falconer, a friend and supporter; Robert FitzRoy, captain of the Beagle; and William Jackson Hooker, director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and father of Darwin’s friend…

Matches: 22 hits

… for evaluation, and persuaded his friend Joseph Dalton Hooker to comment on a paper on Verbascum …
… committed suicide at the end of April; and William Jackson Hooker, director of the Royal Botanic …
… thriving, and when illness made work impossible, Darwin and Hooker read a number of novels, and …
… at home: they make the house jolly’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 7 January [1865] ). Darwin was ready …
… friend to me. So the world goes.—’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 2 February [1865] ). However, Hooker, …
… & pains: these alone are unalloyed’ ( letter from J. D. Hooker, 3 February 1865 ). …
… transit gloria mundi, with a vengeance’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 9 February [1865] ). …
… of finding a doctor who could ease his symptoms. He wrote to Hooker for recommendations but added, …
… Darwin had given it up by early July ( see letter to J. D. Hooker, [10 July 1865] ). In …
… the improvement to Jones’s diet ( see letter to T. H. Huxley, 4 October [1865] ). It was not until …
… to write about an hour on most days’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 22 December [1865] ). Delays …
… to bear the expense of the woodcuts ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 7 January [1865] ). After sending …
… the whole subject like tartar emetic’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 19 January [1865] ). An …
… when John Scott, a protégé of Darwin’s whom Darwin and Hooker had recently helped to find employment …
… Scott, 19 November [1862] ). Darwin had already written to Hooker of Gärtner’s experiments: ‘I do …
… arising’ ( Correspondence vol. 9, letter to J. D. Hooker, 28 September [1861] ). Scott …
… ). This may have been unwise: Thomas Thomson, a friend of Hooker’s, described by him as a …
… Scott’s ‘industry & ability’ ( letter from J. D. Hooker, [10 March 1865] ). Scott took these …
… hang on it a good many groups of facts.’ ( Letter to T. H. Huxley, 27 May [1865] .) The …
… humans (see Correspondence vol. 10, letter from J. H. Balfour, 14 January 1862 ). According …
… interest in Darwin’s theory ( Correspondence vol. 11 , letter from J. D. Hooker, 10 June 1863 ) …
… a trying year. In January he had influenza ( letter from F. H. Hooker, [27 January 1865] ); before …

Darwin's 1874 letters go online

Summary

The full transcripts and footnotes of over 600 letters to and from Charles Darwin in 1874 are published online for the first time. You can read about Darwin's life in 1874 through his letters and see a full list of the letters. The 1874 letters…

Matches: 6 hits

… of [a] lying scoundrel.— ( Letter to G. H. Darwin, 1 August [1874] ) The …
… as not signifying so much. ( Letter to W. D. Fox, 11 May [1874] ) At the age of 65, …
… & that must be enough for me ( Letter to W. D. Fox, 11 May [1874] ) During the …
… times more time than the positive ( Letter to J. D. Hooker, 30 August [1874] ) – he …
… more in my life than this day’s work ( Letter to D. F. Nevill, 18 September [1874] ) …
… the work which you have to do— ( Letter to J. D. Hooker, 30 November [1874] ) Darwin …

Darwin in letters, 1877: Flowers and honours

Summary

Ever since the publication of Expression, Darwin’s research had centred firmly on botany. The year 1877 was no exception. The spring and early summer were spent completing Forms of flowers, his fifth book on a botanical topic. He then turned to the…

