From Victor de Robillard 20 September 1856
Summary
C. T. Beke has communicated to the Mauritius Natural History Society a letter he received from CD. VdeR attempts to answer questions on transport of seeds by the ocean.
| Author: | Jean Aimé Victor (Victor) de Robillard |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 20 Sept 1856 |
| Classmark: | DAR 205.3: 286 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1956 |
From J. D. Hooker 13 December 1876
Summary
Complains at Albert Günther’s imputations against Charles Wyville Thomson [as a result of the dispute between Thomson and the British Museum, regarding the disposal of the specimens from the Challenger].
| Author: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 13 Dec 1876 |
| Classmark: | DAR 104: 71–2 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10715 |
From William Spottiswoode 24 May 1880
Summary
Since CD supplied Herzfeld with money to retrieve his goods from the carrier, but he did not use it for that purpose, WS sees no way of helping him except to send him home as "a distressed Austrian subject".
| Author: | William Spottiswoode |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 24 May 1880 |
| Classmark: | DAR 177: 239 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-12616 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … letters from S. M. Herzfeld, 2 April 1880 and 4 April 1880 , for S. M. Herzfeld’s appeals for help. William Spottiswoode was president of the Royal Society of London ; CD did not attend the conversazione on 2 June 1880. The conversazioni were exhibitions of scientific discoveries, artefacts, and art …
To A. R. Wallace 17 November 1873
Summary
Would be happy if ARW would undertake to help with correcting the proof-sheets of his revised edition of Descent. Outlines the job that would be required.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Date: | 17 Nov 1873 |
| Classmark: | DAR 96: 161–2 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-9149 |
From R. S. Bartleet 15 November 1881
Summary
Has read Earthworms.
Wonders if CD has studied gnats; inquires about their apparently useless hovering over one spot for hours.
| Author: | Robert Smith Bartleet |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 15 Nov 1881 |
| Classmark: | DAR 160: 52 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13486 |
From Daniel Oliver 27 November 1863
Summary
Discusses the contraction of hygroscopic bundles in seed-pods,
and a paper by Hugo von Mohl ["Über dimorphe Blüthen", Bot. Ztg. (1863): 309–15, 321–8] in which he discusses Oxalis and determines that Fumaria is a necessarily self-fertilising plant.
| Author: | Daniel Oliver |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 27 Nov 1863 |
| Classmark: | DAR 173: 24 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4349 |
To J. D. Hooker 4 March [1874]
Summary
CD guessed Carruthers was stirred up by Owen. Disgraceful treatment of Bentham.
Work on Descent and Coral reefs stops his doing anything of real interest.
Asa Gray’s letter. CD has acknowledged the honour [honorary membership in the Boston Soc. Nat. Hist.].
"What a demon on earth Owen is. I do hate him."
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
| Date: | 4 Mar [1874] |
| Classmark: | DAR 95: 313–16 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-9333 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … letter from American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 28 January 1874 . CD’s relationship with Richard Owen had begun to deteriorate following Owen’s review of Origin ( [R. Owen] 1860 ; see Correspondence vol. 8 and ‘Recollections’ , p. 402); more recently, CD had been infuriated by Owen’s comments on the question of payment to the Royal Society of …
From J. P. S. de Grateloup 18 July 1838
Summary
Sends to CD, as Secretary of the Geological Society, his work on fossil shells ["Mémoire sur les coquilles fossiles", Actes de la Société Linnéenne de Bordeaux 10 (1838): 92–152].
| Author: | Jean Pierre Sylvestre de Grateloup |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 18 July 1838 |
| Classmark: | Geological Society of London (GSL/L/R/4/5) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-421A |
From J. D. Hooker 25 November 1874
Summary
Encloses a letter [from Huxley about his invitation to lecture at Edinburgh]. Has done his best to dissuade Huxley from accepting the burden.
JDH’s depression in bereavement.
| Author: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 25 Nov 1874 |
| Classmark: | DAR 103: 228–9; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (JDH/1/14/f. 54) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-9732 |
To Asa Gray 12 March [1861]
Summary
Has received Chauncey Wright’s article.
Reports on favourable response to AG’s pamphlet.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Asa Gray |
| Date: | 12 Mar [1861] |
| Classmark: | Gray Herbarium of Harvard University (52) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3087 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … of Arts and Sciences are in the Darwin Library–CUL. In the preceding year, the journal had carried reports of a number of discussions about CD’s theory. Gray’s letter has not been found. See letter to Asa Gray, 17 February [1861] and n. 7. The botanist Nathaniel Bagshaw Ward was a fellow of the Linnean Society and of the Royal …
To G. G. Stokes 5 February [1868]
Summary
Thanks for congratulations on Francis Darwin’s success in the tripos examinations at the university of Cambridge.
