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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: 18 hits
- … on the California poppy ( Eschscholzia californica ). Fritz Müller, writing from Brazil in …
- … cultivation in divergent climatic conditions’ ( From Fritz Müller, 1 December 1866 ). Darwin’s …
- … several uncovered plants to produce capsules’ ( To Fritz Müller, 30 January [1868] ). Müller, in …
- … of self-fertility over subsequent generations. In June 1869, Müller remarked, on receiving a new …
- … circumstances fertility sometimes depends’ ( From Fritz Müller, 15 June 1869 ). By May 1870, …
- … that of the offspring of English fertile plants’ ( To Fritz Müller, 12 May 1870 ). From a …
- … 17 March [1867] ). He noted another factor in a letter to Gray, remarking, ‘I am going on with my …
- … relationship had lessened the fertility of the offspring (F. Müller 1868b, p. 629). Darwin urged …
- … great step in the essence of sexual reproduction’, he told Müller ( To Fritz Müller, 28 November …
- … from seeds from the same pod were mutually sterile ( From Fritz Müller, 14 March 1869 ). ‘The case …
- … that he had sown seeds of this plant sent by Müller ( To Fritz Müller, 18 July [1869] ). Darwin …
- … setting to moderate self-fertility in his hothouse ( To Fritz Müller, 2 August [1871] ). By …
- … [1873] ). In September, Darwin wrote a long letter to Nature commenting on a seemingly …
- … optimistic regarding the publication of his results, telling Fritz Müller that he hoped to publish …
- … to seedling plants by the crossing of their parents’ ( To Fritz Müller, 25 September 1873 ). But …
- … add new researches on this subject. ( To J. V. Carus 7 February 1875 ). In fact, Darwin had …
- … first grandchild, a son born to Amy and Francis Darwin on 7 September, suddenly turned to tragedy …
- … A. R. Wallace, 13 December 1876 ). No reply to this letter has been found, but Darwin had long …
Darwin in letters, 1867: A civilised dispute
Summary
Charles Darwin’s major achievement in 1867 was the completion of his large work, The variation of animals and plants under domestication (Variation). The importance of Darwin’s network of correspondents becomes vividly apparent in his work on expression in…
Matches: 23 hits
- … Three important new correspondents in 1867 were Hermann Müller and Anton Dohrn in Germany, and …
- … suppose abuse is as good as praise for selling a Book’ ( letter to John Murray, 31 January [1867] …
- … to the printer, but without the additional chapter. In a letter written on 8 February [1867] to …
- … books, Descent and Expression . In the same letter, Darwin revealed the conclusion to his …
- … variation of animals and plants under domestication . In a letter to his son William dated 27 …
- … of his brother’s embryological papers with his first letter to Darwin of 15 March 1867 , although …
- … . Indeed, he told his publisher, John Murray, in a letter of 4 April [1867] , not to send …
- … tell me, at what rate your work will be published’ ( letter from J. V. Carus, 5 April 1867 ). This …
- … & sent to him, he may wish to give up the task’ ( letter to Carl Vogt, 12 April [1867] ). …
- … fit person’ to introduce the work to the German public ( letter from J. V. Carus, 15 April 1867 ). …
- … old In a letter of 22 February [1867] to Fritz Müller in Brazil, in which he asked …
- … for less favoured males (see Origin , pp. 156–7). In Variation , Darwin had discussed changes …
- … selection, but had not elaborated further ( Variation 2: 75). In notes for his reply to a letter …
- … sexual differences in mammals and birds. In his letter to Fritz Müller of 22 February [1867] , …
- … in males and females. In his reply of 1 April 1867 , Müller supplied Darwin with information …
- … with a view to supporting Darwin’s theory (letter from Fritz to Hermann Müller, 11 February 1867, in …
- … are fertilised by insects ( Orchids ). In October, Müller wrote to thank Darwin for his …