Matches: 18 hits

… & stigmas’, Darwin remarked to Joseph Dalton Hooker on 25 January . He had been troubling …
… the popularity of his book, writing to Robert Cooke on 11 April , ‘though I believe it is of …
… He requested a large number of plants from Hooker on 25 May , adding, ‘I often wish that I could …
… on leaves and the distribution of the stomata’ (F. Darwin 1886). Alongside his work on bloom, …
… warned Thiselton-Dyer, who seems to have shared Hooker’s suspicion of ambitious gardeners ( letter …
… for extended periods. In a letter to Thiselton-Dyer of 11 October , Darwin described how the …
… to the Royal Society of London by Darwin, who confessed to Hooker on 25 January , ‘I know that it …
… stimulate his zeal & make him think better of his work’. Hooker replied on 2 March , ‘I …
… the vibratory flagella of some Infusoria’ ( letter from F. J. Cohn, 5 August 1877 ). Francis’s …
… Charles Darwin and Ernst Haeckel). Writing to Darwin on 11 March 1877 , Krause declared the …
… visits from distinguished persons. Gladstone came to Down on 11 March. ‘I expected a stern, …
… as butter’ ( letter to C. E. Norton, 16 March 1877 ). Hooker was asked repeatedly by the emperor …
… himself you & me to dejeuner!!!’ ( letter from J. D. Hooker, 14 June 1877 ). Darwin was …
… not been a difficulty to me,’ he replied to Romanes on 11 June , ‘as I have never believed in a …
… that they become quite tipsy’ ( letter to W. M. Moorsom, 11 September [1877] ). Moorsom replied …
… to the mark hereafter is another question’ ( letter to G. H. Darwin, 30 May [1877] ). In the end, …
… 2: 230), and he later described the event to Hyacinth Hooker on 18 November 1877 : ‘There was a …
… between sagging of pavemts & castings’ ( letter to G. H. Darwin, 21 November [1877] ). It is …

Darwin in letters, 1872: Job done?

Summary

'My career’, Darwin wrote towards the end of 1872, 'is so nearly closed. . . What little more I can do, shall be chiefly new work’, and the tenor of his correspondence throughout the year is one of wistful reminiscence, coupled with a keen eye…

Matches: 22 hits

… set the final price at 7 s. 6 d. ( letter from R. F. Cooke, 12 February 1872 ). …
… unpublished at the end of the year ( letter from C.-F. Reinwald, 23 November 1872 ). To …
… St George Jackson Mivart ( letter to St G. J. Mivart, 11 January [1872] ). A worsening …
… Mivart not to acknowledge it ( letter to St G. J. Mivart, 11 January [1872] ). 'I hate …
… the theories of natural and sexual selection to bees (H. Müller 1872), and with his reply Darwin …
… for myself it is dreadful doing nothing’ ( letter to T. H. Huxley, 22 October [1872] ). He was far …
… attacks on Darwin became notorious, had written on 11 May expressing concern that his recently, …
… from his ignorance, he feels no doubts’ ( letter to F. C. Donders, 17 June 1872 ). Right up to the …
… by her husband, Richard Buckley Litchfield ( letter to H. E. Litchfield, 13 May 1872 ). Delivery …
… 'I know that I am half-killed myself’ ( letter to H. E. Litchfield, 25 July 1872 ). A …
… dispute involving his close friend Joseph Dalton Hooker came to a head. Hooker, director of the …
… system in the glasshouses had escalated to the point where Hooker applied over Ayrton’s head direct …
… your enemies be cursed, is my pious frame of mind Hooker’s cause was taken up by his …
… the independence of science from bureaucratic interference. Hooker had kept Darwin well informed: …
… Charlton Bastian’s recent book on the origin of life (H. C. Bastian 1872; Wallace 1872d) left him …
… agreed to let them have it for love!!!’ ( letter from R. F. Cooke, 1 August 1872 ). It had …
… & have not taken care of ourselves’ ( letter from R. F. Cooke, 20 November 1872 ). A …
… in the face of a disappointed public ( letter from R. F. Cooke, 25 November 1872 ). Among those …
… Mary Lloyd, were vying to read it first ( letter from F. P. Cobbe, [26 November 1872] ). …
… darkness by an industrial strike ( letter from R. F. Cooke, 6 December 1872 ). Caught out by the …
… pleasant letters & never answer them’ ( letter to T. H. Huxley, 22 October [1872] ). But not …
… reward to which any scientific man can look’ ( letter to F. C. Donders, 29 April [1872] ). …

Darwin in letters, 1876: In the midst of life

Summary

1876 was the year in which the Darwins became grandparents for the first time. And tragically lost their daughter-in-law, Amy, who died just days after her son's birth. All the letters from 1876 are now published in volume 24 of The Correspondence…

Matches: 8 hits

… to think of the future’, Darwin confessed to William on 11 September just hours after Amy’s …
… for 3 February, Darwin reassured his close friend Joseph Hooker that he and Francis would attend the …
… shoemaker and ardent naturalist Thomas Edward ( letter from F. M. Balfour, 11 December 1876 ; …
… researcher, and sympathised with his close friends Joseph Hooker and Asa Gray, whose situations …
… Darwin wrote to Gray on 28 January . On 14 November, Hooker himself acknowledged he was ‘ over …
… who died at the age of 10 in 1851, but William, who was 11 years old at the time of her death, would …
… you are one of the best of all’ ( letter to W. E. Darwin, 11 September [1876] ). …
… he will do I cannot conceive’, Darwin wrote anxiously to Hooker on 11 September. By the time …