The king of Prussia has awarded him the order Pour le Mérite für Wissenschaften und Künste.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | George Gabriel Stokes, 1st baronet |
| Date: | 5 Feb [1868] |
| Classmark: | Heritage Auctions (dealers) (17–18 October 2013) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5839H |
To J. D. Hooker 21 February [1870]
Summary
Has read the notes on Rond [Round] Island which he owes to JDH. What an enigma its flora and fauna present, especially the problem of monocotyledons! Asks JDH’s opinion.
A new book on St Helena confirms CD’s observations.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
| Date: | 21 Feb [1870] |
| Classmark: | DAR 94: 164–6 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-7115 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … Royal Society of Arts and Sciences of Mauritius on 30 December 1869 and published in the Mauritius almanac and colonial register for 1870 ( Barkly 1870 ). The proof-sheets, corrected by Barkly and annotated by CD, are in the Darwin Pamphlet Collection–CUL. See also Correspondence vol. 17, enclosure to letter …
From Benjamin Dann Walsh 1 March 1865
Summary
Sends his paper on "Willow-galls" [Proc. Entomol. Soc. Philadelphia 3 (1864): 543–644].
Lengthy criticism of Agassiz’s views on species as stated in his Essay on classification [1857].
Interested by CD’s trimorphism in Lythrum. Thinks some great mystery may lie in the fact that in some genera, some species are tri-, some di-, and some monomorphic, and in other genera, Apis, Vespa, Bombus, all the known species are dimorphic.
| Author: | Benjamin Dann Walsh |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 1 Mar 1865 |
| Classmark: | Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4778 |
From Louis Bouton 22 September 1871
Summary
Is enjoying Descent. Sends corroborating facts on heredity, concerning race of people from the Seychelles known for their tall stature, courage, and vigour.
| Author: | Louis Sulpice (Louis) Bouton |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 22 Sept 1871 |
| Classmark: | DAR 160: 259 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-7961 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … letter, by begging you to excuse
〈 me〉 , it is on one of the Seychelles Islands that that giant tree grows, the palm tree whose fruits have two lobes (double coco de mer) & sometimes 3 or even 4 lobes*— All this offers a curious coincidence, worthy of your attention= it will be my good fortune, if these few comments should be of some utility to you—and believe me | dear Sir, | your obedient servant | L. Bouton | Curator of Museum—& Secretary to the Royal Society of arts & …
To Asa Gray 4 August [1863]
Summary
Anticipated AG’s attitude on design in orchids. Does he not think that the variations that gave rise to fancy pigeon varieties were accidental?
Has been working hard at Lythrum
and spontaneous movements of tendrils.
Defends Drosera as a "sagacious animal" but does not know whether he will ever publish on it.
Comments on political situation in U. S.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Asa Gray |
| Date: | 4 Aug [1863] |
| Classmark: | Gray Herbarium of Harvard University (83) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4262 |
Matches: 1 hit
From J. D. Hooker 14 November 1869
Summary
Describes how the offer of C.B. was made. He declined a knighthood. Murchison and Lyell are trying to get him made Knight Commander of the Star of India, but he does not think there is a chance. The Duke [of Argyll?] might do it, but does not like JDH’s Darwinism.
Next Presidency of Royal Society discussed: all (Brodie, the X Club botanists, et al.) are agreed on Lyell.
Everyone is disappointed with Nature.
What did CD think of "Huxley’s rhapsody on Goethe’s ditto" [Nature 1 (1869): 9–11]?
| Author: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 14 Nov 1869 |
| Classmark: | DAR 103: 35—8 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6988 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … Royal Society president in 1869, see Barton 1990 , p. 64. Hooker refers to Thomas Henry Huxley . Mary Elizabeth Lyell . The first issue of Nature , a ‘weekly illustrated journal of science’, was dated 4 November 1869. The publisher was Alexander Macmillan . For the criticism by X-Club members, including Hooker, of Nature , see Barton 2004 . The Academy was a monthly review of literature, science, and art, established in October 1869 (see letter …
To C. H. Morris 16 January [1872]
Summary
Is sending the requested photograph.
Mr Murray will send a copy of CD’s Journal of researches to L. S. Bouton [see 8107a].