- … an observation that he thought might be of some interest. Müller had observed the special adaptation …
- … suck nectar from flowers they visited ( letter from Hermann Müller, 23 October 1867 ). The letter …
- … Darwin continued to receive a wealth of information from Fritz Müller in Brazil. As well as …
- … than any two or three botanists put together’ ( letter to Fritz Müller, 7 February [1867] ). …
- … effect when applied to its own stigma ( letter from Fritz Müller, 1 January 1867 ). Darwin replied …
- … down on both of us’ ( letter from T. H. Huxley, [before 7 January 1867] ). In February, Hooker …
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: 20 hits
- … ‘I feel a very old man, & my course is nearly run’ ( letter to Lawson Tait, 13 February 1882 ) …
- … with an exchange with one of his favourite correspondents, Fritz Müller. The men discussed the …
- … fertility of crosses between differently styled plants ( letter from Fritz Müller, 1 January 1882 …
- … François Marie Glaziou (see Correspondence vol. 28, letter from Arthur de Souza Corrêa, 20 …
- … quite untirable & I am glad to shirk any extra labour’ ( letter to G. J. Romanes, 6 January …
- … probably intending to test its effects on chlorophyll ( letter to Joseph Fayrer, 30 March 1882 ). …
- … we know about the life of any one plant or animal!’ ( letter to Henry Groves, 3 April 1882 ). He …
- … of seeing the flowers & experimentising on them’ ( letter to J. E. Todd, 10 April 1882 ). …
- … find stooping over the microscope affects my heart’ ( letter to Henry Groves, 3 April 1882 ). …
- … sooner or later write differently about evolution’ ( letter to John Murray, 21 January 1882 ). The …
- … leaves into their burrows ( Correspondence vol. 29, letter from J. F. Simpson, 8 November 1881 …
- … on the summit, whence it rolls down the sides’ ( letter from J. F. Simpson, 7 January 1882 ). The …
- … light on it, which would have pleased me greatly’ ( letter from J. H. Gilbert, 9 January 1882, …
- … annelid seemed to have rather the best of the fight’ ( letter from G. F. Crawte, 11 March 1882 ). …
- … by the American educator Emily Talbot (Talbot ed. 1882). His letter to Talbot written the previous …
- … news was the birth of his first child (Erasmus Darwin) on 7 December 1881. Finally, Darwin had a …
- … to talk, which tires me more than anything else. I am now 73 years old’ ( letter to A. A. Reade, 13 …
- … to feel more poorly than usual. An entry in his diary for 7 March records: ‘I have been for some …
- … ‘ slight attack’ (Darwin pocket diary, 1882, 6, 7, 10 April 1882). Some days he was able to walk …
- … of whom drew substantially on his theory. In 1869, Hermann Müller (brother to Fritz) sent Darwin his …
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: 21 hits
- … , and, arising from this, the editing of excerpts from Fritz Müller’s letters on climbing plants to …
- … The death of Hugh Falconer Darwin’s first letter to Hooker of 1865 suggests that the family …
- … having all the Boys at home: they make the house jolly’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 7 January [1865] …
- … had failed to include among the grounds of the award ( see letter from Hugh Falconer to Erasmus …
- … his letters to Darwin, and Darwin responded warmly: ‘Your letter is by far the grandest eulogium …
- … may well rest content that I have not laboured in vain’ ( letter to Hugh Falconer, 6 January [1865] …
- … always a most kind friend to me. So the world goes.—’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 2 February [1865] …
- … for our griefs & pains: these alone are unalloyed’ ( letter from J. D. Hooker, 3 February 1865 …
- … gas.— Sic transit gloria mundi, with a vengeance’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 9 February [1865] ). …
- … added, ‘I know it is folly & nonsense to try anyone’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 7 January [1865] …
- … to his publisher, John Murray, ‘Of present book I have 7 chapters ready for press & all others …