Darwin in letters, 1871: An emptying nest

Summary

The year 1871 was an extremely busy and productive one for Darwin, with the publication in February of his long-awaited book on human evolution, Descent of man. The other main preoccupation of the year was the preparation of his manuscript on expression.…

Matches: 8 hits

… be well abused’, he wrote to his friend Joseph Dalton Hooker on 21 January , ‘for as my son Frank …
… the proof-sheets, rather than waiting for the bound copies. Hooker suggested one of the reasons …
… Arthur Nicols, 7 March 1871 ; letter from B. J. Sulivan, 11 March 1871 ; letter from Hermann …
… tell heavily against natural selection’, Darwin wrote to Hooker on 21 January . Darwin read the …
… arrogant, odious beast that ever lived,’ Darwin wrote to Hooker on 16 September . Darwin …
… laughing. crying grinning pouting &c. &c’, he wrote to Hooker on 21 March . Darwin …
… in June, and was married on 31 August. Darwin remarked to Hooker on 23 July , ‘her loss will be …
… a ‘venerable old Ape’ ( letter from D. Thomas, [after 11 March 1871] ). Descent and …

Darwin in letters, 1869: Forward on all fronts

Summary

At the start of 1869, Darwin was hard at work making changes and additions for a fifth edition of Origin. He may have resented the interruption to his work on sexual selection and human evolution, but he spent forty-six days on the task. Much of the…

Matches: 21 hits

… he remarked to his best friend, the botanist Joseph Dalton Hooker, ‘If I lived 20 more years, & …
… it is a beginning, & that is something’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, [22 January 1869] ). …
… Darwin sent a manuscript of his response (now missing) to Hooker, remarking: ‘I should be extremely …
… as is very likely to be the case’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 13 January 1869 ). Hooker went …
… principle (Nägeli 1865, pp. 28–9). In further letters, Hooker tried to provide Darwin with botanical …
… retrench that position following criticism from his friend Hooker, by admitting that the survival of …
… been less deferential towards [Thomson]’ ( letter to T. H. Huxley, 19 March [1869] ). …
… males & females, cocks & hens.—’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 13 November [1869] ). Yet …
… fossil discoveries in Patagonia and Wales ( letter from T. H. Huxley, 7 May 1869 , letter from W …
… that Darwin had investigated in depth ( letter from C. F. Claus, 6 February 1869 ). In a letter to …
… commentary (Royer trans. 1870). Darwin complained to Hooker, ‘Besides her enormously long & …
… to translate “Domestic Animals”’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 19 November [1869] ). Angered by these …
… by Anglican clergymen in the biology section of the meeting. Hooker described the session with some …
… boiling oil over the bumptious man’ ( letter from J. D. Hooker, 7 September 1869 ). Huxley …
… fools of themselves than they did’ ( letter from T. H. Huxley, 28 September 1869 ). …
… which … I do not care to follow him’ ( letter from T. H. Farrer, 9 October 1869 ). Farrer ventured …
… and Will and High Design—’ (letter from T. H. Farrer, 13 October 1869). Darwin was …
… Nature , the first issue of which appeared in November. Hooker was initially disappointed with it, …
… suggestions to its publisher, Macmillan ( letter from J. D. Hooker, 14 November 1869 ). Darwin …
… to set foot on summit of a mountain.—’ ( letter to T. H. Huxley, 9 July [1869] ). Earlier …
… experiments on rabbits ( letter from Francis Galton, 11 December 1869 ). This was the beginning of …

Cross and self fertilisation

Summary

The effects of cross and self fertilisation in the vegetable kingdom, published on 10 November 1876, was the result of a decade-long project to provide evidence for Darwin’s belief that ‘‘Nature thus tells us, in the most emphatic manner, that she abhors…