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Caroline Honoria Campbell; Caroline Honoria Morris |
| Date: | 16 Jan [1872] |
| Classmark: | UCL Library Services, Special Collections (Tipped into Journal of researches (1860) R920 DAR) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8161A |
| letter | (17) |
| Darwin, C. R. | (7) |
| Hooker, J. D. | (3) |
| Bartleet, R. S. | (1) |
| Bouton, Louis | (1) |
| Grateloup, J. P. S. de | (1) |
| Darwin, C. R. | (10) |
| Gray, Asa | (2) |
| Hooker, J. D. | (2) |
| Campbell, C. H. | (1) |
| Morris, C. H. | (1) |
| Darwin, C. R. | |
| Hooker, J. D. | (5) |
| Gray, Asa | (2) |
| Bartleet, R. S. | (1) |
| Bouton, Louis | (1) |
| Campbell, C. H. | (1) |
| Grateloup, J. P. S. de | (1) |
| Morris, C. H. | (1) |
| Oliver, Daniel | (1) |
| Robillard, Victor de | (1) |
| Spottiswoode, William | (1) |
| Stokes, G. G. | (1) |
| Wallace, A. R. | (1) |
| Walsh, B. D. | (1) |
2.19 Montford, bust at the Royal Society
Summary
< Back to Introduction Horace Montford’s marble bust of Darwin at the Royal Society, dating from 1898, derives from his bronze statue at Shrewsbury. It was normal for sculptors to re-use their models in this way for the creation of busts and…
Matches: 1 hits
- … < Back to Introduction Horace Montford’s marble bust of Darwin at the Royal Society, …
Climbing plants
Summary
Darwin’s book Climbing plants was published in 1865, but its gestation began much earlier. The start of Darwin’s work on the topic lay in his need, owing to severe bouts of illness in himself and his family, for diversions away from his much harder book on…
Matches: 1 hits
- … Darwin’s book Climbing plants was published in 1865, but its gestation began much earlier. The …
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: 1 hits
- … In April 1838, Darwin began recording the titles of books he had read and the books he wished to …
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: 1 hits
- … In 1865, the chief work on Charles Darwin’s mind was the writing of The variation of animals and …
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: 1 hits
- … At the start of 1863, Charles Darwin was actively working on the manuscript of The variation of …
Books on the Beagle
Summary
The Beagle was a sort of floating library. Find out what Darwin and his shipmates read here.
Matches: 1 hits
- … ‘Considering the limited disposable space in so very small a ship, we contrived to carry more …
3.16 Oscar Rejlander, photos
Summary
< Back to Introduction Darwin’s plans for the illustration of his book The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals (1872) led him to the Swedish-born painter and photographer, Oscar Gustaf Rejlander. Rejlander gave Darwin the notes that he had…
Matches: 1 hits
- … < Back to Introduction Darwin’s plans for the illustration of his book The …
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: 1 hits
- … The year 1874 was one of consolidation, reflection, and turmoil for Darwin. He spent the early …
1.18 John Collier, oil in Linnean
Summary
< Back to Introduction By 1881 it was clear to Darwin’s intimates that he was increasingly frail, and that, as he approached death, he had finally escaped from religious controversy to become a heroic figure, loved and venerated for his achievements…
Matches: 1 hits
- … < Back to Introduction By 1881 it was clear to Darwin’s intimates that he was …
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: 1 hits
- … On 7 January 1860, John Murray published the second edition of Darwin’s Origin of species , …
Conrad Martens
Summary
Conrad Martens was born in London, the son of an Austrian diplomat. He studied landscape painting under the watercolourist Copley Fielding (1789–1855), who also briefly taught Ruskin. In 1833 he was on board the Hyacinth, headed for India, but en route in…
Matches: 1 hits
- … Conrad Martens was born in London, the son of an Austrian diplomat. He studied landscape painting …
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: 1 hits
- … On 6 March 1868, Darwin wrote to the entomologist and accountant John Jenner Weir, ‘If …
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: 1 hits
- … ‘My heart & soul care for worms & nothing else in this world,’ Darwin wrote to his old Shrewsbury …
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: 1 hits
- … The year 1871 was an extremely busy and productive one for Darwin, seeing the publication of his …
Experimenting with emotions
Summary
Darwin’s interest in emotions can be traced as far back as the Beagle voyage. He was fascinated by the sounds and gestures of the peoples of Tierra del Fuego. On his return, he started recording observations in a set of notebooks, later labelled '…
Matches: 1 hits
- … Darwin’s interest in emotions can be traced as far back as the Beagle voyage. He was fascinated by …
