To J. D. Hooker 28 February [1868]
Summary
Does not understand JDH on Pangenesis: on last page he appears to admit all that he regards as mere words on previous pages.
Wallace admires chapter on Pangenesis.
Pangenesis is a comfort. CD gains no idea from words like "potentiality" or "diffusing an influence"; atoms and cells give a distinct idea.
A. Newton told George that Berthold Seemann wrote the Athenæum review
and that Lewis [Lewes] did not write the Pall Mall Gazette review [see 5874].
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
Date: | 28 Feb [1868] |
Classmark: | DAR 94: 55–7c |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5951 |
To J. D. Hooker 21 May [1868]
Summary
JDH too severe on Duke of Argyll.
Pities JDH on [BAAS] address [see 6099]; Huxley feels JDH will do well and will not pity him.
Thinks Huxley will give an excellent and original lecture on geographical distribution of birds.
Has been working hard on sexual selection and correspondence about it.
Mignonette is sterile with its own pollen but any two distinct plants are fertile together. It is utterly mysterious and not even Pangenesis will explain it.
On Lyell’s book [Principles, 10th ed.].
Wallace’s wonderful cleverness, but he is not cautious enough. CD differs from Wallace on birds’ nests and protection.
A. Murray’s miserable criticism of Wallace [J. Travel & Nat. Hist. 1 (1868): 137–45].
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
Date: | 21 May [1868] |
Classmark: | DAR 94: 62–4 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6196 |
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 J. D. Hooker 28 July [1868]
Summary
Sorry to hear of baby’s illness.
Comments on statement that belief in natural selection is passing away. Common descent of species is almost universally accepted now, and this is more important. In large part acceptance is due to Origin. Discusses reception of and interest in Origin in various countries.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
Date: | 28 July [1868] |
Classmark: | DAR 94: 80–2 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6292 |