Matches: 17 hits

… his results. In March 1867, he told his close friend Joseph Hooker, ‘The only fact which I have …
… by a cross between two distinct plants’ ( To J. D. Hooker, 17 March [1867] ). He noted another …
… flower. ‘How utterly mysterious it is’, he reported to Hooker, ‘that there sh d be some …
… impotence when taken from the same plant!’ ( To J. D. Hooker, 21 May [1868] ) Pollen tubes, or …
… relationship had lessened the fertility of the offspring (F. Müller 1868b, p. 629). Darwin urged …
… Darwin sent specimens of plants he raised from this seed to Hooker, who named it Abutilon darwinii …
… a new species, & I am honoured by its name’, Darwin told Hooker, ‘It offers an instance, of …
… it becomes capable of self-fertilisation’ ( To J. D. Hooker, 23 July [1871] ). Darwin also …
… ). When Darwin began writing in February 1873, he asked Hooker for names of families of several …
… I finish with this & get it published’ ( To Asa Gray, 11 March [1873] ). In April 1873, …
… excess of the crossed over the self-fertilised’ ( To G. H. Darwin, 8 January [1876] ). George …
… for the moment that all of equal value.’ ( From G. H. Darwin, [after 8 January 1876] ). It was his …
… the set of all my works, I would suggest 1,500’ ( To R. F. Cooke, 16 September 1876 ). In the …
… Chronicle , 19 February [1877] ). In contrast, as Hooker told Darwin, ‘Dyer is full of your Cross …
… 1877, the edition was ‘nearly exhausted’ ( From R. F. Cooke, 16 March 1877 ). In November 1877, …
… as he wanted to make corrections for a new edition. On 11 December, Darwin sent corrected sheets to …
… repaged & the index a little altered’ ( To R. F. Cooke, 11 December [1877] ). These changes …

Darwin in letters, 1860: Answering critics

Summary

On 7 January 1860, John Murray published the second edition of Darwin’s Origin of species, printing off another 3000 copies to satisfy the demands of an audience that surprised both the publisher and the author. It wasn't long, however, before ‘the…

Matches: 24 hits

… Henry Huxley, William Benjamin Carpenter, and Joseph Dalton Hooker. Others were not quite as …
… cannot expect fairness in a Reviewer’, Darwin commented to Hooker after reading an early notice that …
… of the geological record; but this criticism, he told Hooker, did not at all concern his main …
… would have been ‘ utterly smashed’ ( letter to T. H. Huxley, 3 July [1860] ). (A chronological …
… comes in time to be admitted as real.’ ( letter to C. J. F. Bunbury, 9 February [1860] ). This …
… inter se ,’ Darwin’s theory would remain unproven (T. H. Huxley 1860a). Darwin had long …
… it more a failure than a success ( see letter to J. D. Hooker, 14 February [1860] ). I …
… two physiologists, and five botanists ( see letter to J. D. Hooker, 3 March [1860] ). Others, like …
… geographical distribution of species ( see letter from T. H. Huxley, 6 August 1860 ). But Baer in …
… ‘topics of the day’ at the meeting in a letter from Hooker written from Oxford. Hooker’s letter, one …
… Owen ‘had a furious battle over Darwins absent body’, Hooker attended the fabled Saturday session of …
… of the development of Western civilisation. Wilberforce, Hooker recounted, responded by shouting …
… audience’. With his blood boiling and his heart pounding, Hooker threw down the gauntlet and became …
… of the field after 4 hours battle’ (letter from J. D. Hooker, 2 July 1860). Other correspondents …
… ‘this row is best thing for subject.—’ ( letter to T. H. Huxley, 3 July [1860] ). Further details …
… his own views.—’ ( letter from J. S. Henslow to J. D. Hooker, 10 May 1860 ). What worried Darwin …
… (letters to Charles Lyell, 1 June [1860] and 11 August [1860] ). As the months passed …
… he received, in letters to his closest confidants Hooker, Lyell, and Gray. Initially he found it …
… of the flower. ‘Why I care about it,’ he confided in Hooker, ‘is that it shows that visits of …
… another. ‘I am intensely interested on subject,’ he told Hooker several months later, ‘just as at a …
… into an extensive piece of botanical research. Keeping Hooker closely informed on the progress and …
… investigation of one very curious point, soon revealed to Hooker: ‘The leaves are first rate …
… from non=nitrogenised substances.’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 31 [August 1860] ). Relying in part …
… In this instance, he drafted the services not only of Hooker but also of a newly appointed Kew …

List of correspondents

Summary

Below is a list of Darwin's correspondents with the number of letters for each one. Click on a name to see the letters Darwin exchanged with that correspondent. "A child of God" (1) Abberley,…

