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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: 19 hits
- … I cannot bear to think of the future The year 1876 started out sedately enough with …
- … games. ‘I have won, hurrah, hurrah, 2795 games’, Darwin boasted; ‘my wife … poor creature, has won …
- … regarding the ailments that were so much a feature of Darwin family life. But the calm was not to …
- … four days later. ‘I cannot bear to think of the future’, Darwin confessed to William on 11 …
- … in him for ‘new matter’ (letter to Asa Gray, 28 January 1876). The preparation of the second edition …
- … of the second edition of Climbing plants ( letter from R. F. Cooke, 23 February 1876 ). When …
- … observed to Carus. ( Letter to J. V. Carus, 24 April 1876. ) Darwin focused instead on the …
- … ‘advantages of crossing’ (letter to Asa Gray, 28 January 1876). Revising Orchids was less a …
- … with his new research in mind: ‘During this autumn of 1876 I shall publish on the “Effects of Cross …
- … effected by his forthcoming pamphlet, Darwin confounded (C. O’Shaughnessy 1876), which, he …
- … and who had succeeded in giving him pain ( letter to A. R. Wallace, 17 June 1876 ). Although …
- … had been founded in March 1876 by the London physiologist John Scott Burdon Sanderson to discuss how …
- … were ‘too silly to deserve an answer’ ( letter from S. B. Herrick, 12 February 1876 ). Others …
- … year’s experiments’ ( letter from G. J. Romanes, [ c . 19 March 1876] ). A less welcome reaction …
- … Darwin rejoiced to hear that the Cambridge astronomer John Couch Adams not only approved of George’s …
- … because of a ‘long and terrible illness’ ( letter to C. S. Wedgwood, 20 April 1876 ). By the time …
- … at the pre-publication sale dinner held by his publisher, John Murray ( letter to John Murray, 15 …
- … ). In England, the clergyman botanist George Henslow, son of John Stevens Henslow, Darwin’s …
- … in harmony with yours’ ( letter from George Henslow, [ c. 7 December 1876] ). A more typical …
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: 8 hits
- … Female readership | Reading Variation Darwin's letters, in particular those …
- … a broad variety of women had access to, and engaged with, Darwin's published works. A set of …
- … women a target audience? Letter 2447 - Darwin to Murray, J., [5 April 1859] …
- … Letter 6976 - Darwin to Blackwell, A. L. B., [8 November, 1869] Darwin writes to feminist …
- … to him only as a scientific author, Darwin assumes that 'A. B. Blackwell' is a man. …
- … questionnaire. Letter 10390 - Herrick, S. M. B. to Darwin, [12 February 1876] …
- … Letter 10415 - Darwin to Herrick, S. M. B., [6 March 1876] Darwin responds to a …
- … Letter 10508 - Treat, M. to Darwin, [15 May 1876] Mary Treat thanks Darwin for …
Darwin in letters, 1868: Studying sex
Summary
The quantity of Darwin’s correspondence increased dramatically in 1868 due largely to his ever-widening research on human evolution and sexual selection.Darwin’s theory of sexual selection as applied to human descent led him to investigate aspects of the…
Matches: 20 hits
- … On 6 March 1868, Darwin wrote to the entomologist and accountant John Jenner Weir, ‘If any …
- … and sexual selection. In Origin , pp. 87–90, Darwin had briefly introduced the concept of …
- … process. In a letter to Alfred Russel Wallace in 1864, Darwin claimed that sexual selection was ‘the …
- … to the stridulation of crickets. At the same time, Darwin continued to collect material on …
- … his immediate circle of friends and relations. In July 1868 Darwin was still anticipating that his …
- … domestication . Having been advertised by the publisher John Murray as early as 1865, the two …