- … bear the expense of the woodcuts ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 7 January [1865] ). After sending the …
- … of the people two whom Darwin sent a copy of the paper was Fritz Müller, in Destêrro (now …
- … in difficult German, he had it translated, and wrote to Müller in August 1865 that he had just …
- … in October to the Linnean Society for publication in Müller’s name ( see letter from Fritz Müller, …
- … 20 October [1865] ). Darwin was particularly interested in Müller’s observations of tendrils formed …
- … to the second edition of Climbing plants reflecting Müller’s findings. Although he wrote to …
- … that I am not able to do any scientific work’ ( letter to Fritz Müller, 20 September [1865] ), he …
- … and Darwin summarised them in Variation 2: 106–7, concluding, ‘it follows from Mr. Scott’s …
- … of real improvement in health’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 7 January [1865] ). All the children …
- … make observations for him in India (John Scott) and Brazil (Fritz Müller). Although not well enough …
Darwin’s queries on expression
Summary
When Darwin resumed systematic research on emotions around 1866, he began to collect observations more widely and composed a list of queries on human expression. A number of handwritten copies were sent out in 1867 (see, for example, letter to Fritz Muller…
Matches: 20 hits
- … handwritten copies were sent out in 1867 (see, for example, letter to Fritz Muller, 22 February …
- … Correspondence about Darwin’s Questionnaire (click on the letter dates to see the individual letters …
- … Correspondent Letter date Location …
- … Africa)? ] mentioned in JPM Weale letter, but Bowker's answers not found …
- … Woolston, Southampton, England letter to W.E. Darwin shrugging …
- … Square W London, England enclosed in a letter from Henry Maudsley …
- … Darwin, W.E. [7? April 1868] Southampton, England …
- … Gaika, Christian 7 July 1867 Bedford [Cape of Good …
- … Peradeniya, Ceylon enclosed in letter from G.H.K. Thwaites …
- … Egypt] possibly included in letter(s) from Asa Gray Nile …
- … Lake Wellington, Australia letter to F.J.H. von Mueller nodding, …
- … Abbey Place, London, England letter to Emma Darwin baby expression …
- … Penmaenmawr, Conway, Wales letter to Emma Darwin infant daughter …
- … Square W, London, England Enclosed letter from Dr. C. Browne …
- … astonishment Muller, Fritz 22 Feb [1867] …
- … Expression, p. 137 Muller, Fritz 30 Jan …
- … Reade, Winwood W. 7 Sept 1872 11 St Mary Abbot' …
- … W., London, England enclosed in letter from W. W. Reade Hottentots …
- … England (about Australia) encloses letter from Austrialian friend, letter not …
- … forwarded by Smyth; Wilson sent letter to Ferdinand von Mueller Victoria Aborigines …
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: 23 hits
- … , he had told his valued South American correspondent Fritz Müller, ‘I feel myself a very old man, …
- … in Unconscious memory in November 1880 and in an abusive letter about Darwin in the St James’s …
- … memory in Kosmos and sent Darwin a separate letter for publication in the Journal of Popular …
- … publishers decided to print ‘500 more, making 2000’ ( letter to H. E. Litchfield, 4 January 1881 ) …
- … a sinner as those whom I have blamed.’ The book inspired Fritz Müller to send observations from …
- … 31 January [1881] and 19 February [1881] ). On 7 March , Darwin sent his discussion of the …
- … the animal learnt from its own individual experience ( letter from G. J. Romanes, 7 March 1881 ). …
- … whether observations of their behaviour were trustworthy ( letter to Francis Galton, 8 March [1881] …
- … about the sale of books being ‘a game of chance’ ( letter to R. F. Cooke, 12 April 1881 ). On 18 …
- … a method to investigate aggregation. He explained to Fritz Müller on 10 September why he had …
- … Darwin told Francis on 9 November , and writing to Fritz Müller on 13 November , he confessed, …