Matches: 9 hits

… (1) Athenæum (11) Atkin, J. R. (1) …
… (3) Bosquet, J. A. H. de (11) Bostock, John …
… (2) Breitenbach, Wilhelm (11) Brent, B. P. …
… (2) Bunbury, C. J. F. (11) Bunbury, F. J. …
… (1) Caspary, Robert (11) Cassell Petter & …
… (40) Crick, W. D. (11) Crier, John …
… (1) Crocker, C. W. (11) Crocq, Jean …
… (1) Dobell, H. B. (11) Dobson, G. E. …
… (7) Farrar, F. W. (11) Farrer, T. H. …

Darwin in letters, 1881: Old friends and new admirers

Summary

In May 1881, Darwin, one of the best-known celebrities in England if not the world, began writing about all the eminent men he had met. He embarked on this task, which formed an addition to his autobiography, because he had nothing else to do. He had…

Matches: 9 hits

… which I can do’, he wrote despondently to Joseph Dalton Hooker on 15 June , concluding, ‘I must …
… friends, however, did not agree. Both John Lubbock and Hooker asked for Darwin’s advice when writing …
… power’ ( letter from M. C. Stanley, 16 October 1881 ). Hooker thanked Darwin for the ‘diet of …
… in histology, and thoroughness led Darwin to admit to Hooker on 22 October , ‘No man was ever …
… is difficult to resist the pessimistic view of creation’, Hooker told Darwin when informing him on …
… Britannica , telling the author, Arabella Buckley, on 11 July that he regretted that there …
… thoroughly honorable & excellent a man never lived’. Hooker read the death announcement on 29 …
… entirely new will. Apart from providing for his family, on 11 September he instructed his …
… and plants, Darwin told the director, Archibald Geikie, on 11 November , ‘This leads me to make …

Women as a scientific audience

Summary

Target audience? | Female readership | Reading Variation Darwin's letters, in particular those exchanged with his editors and publisher, reveal a lot about his intended audience. Regardless of whether or not women were deliberately targeted as a…

Matches: 9 hits

… of style. Letter 2461 - Darwin to Hooker, J. D., [11 May 1859] Darwin …
… it. Letter 7312 - Darwin to Darwin, F., [30 August 1867 - 70] Darwin asks …
… readers. Letter 7124 - Darwin to Darwin, H. E., [8 February 1870] Darwin …
… with her father. Letter 7651 - Wedgwood, F. J. to Darwin, H. E., [1 April 1871] …
… Letter 8778 - Forster, L. M . to Darwin, H. E., [20 February 1873] Henrietta’s …
… lay it down. Letter 13547 - Tanner, M. H. to Darwin, [12 December 1881] …
… work. Letter 5861 - Blyth, E. to Darwin, [11 February 1868] Zoologist …
… Variation . Letter 6126 - Binstead, C. H. to Darwin, [17 April 1868] …
… a revelation. Letter 9633 - Nevill, D. F. to Darwin, [11 September 1874] …

Darwin in letters, 1882: Nothing too great or too small

Summary

In 1882, Darwin reached his 74th year Earthworms had been published the previous October, and for the first time in decades he was not working on another book. He remained active in botanical research, however. Building on his recent studies in plant…

Matches: 5 hits

… to have rather the best of the fight’ ( letter from G. F. Crawte, 11 March 1882 ). The battle …
… a ‘Glycerin Pepsin mixture’ (letters to W. W. Baxter, 11 March 1882 and 18 March [1882 ]). …
… immediately wrote to George, who had visited Down on 11 April (Emma Darwin’s diary (DAR 242)). …
… news to his closest friends. She wrote to Joseph Dalton Hooker the day after Darwin’s death. ‘Our …
… man’s private property’ ( letter to George Warington, 11 October [1867] ). Respecting the …

Scientific Practice

Summary

Specialism|Experiment|Microscopes|Collecting|Theory Letter writing is often seen as a part of scientific communication, rather than as integral to knowledge making. This section shows how correspondence could help to shape the practice of science, from…