- … increased the amount of work substantially. Darwin asked Murray to intervene, complaining on 9 …
- … a great loss to the Book’. But Darwin’s angry letter to Murray crossed one from Dallas to himself, …
- … a cheque to Dallas for £55 s ., and recommended to Murray that Dallas receive additional payment. …
- … of the book were sold within a month of its release, and Murray made immediate arrangements for a …
- … profound contempt of me. I feel convinced it is by Owen’. John Edward Gray, a colleague of Richard …
- … . It is a disgrace to the paper’ ( letter from A. R. Wallace, 24 February [1868] ). The review was …
- … April 1868 . The letter was addressed to ‘the Rev d C. Darwin M.d’; Binstead evidently assumed …
- … I did not see this, or rather I saw it only obs[c]urely, & have kept only a few references.’ …
- … as life he wd find the odour sexual!’ ( letter to A . R. Wallace, 16 September [1868] ). Francis …
- … south of France to Sarah Elizabeth Wedgwood on 9 Novembe r, describing sphinx moths that were …
- … mission stations in Victoria, Australia ( letter from R. B. Smyth, 13 August 1868 ); lengthy …
- … of her two-month old daughter Katherine ( letter from C. M. Hawkshaw to Emma Darwin, 9 February …
- … rest mostly on faith, and on accumulation of adaptations, &c) … Of course I understand your …
- … to be a ‘complete & premeditated swindler’ ( letter to J. B. Innes, 1 December 1868 ), his …
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: 26 hits
- … | Editors and critics | Assistants Darwin’s correspondence helps bring to light a …
- … community. Here is a selection of letters exchanged between Darwin and his workforce of women …
- … Women: Letter 1194 - Darwin to Whitby, M. A. T., [12 August 1849] Darwin …
- … peculiarities in inheritance. Letter 3787 - Darwin, H. E. to Darwin, [29 October …
- … in her garden. Letter 4523 - Wedgwood, L. C. to Darwin, [6 June 1864] …
- … Egypt. Letter 7223 - Darwin to Wedgwood, L. C., [8 June 1867 - 72] Darwin …
- … Henrietta. Letter 7179 - Wedgwood, L. C. to Darwin, [5 May 1870] …
- … to Darwin, [1873] Ellen Lubbock, wife of naturalist John Lubbock, responds to Darwin’s …
- … the wallpaper. Letter 5756 - Langton, E. & C. to Wedgwood S. E., [after 9 …
- … 6815 - Scott, J. to Darwin, [2 July 1869] John Scott responds to Darwin’s queries …
- … Letter 1701 - Morris, M. H. to Prior, R. C. A., [17 June 1855] Margaretta Hare Morris …
- … in Llandudno. Letter 4823 - Wedgwood, L. C. to Darwin, H. E., [May 1865] …
- … Lychnis diurna. Letter 8168 - Ruck, A. R . to Darwin, H., [20 January 1872] …
- … lawn. Letter 8224 - Darwin to Ruck, A. R., [24 February 1872] Darwin …
- … Letter 10439 - Treat, M. to Darwin, [3 April 1876] Mary Treat describes a field trip …
- … Letter 1701 - Morris, M. H. to Prior, R. C. A., [17 June 1855] Margaretta Hare Morris …
- … of Wilmington. Letter 10390 - Herrick, S. M. B . to Darwin, [12 February 1876] …
- … of his garden. Letter 4233 - Tegetmeier, W. B. to Darwin, [29 June - 7 July 1863] …
- … - Weir, J. J. to Darwin, [24 March 1868] John Weir describes experiments he is undertaking …
- … garden ”. Letter 6083 - Casparay, J. X. R. to Darwin, [2 April 1868] …
- … Letter 10517 - Darwin to Francis, F., [29 May 1876] Darwin gives his son, Francis, …
- … challenging ideas. Letter 2447 - Darwin to Murray, J., [5 April 1859] …
- … Letter 7858 - Darwin to Wa llace, A. R., [12 July 1871] Darwin tells Wallace that …
- … editorial criticism of a paper written by English naturalist John Lubbock. In addition to offering …
- … service. Letter 3298 - Darwin to Clarke, W. B., [25 October 1861] Darwin asks …
- … Letter 10517 - Darwin t o Francis, F., [29 May 1876] Darwin gives his son, Francis …
Darwin's in letters, 1873: Animal or vegetable?