- … new facts is but dull work.’ It was Fritz Müller who sparked Darwin’s interest in …
- … of dimorphism), to see whether his observations supported Müller’s conclusion. Set ‘on fire’ by …
- … for more suggestions of such plants, especially annuals ( letter to W. T. Thiselton-Dyer, 21 March …
- … in obtaining mature plants. On 12 April, he reported to Müller , ‘I have procured some plants of …
- … supposed he would feel ‘less sulky in a day or two’ ( letter to R. F. Cooke, 29 July 1881 ). The …
- … dead a work falls at this late period of the season’ ( letter from R. F. Cooke, 30 July 1881 ). …
- … conversation with you’, a Swedish teacher told him ( letter from C. E. Södling, 14 October 1881 ), …
- … add, however little, to the general stock of knowledge’ ( letter to E. W. Bok, 10 May 1881 ). …
- … judge this seems true’, Darwin reported to Romanes on 7 August . Family joys An …
- … 1881 ). The publication date was 10 October, but by 7 October Darwin learned that 1200 copies …
- … for the Belfast potato-blight researcher James Torbitt; Fritz Müller was offered £100 to replace …
- … in 1881, the year ended with the happy news of a birth. On 7 December, Charles and Emma Darwin’s …
Darwin in letters,1866: Survival of the fittest
Summary
The year 1866 began well for Charles Darwin, as his health, after several years of illness, was now considerably improved. In February, Darwin received a request from his publisher, John Murray, for a new edition of Origin. Darwin got the fourth…
Matches: 24 hits
- … Pound foolish, Penurious, Pragmatical Prigs’ ( letter from J. D. Hooker, [29 December 1866] ). But …
- … able to write easy work for about 1½ hours every day’ ( letter to H. B. Jones, 3 January [1866] ). …
- … once daily to make the chemistry go on better’ ( letter from H. B. Jones, 10 February [1866] ). …
- … see you out with our beagles before the season is over’ ( letter from John Lubbock, 4 August 1866 …
- … work doing me any harm—any how I can’t be idle’ ( letter to W. D. Fox, 24 August [1866] ). …
- … production of which Tegetmeier had agreed to supervise ( letter to W. B. Tegetmeier, 16 January …
- … of “Domestic Animals & Cult. Plants” to Printers’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 24 December [1866] …
- … good deal I think, & have come to more definite views’ ( letter to T. H. Huxley, 22 December …
- … theory of phytophagic varieties and species of insects, Fritz Müller’s research on crustacean …
- … ‘I quite follow you in thinking Agassiz glacier-mad’ ( letter to Charles Lyell, 8[–9] September …
- … ten times more than the belief of a dozen physicists’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, [28 February 1866] …
- … past few years. Emma described the Royal Society event in a letter to George: ‘Your father … entered …
- … you—& told me to worship Bence Jones in future—’ ( letter from J. D. Hooker, 13 May 1866 ). …
- … so well most days since being in London, like what I was 7 or 8 years ago— one day I paid 3 calls! …
- … delighted to come on those terms so you are in for it’ ( letter from H. E. Darwin, [ c . 10 May …
- … ordinaryly diœcious’ ( letter from W. E. Darwin, [7 May – 11 June 1866] ). On examining more …
- … a different light from you’ ( letter from J. D. Hooker, 7 August 1866 ). The two exchanged letters …
- … held forth against Origin (J. D. Hooker 1866a, pp. 50, 75–6). The progress of reception …
- … on human races. Darwin replied with a modified list, adding Fritz Müller’s Für Darwin , and a …
- … , letter to J. D. Hooker, 24 December [1866] ). Fritz Müller Fritz Müller, the …
- … same subjects that have lately interested me’ ( letter to Fritz Müller, 25 September [1866] ). Not …
- … competitor in the struggle for existence ( letter from Fritz Müller, 1 December 1866 ). By the …
- … you for that I hardly know how to begin’ ( letter to Fritz Müller, [before 10 December 1866] ). …
- … letter from E. C. Langton to Emma and Charles Darwin, [6 and 7? January 1866] ), and Darwin later …