Matches: 17 hits

… Letter 1514 — Darwin, C. R. to Huxley, T. H., 11 Apr [1853] Darwin offers to send zoologist T …
… Letter 1480 — Darwin, C. R. to Huxley, T. H., 23 Apr [1853] Letter 1587 — Darwin, C …
… Letter 1592 — Darwin, C. R. to Huxley, T. H., 13 Sept [1854] Letter 1635 — Darwin, …
… Letter 4895 — Darwin, C. R. to Müller, J. F. T., 20 Sept [1865] Darwin thanks Müller for …
… seems probable. Letter 5173 — Müller, J. F. T. to Darwin, C. R., 2 Aug 1866 Müller …
… to be dichogamous. Letter 5429 — Müller, J. F. T. to Darwin, C. R., 4 Mar 1867 …
… of other species. Letter 5480 — Müller, J. F. T. to Darwin, C. R., 1 Apr 1867 …
… Letter 5551 — Darwin, C. R. to Müller, J. F. T., 26 May [1867] Darwin thanks Müller for …
… to geology. Letter 1018 — Darwin, C. R. to Hooker, J. D., [6 Nov 1846] Darwin …
… full of observations on barnacles and he would like to meet Hooker in London. Letter 1166 …
… Owen might discuss the topic [in his contribution to J. F. W. Herschel, ed., Manual of scientific …
… superior”. Letter 1174 — Darwin, C. R. to Hooker, J. D., 10 May 1848 Darwin …
… result of applying it to cirripede sexual systems. He tells Hooker that he sent Owen an account of …
… This collection of letters, written between Darwin and Hooker whilst Darwin was preparing his …
… history. Letter 1202 — Darwin, C. R. to Hooker, J. D., 6 Oct [1848] Darwin writes …
… name to specific name. Letter 1220 — Hooker, J. D. to Darwin, C. R., 3 Feb 1849 …
… descriptions. Letter 1260 — Darwin, C. R. to Hooker, J. D., 12 Oct 1849 Darwin …

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: 31 hits

… Brown 1814] & at the end of Congo voyage [R. Brown 1818]. (Hooker 923) 7 read …
… 3v.] Hunter has written Quarto work on Physiology 11 besides the paper collected by Owen …
… He is Horticulturist in France. Michaux, according to Hooker has written on topography of N. …
… 1831]. Book I. ch. 7 & Book II. Ch. 8. Book. VII. ch 8, 11 . read 1 st . vol of Lamarck. …
… ]. many very useful papers for me:— not in Hort. Soc. Hooker? Rogets Bridgewater Treatise …
… —— Mauritius & C. of Good Hope Hooker recommends order [Backhouse …
… Decandolles Veg: Organ: } recommended by Hooker . [A. P. de …
… C. Watson 1845]— gives up permanent species (alluded to by Hooker) Foreign & British Med. …
… 1834b]. 9. Columbidæ (Pigeons.) [Selby 1835] 11 . Ruminating Animals (Deer, Antelopes, …
… 43 Lindley’s Vegetable Kingdom [Lindley 1846]. Hooker says very good for my purpose …
… Phytologist [ Phytologist ] must be read . Hooker. read Fortune’s Travels in China …
… Indian Journal [Griffith 1847], strongly recommended by Hooker— Analysis & theory of the …
… Reproduzione [Gallesio 1816]. abstracted 18 th Hooker’s Bot. Misc. [ Botanical Miscellany …
… Grammont’s Memoirs [Gramont 1714] light & poor Nov 11 . Bamford life of Radicle [Bamford …
… (in relation to Köelreuter) in Revue Horticole No 9–11 89 1853 [Lecoq 1853]. Reviewed in …
… Nat. Hist Zoologist [ Zoologist ] vols. before 11 & 12.— 106 Thumberg Travels …
… Home Tour. (various parts) [G. Head 1837] good —— 11 . Oersted’s Soul of Nature [Ørsted 1847] …
… . Esmond. by Thackeray [Thackeray 1852] (Poor) Nov. 11 . Sir Hudson Lowe’s life and letters [H …
… Society of Bengal ]. Vol. I. (1832) 2. 3. 4. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11 . 12. (1843). not much except Blyth. …
… 8] 1854 Jan 15. Seeman’s Narrative of H.M.S. Herald [Seeman 1853]. Feb 6. …
… Belcher, Edward. 1848. Narrative of the voyage of H.M.S. Samarang during the years 1843–46; …
… Narrative of a voyage round the world, performed in H.M.S. Sulphur, 1836–42 . 2 vols. …
… . Pt 1 of The botany of the Antarctic voyage of H.M. Discovery Ships Erebus and Terror in …
… by Richard Owen. Vol. 4 of The works of John Hunter, F.R.S. with notes . Edited by James F. …
… Beete. 1847. Narrative of the surveying voyage of H.M.S. Fly … in the Torres Strait, New …
… Keppel, Henry. 1846. The expedition to Borneo of H.M.S. Dido for the suppression of piracy; …
… ——. 1853. A visit to the Indian Archipelago, in H.M.S. Mæander, with portions of the private …
… Macgillivray, John. 1852. Narrative of the voyage of H.M.S. Rattlesnake, commanded by the late …
… … Together with a narrative of the operations of H.M.S. Iris. 2 vols. London. *119: 22 …
… shores of Africa, Arabia and Madagascar; performed in H.M. Ships Leven and Barracouta . Edited …
… Peacock, George. 1855. Life of Thomas Young, M.D., F.R.S. London. *128: 172; 128: 21 …