Summary
Having laboured for nearly five years on human evolution, sexual selection, and the expression of emotions, Darwin was able to devote 1873 almost exclusively to his beloved plants. He resumed work on the digestive powers of sundews and Venus fly traps, and…
Matches: 27 hits
- … evolution, sexual selection, and the expression of emotions, Darwin was able to devote 1873 almost …
- … plants (1875) and Cross and self fertilisation (1876). Darwin’s son Francis became …
- … career to become his father’s scientific secretary. Darwin had always relied on assistance from …
- … Francis’s decision. A large portion of the letters Darwin received in 1873 were in response …
- … the previous year. As was typical, readers wrote to Darwin personally to offer suggestions, …
- … some of which were incorporated in a later edition. Darwin also contributed to discussions in the …
- … Francis Galton’s work on inherited talent, which prompted Darwin to reflect on the traits and …
- … Station at Naples. Plants that eat and feel? Darwin had resumed experiments on the …
- … 12 January [1873] ). Drosera was the main focus of Darwin’s study of insectivorous plants, a …
- … and alkaloids, and even electrical stimulation. On sending Darwin a specimen of the carnivorous …
- … ( letter from J. D. Hooker, 12 January 1873 ). Darwin found that the glandular hairs on the …
- … Thomas Lauder Brunton, a specialist in pharmacology, and John Scott Burdon Sanderson, a professor at …
- … “for Heaven knows when it will be ready” ( letter to John Murray, 4 May [1873] ). Keeping …
- … of the great principle of inheritance!” ( letter to F. S. B. F. de Chaumont, 3 February [1873] ). …
- … with leading physiologists such as David Ferrier and John Hughlings Jackson. Darwin declined to …
- … Instinct In February, Darwin received a letter from John Traherne Moggridge on the nature of …
- … without instruction or previously acquired knowledge” (A. R. Wallace 1870, p. 204). Moggridge …
- … fund was first suggested in early April by Katharine Murray Lyell in conversation with Emma Darwin, …
- … A group of Huxley’s close friends, including Hooker, John Lubbock, Herbert Spencer, John Tyndall, …
- … edition was called for. There were commercial advantages for Murray in bringing out a substantially …
- … believes whether or not they are sound” ( letter to A. R. Wallace, 17 November 1873 ). But no …
- … your own power & usefulness”, citing the examples of John Stuart Mill and Charles Lyell, who …
- … from Ernst Meitzen, 17 January 1873 ). A poor-law officer, John Farr, wrote: “Faith like Species, …
- … more permanent than species are permanent” ( letter from John Farr, 7 July 1873 ). Further …
- … unorthodoxy, troubling and potentially undermining (J. R. Moore 1985, pp. 471–2). A courted …
- … closer to home, when he was graced by an invitation from John Jenner Weir to act as a patron of the …
- … a personification of Natural Filosofy” ( letter from J. C. Costerus and N. D. Doedes, 18 March 1873 …
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: 25 hits
- … In May 1881, Darwin, one of the best-known celebrities in England if not the world, began …
- … a very old man, who probably will not last much longer.’ Darwin’s biggest fear was not death, but …
- … sweetest place on this earth’. From the start of the year, Darwin had his demise on his mind. He …
- … provision for the dividing of his wealth after his death. Darwin’s gloominess was compounded by the …
- … and new admirers got in touch, and, for all his fears, Darwin found several scientific topics to …
- … eager to send his draft to the printers without delay, asked John Murray, his publisher, to make an …
- … the sale of books being ‘a game of chance’ ( letter to R. F. Cooke, 12 April 1881 ). On 18 May …
- … laboratory. The Lake District may have reminded Darwin of John Ruskin, who lived there. Sending the …
- … he would feel ‘less sulky in a day or two’ ( letter to R. F. Cooke, 29 July 1881 ). The degree of …
- … falls at this late period of the season’ ( letter from R. F. Cooke, 30 July 1881 ). Darwin gave in …
- … with you’, a Swedish teacher told him ( letter from C. E. Södling, 14 October 1881 ), while H. M. …
- … to possibilities for women, judging from her organization &c’. When Darwin replied the following …
- … ‘bread-winners’ ( Correspondence vol. 30, letter to C. A. Kennard, 9 January 1882 ). …
- … publication & to acknowledge any criticism’ ( letter to C. G. Semper, 19 July 1881 ). He …
- … ). His scientific friends, however, did not agree. Both John Lubbock and Hooker asked for Darwin’s …
- … about the year 1840(?) on all our minds’ ( letter to John Lubbock, [18 September 1881] ). When …
- … to bear the ‘wear & tear of controversy’ ( letter to G. R. Jesse, 23 April 1881 ). Later in …
- … everyone else’s judgment on the subject ( letter to A. R. Wallace, 12 July 1881 ). However, some …
- … on 27 May . Romanes assured Darwin that the artist, John Collier, Huxley’s son-in-law, was ‘such a …
- … after expressing their wish to visit Darwin ( letter from E. B. Aveling, 27 September [1881] ). …
- … do not be disappointed if the sale is small’ ( letter to R. F. Cooke, 5 October 1881 ). The …