Darwin in Conversation exhibition
Summary
Meet Charles Darwin as you have never met him before. Come to our exhibition at Cambridge University Library, running from 9 July to 3 December 2022, and discover a fascinating series of interwoven conversations with Darwin's many hundreds of…
Matches: 1 hits
- … 9 July – 3 December 2022 Milstein Exhibition Centre, Cambridge University …
Darwin in letters, 1879: Tracing roots
Summary
Darwin spent a considerable part of 1879 in the eighteenth century. His journey back in time started when he decided to publish a biographical account of his grandfather Erasmus Darwin to accompany a translation of an essay on Erasmus’s evolutionary ideas…
Matches: 25 hits
- … his publishers, he warned that it was ‘dry as dust’ ( letter to R. F. Cooke, 9 September 1879 ). …
- … turned out, alas, very dull & has disappointed me much’ ( letter to Francis Galton, 15 [June …
- … home again’, he fretted, just days before his departure ( letter to W. T. Thiselton-Dyer, [after 26 …
- … many blessings, was finding old age ‘a dismal time’ ( letter to Henry Johnson, 24 September 1879 ) …
- … wrinkles one all over like a baked pear’ ( enclosure in letter from R. W. Dixon, 20 December 1879 …
- … itself, or gone some other way round?’ At least the last letter of 1879 contained a warmer note and …
- … office to complete Horace’s marriage settlement ( letter from W. M. Hacon, 31 December 1879 ). …
- … but they were ‘as nice and good as could be’ ( letter from Karl Beger, [ c. 12 February 1879] ) …
- … on your life’s work, which is crowned with glory’ ( letter from Ernst Haeckel, 9 February 1879 ). …
- … party in the German house of representatives had accused Müller of corrupting his students by …
- … the statement ‘In the beginning was carbon’ ( letter from Hermann Müller, 14 February 1879 ). …
- … as the ‘organ of “uncultivated materialism”’ ( letter from Francis Darwin, [after 2 June 1879 ]). …
- … up the glory & would please Francis’, he pointed out ( letter from E. A. Darwin, 13 March [1879 …
- … wholly & shamefully ignorant of my grandfathers life’ ( letter to Ernst Krause, 14 March 1879 …
- … known philosopher and poet’ ( Correspondence vol. 1, letter from Francis Beaufort to Robert …
- … these things with the when & the where, & the who—’ ( letter from V. H. Darwin, 28 May …
- … paternal grandparents thought ‘perfect in every way’ ( letter from E. A. Wheler, 25 March 1879 ). …
- … heard of him ‘constantly, & always with pride’ ( letter from Reginald Darwin, 29 March 1879 ). …
- … essay might end up ‘interfering with each other’ ( letter to Ernst Krause, 27 March 1879 ). Darwin …
- … made such an introduction ‘almost indispensable’ ( letter from Ernst Krause, 7 June 1879 ). Darwin …
- … meet the local celebrity, John Ruskin. Marshall wrote on 7 September that Ruskin, the day after …
- … dogma’, Mary Jung, a young Austrian woman, wrote on 7 January . ‘When my reason agrees with your …
- … be an atheist, Darwin told the clergyman John Fordyce on 7 May , ‘It seems to me absurd to doubt …
- … thought or working for the public good. Darwin promoted Fritz Müller’s discoveries in Brazil by …
- … work in such an outstanding way’, Würtenberger wrote on 7 February , after receiving £100 from …
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: 15 hits
- … | Microscopes | Collecting | Theory Letter writing is often seen as a part of …
- … with detailed correspondence about barnacles. Letter 1514 — Darwin, C. R. to Huxley, T. …
- … of one idea. – cirripedes morning & night.” Letter 1480 — Darwin, C. R. to Huxley, …
- … on embryological stages than Huxley thinks. Letter 1592 — Darwin, C. R. to Huxley, T. H …
- … was the German naturalist and émigré to Brazil, Fritz Müller. Their letters often discussed the …
- … and crossed with pollen of other species. Letter 5480 — Müller, J. F. T. to Darwin, C. …
- … Claus, Die freilebenden Copepoden [1863]. Letter 5551 — Darwin, C. R. to Müller, J. …