Women’s scientific participation

Summary

Observers | Fieldwork | Experimentation | Editors and critics | Assistants Darwin’s correspondence helps bring to light a community of women who participated, often actively and routinely, in the nineteenth-century scientific community. Here is a…

Matches: 23 hits

… in inheritance. Letter 3787 - Darwin, H. E. to Darwin, [29 October 1862] …
… birds. Letter 5817 - Darwin to Huxley, T. H., [30 January 1868] Darwin …
… Letter 6535 - Vaughan Williams , M. S. to Darwin, H. E., [after 14 October 1869] …
… niece’s ears. Letter 8701 - Lubbock, E. F . to Darwin, [1873] Ellen …
… patience”. Letter 4242 - Hildebrand, F. H. G. to Darwin, [16 July 1863] …
… little treatise”. Letter 4436 - Darwin to Hooker, J. D., [26-27 March 1864] …
… and orangs. Letter 5705 - Haast, J. F. J. von to Darwin, [4 December 1867] …
… Women: Letter 1701 - Morris, M. H. to Prior, R. C. A., [17 June 1855] …
… Letter 4823 - Wedgwood, L. C. to Darwin, H. E., [May 1865] Darwin’s niece, Lucy, …
… Leith Hill Place. Letter 6139 - Doubleday, H. to Darwin, [22 April 1868] …
… Letter 8168 - Ruck, A. R . to Darwin, H., [20 January 1872] Amy Ruck reports the …
… at Maer Hall, Staffordshire. Letter 1219 - Hooker, J. D. to Darwin, [3 February …
… Letter 4928 - Henslow, G. to Darwin, [11 November 1865] J. S. Henslow’s son, George, …
… in Margate. Letter 7433 - Wedgwood, F. to Darwin, [9 January 1871] …
… “eyebrows”. Letter 1701 - Morris, M. H. to Prior, R. C. A., [17 June 1855] …
… The experiments were carried out “at the suggestion of Dr Hooker” and what little he has ascertained …
… with minnows. Letter 2781 - Doubleday, H. to Darwin, [3 May 1860] …
… suggestion. Letter 5254 - Hildebrand, F. H. G. to Darwin, [23 October 1866] …
… home. Letter 10517 - Darwin to Francis, F., [29 May 1876] Darwin gives his …
… Women: Letter 2345 - Darwin to Hooker, J. D., [20 October 1858] Darwin …
… of style. Letter 2461 - Darwin to Hooker, J. D., [11 May 1859] Darwin …
… as such”. Letter 2475 - Darwin to Hooker, J. D., [2 July 1859] Darwin …
… Letter 3316 - Darwin to Nevill, D. F., [12 November 1861] Darwin requests the …

Darwin in letters, 1880: Sensitivity and worms

Summary

‘My heart & soul care for worms & nothing else in this world,’ Darwin wrote to his old Shrewsbury friend Henry Johnson on 14 November 1880. Darwin became fully devoted to earthworms in the spring of the year, just after finishing the manuscript of…

Matches: 5 hits

… 21 years since the Origin appeared”‘ ( letter to T. H. Huxley, 11 [April] 1880 ). While praising …
… been developed through natural selection’ ( letter to T. H. Huxley, 11 May 1880 ). Worthy …
… In the previous year, he had consulted Joseph Dalton Hooker about the possibility of a Civil List …
… extensive work on geographical distribution. Darwin and Hooker both praised his most recent book on …
… family members. Emma’s brother Josiah Wedgwood III died on 11 March. Like Emma, he had married a …

Darwin Correspondence Project

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