- … proved ‘the greatness of their power’ ( letter from M. C. Stanley, 16 October 1881 ). Hooker …
- … men the true methods of investigation’ ( letter from C. V. Riley, 18 December 1881 ). …
- … ‘absurd and wicked prosecution’ under the terms of the 1876 Cruelty to Animals Act ( letter to T. L …
- … Darwin told his old Cambridge University friend John Price on 27 December . As Darwin rejoiced in …
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: 24 hits
- … In April 1838, Darwin began recording the titles of books he had read and the books he wished to …
- … (DAR 119) opens with five pages of text copied from Notebook C and carries on through 1851; the …
- … used these notebooks extensively in dating and annotating Darwin’s letters; the full transcript …
- … *128). For clarity, the transcript does not record Darwin’s alterations. The spelling and …
- … book had been consulted. Those cases where it appears that Darwin made a genuine deletion have been …
- … the transcript) and the non-scientific on the right (labelled ‘b’). He continued this separation of …
- … of working out his ideas on the transmutation of species. In 1876, long after this period of Darwin …
- … to be Read [DAR *119: Inside Front Cover] C. Darwin June 1 st . 1838 …
- … [DAR *119: 2v.] White’s regular gradation in man [C. White 1799] Lindley’s …
- … 8 vo p 181 [Latreille 1819]. see p. 17 Note Book C. for reference to authors about E. Indian …
- … Archipelago [Crawfurd 1820] Raffeles d[itt]o [T. S. B. Raffles 1817] Buffon Suites …
- … 1839–41]— in Geograph Soc Siebold’s Japan [P. F. B. von Siebold 1833–50]— d[itt]o Kalm …
- … Domestic Improvement ] Loudons. Journal of Nat Hist Z & B [ Magazine of Natural History …
- … Nemesis to China [Bernard 1844]. The Emigrant, Head [F. B. Head 1846] St. John’s …
- … 1766] Count Dandalo on silk worm Eng. Translat 1825—Murray [Dandolo 1825] /good/ M rs …
- … B.M. 6. 6. Black Edin. Longman [Ramsay 1848] St. John’s Nat. Hist. of Sutherlanshire, Murray …
- … [Fellows 1839] Catherine 48 Life of Collins R.A. [Collins 1848] Phases of Faith …
- … Liebigs Lectures on Chemistry [Liebig 1851]. Sir John Davies. China during the War and Peace …
- … ] to end of Vol: XVIII & Part I. of V. 19 (1843) 25. Murray Domestic Poultry.— Domestic …
- … many vols. I have read.— [DAR *128: 149] Murray Geograph. Distrib. Price William …
- … 1848. Memoirs of the life of William Collins, Esq., R.A. 2 vols. London. *119: 23; 119: …
- … by Richard Owen. Vol. 4 of The works of John Hunter, F.R.S. with notes . Edited by James F. …
- … Robert. 1843. Memoirs of the life of John Constable, R.A., composed chiefly of his letters. …
- … Peacock, George. 1855. Life of Thomas Young, M.D., F.R.S. London. *128: 172; 128: 21 …
Animals, ethics, and the progress of science
Summary
Darwin’s view on the kinship between humans and animals had important ethical implications. In Descent, he argued that some animals exhibited moral behaviour and had evolved mental powers analogous to conscience. He gave examples of cooperation, even…
Matches: 22 hits
- … Darwin’s view on the kinship between humans and animals had important ethical …
- … a live worm on a hook (‘Recollections’, pp. 358, 388). Darwin’s concern for animals aligned with …
- … and an integral part of medical and veterinary training. Darwin was clearly disturbed by the …
- … about it, else I shall not sleep to-night’ ( letter to E. R. Lankester, 22 March [1871] ). In …
- … to the last hour of his life’ ( Descent 1: 40). Darwin’s closest encounter with …
- … on rabbits. The investigation was partly aimed at testing Darwin’s ‘hypothesis of pangenesis’, which …
- … of different breeds together. Galton reported regularly to Darwin on the results (all negative). He …
- … Society, calling into question the theory of pangenesis. Darwin was taken aback, and swiftly replied …
- … no longer look after the rabbits (many died from the cold), Darwin offered to give the poor …
- … was sought in another set of experiments by George John Romanes. This time the creatures were plants …
- … more influenced by experiments on animals than on plants’, Darwin conceded. ‘I think a large number …
- … ( letter to G. J. Romanes, 18 July 1875 ). Darwin was concerned that the method be painless, …
- … 1874 ). In the previous sections, we have traced Darwin’s growing interest in physiology and …
- … were analogous to those performed on dogs and other animals. Darwin’s work on insectivorous plants …
- … an acquaintance of the Darwins, and had corresponded with Darwin cordially about his moral theory, …
- … of which we can now see the bearings in regard to health &c, I look at as puerile. Darwin …
- … with costly equipment, a supply of animals, etc.. Darwin was concerned that ‘private men’ would be …
- … ( letter to H. E. Litchfield, 4 January [1875] ) Darwin worked closely with Burdon …
- … the total abolition of the practice. ‘It seems to me’, Darwin remarked to George Romanes, ‘that …
- … religious sect’ ( letter to G. J. Romanes, 4 June [1876] ). Experimenters and a portion of the …
- … ( letter from T. L. Brunton, 12 February 1882 ). Darwin declined the offer to be honorary …
- … had its first meeting on 20 April 1882, the day after Darwin’s death. While Darwin was …