- … on the use and importance of the microscope. Letter 207 — Darwin, C. R. to Fox, W. D., …
- … with a microscope ranks second only to geology. Letter 1018 — Darwin, C. R. to Hooker, …
- … “take advantage of your wicked offer of assistance”. The letter is full of observations on barnacles …
- … ed., Manual of scientific enquiry (1849)]. Letter 1167 — Darwin, C. R. to Henslow, …
- … finds this microscope “wonderfully superior”. Letter 1174 — Darwin, C. R. to Hooker, J. …
- … specimens and information for his barnacle book. Letter 1140 — Darwin, C. R. to Ross, J …
- … to the Arctic in search of Sir John Franklin. Letter 1262 — Darwin, C. R. to Hancock, …
- … Letter 1319 — Hooker, J. D. to Darwin, C. R., 6 & 7 Apr 1850 Hooker thinks Darwin is “too …
Scientific Networks
Summary
Friendship|Mentors|Class|Gender In its broadest sense, a scientific network is a set of connections between people, places, and things that channel the communication of knowledge, and that substantially determine both its intellectual form and content,…
Matches: 20 hits
- … and colonial authorities. In the nineteenth-century, letter writing was one of the most important …
- … in times of uncertainty, controversy, or personal loss. Letter writing was not only a means of …
- … botanist Asa Gray. Darwin and Hooker Letter 714 — Darwin, C. R. to Hooker, J. D. …
- … and he is curious about Hooker’s thoughts. Letter 729 — Darwin, C. R. to Hooker, J. D., …
- … to Hooker “it is like confessing a murder”. Letter 736 — Darwin, C. R. to Hooker, J. D. …
- … wide-ranging genera. Darwin and Gray Letter 1674 — Darwin, C. R. to Gray, …
- … and asks him to append the ranges of the species. Letter 1685 — Gray, Asa to Darwin, C. …
- … and relationships of alpine flora in the USA. Letter 2125 — Darwin, C. R. to Gray, Asa, …
- … and their approach to information exchange. Letter 1202 — Darwin, C. R. to Hooker, J. D …
- … first describer’s name to specific name. Letter 1220 — Hooker, J. D. to Darwin, C. R., …
- … perpetuity of names in species descriptions. Letter 1260 — Darwin, C. R. to Hooker, J. …
- … ends with a discussion of lamination of gneiss. Letter 1319 — Hooker, J. D. to Darwin, …
- … up his doubts about Darwin’s doctrines. In his second letter he talks about his visit with Falconer. …
- … was on the Beagle voyage and afterwards. Letter 152 — Darwin, C. R. to Henslow, J. …
- … is Henslow’s “bounden duty to lecture me”. Letter 196 — Henslow, J. S. to Darwin, C. R. …
- … sends home a copy of his notes on the specimens. Letter 249 — Henslow, J. S. to Darwin, …
- … sends news of Cambridge and mutual friends. Letter 251 — Darwin, C. R. to Henslow, J. S …
- … illness and specimens are sent to Henslow. Letter 272 — Darwin, C. R. to Henslow, J. S. …
- … R. Soc. Lond. 147 (1857): 79–100]. Darwin and Müller Letter 5457 — Müller, H. …
- … L. H., 29 Mar [1867] Darwin learns that German botanist Fritz Müller is Hermann Müller’s …
Forms of flowers
Summary
Darwin’s book The different forms of flowers on plants of the same species, published in 1877, investigated the structural differences in the sexual organs of flowers of the same species. It drew on and expanded five articles Darwin had published on the…
Matches: 5 hits
- … . He encouraged Huxley to read it, noting, ‘ Asa Gray & Fritz Müller (the latter especially) …
- … exhibited different forms . With typical enthusiasm, Müller had reported finding several new …
- … proves the absolute distinctness of the parents ’. Fritz Müller was enthusiastic, commenting, ‘ …
- … in species of Linum’ (p. 82) and clarified the meaning to Fritz Müller in a letter in September 1866 …
- … than in the short-styled form ’, Darwin annotated this letter, wondering, ‘Would it be worth while …
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: 25 hits
- … in satisfying female preference in the mating process. In a letter to Alfred Russel Wallace in 1864, …
- … of changing the races of man’ (Correspondence vol. 12, letter to A. R. Wallace, 28 [May 1864] ). …
- … book would take the form of a ‘short essay’ on man ( letter to Ernst Haeckel, 3 July 1868 ). But …
- … as well say, he would drink a little and not too much’ ( letter to Albert Günther, 15 May [1868] ) …
- … would be a great loss to the Book’. But Darwin’s angry letter to Murray crossed one from Dallas to …
- … of labour to remuneration I shall look rather blank’ ( letter from W. S. Dallas, 8 January 1868 ). …
- … if I try to read a few pages feel fairly nauseated’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 3 February [1868] ). …
- … Darwin was clearly impressed by Lewes’s reviews. On 7 August 1868 , he wrote him a lengthy letter …
- … would strike me in the face, but not behind my back’ ( letter to John Murray, 25 February [1868] ) …
- … ignorant article… . It is a disgrace to the paper’ ( letter from A. R. Wallace, 24 February [1868] …
- … ‘he is a scamp & I begin to think a veritable ass’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 1 September [1868] …
- … wrote of the colour of duck claws on 17 April 1868 . The letter was addressed to ‘the Rev d C. …
- … proved very fruitful. On 1 May , Darwin received a letter from George Cupples, who was encouraged …
- … with the enthusiastic breeder, who apologised in a letter of 11–13 May 1868 for his ‘voluminuous …
- … of science On 27 February , Darwin sent a letter of thanks to the naturalist and …
- … he later added, ‘for it is clear that I have none’ ( letter to J. J. Weir, 30 May [1868] ). …
- … to various classes, a dim ray of light may be gained’ ( letter to H. T. Stainton, 21 February [1868 …
- … as well as of ‘victorious males getting wives’ ( letter to W. D. Fox, 25 February [1868] ). …
- … a German waltz and was much admired for it by other birds. Fritz Müller sent information on the …
- … undergoing vaccination ( letter from W. E. Darwin, [7 April 1868] ). Francis was also drafted into …
- … subjects were a favourite topic in his correspondence with Fritz Müller, who was one of the few …
- … and the comparative fertility of different flower forms. Müller offered observations of orchids, …
- … facts which you have communicated to me’ ( letter to Fritz Müller, 3 June 1868 ). it is …
- … desire to penetrate Truth’ ( letter from Ernest Faivre, 7 April 1868 ). Armand de Quatrefages, who …
- … in the second printing of the book in February. Hermann Müller remarked in a letter dated [after …
Diagrams and drawings in letters
Summary
Over 850 illustrations from the printed volumes of The Correspondence of Charles Darwin have been added to the online transcripts of the letters. The contents include maps, diagrams, drawings, sketches and photographs, covering geological, botanical,…
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: 25 hits
- … & I am sick of correcting’ ( Correspondence vol. 16, letter to W. D. Fox, 12 December [1868 …
- … Well it is a beginning, & that is something’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, [22 January 1869] ). …
- … made any blunders, as is very likely to be the case’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 13 January 1869 ). …
- … countered Nägeli’s thesis ( Origin 5th ed., pp. 151–7). Fleeming Jenkin and problems of …
- … than I now see is possible or probable’ (see also letter to A. R. Wallace, 22 January [1869] , …
- … is strengthened by the facts in distribution’ ( letter to James Croll, 31 January [1869] ). Darwin …
- … tropical species using Croll’s theory. In the same letter to Croll, Darwin had expressed …
- … a very long period before the Cambrian formation’ ( letter to James Croll, 31 January [1869] …
- … data to go by, but don’t think we have got that yet’ ( letter from James Croll, 4 February 1869 ). …
- … I d have been less deferential towards [Thomson]’ ( letter to T. H. Huxley, 19 March [1869] ). …
- … completed revisions of the ‘everlasting old Origin’ ( letter to Asa Gray, 1 June [1869] ), he was …
- … him however in his researches I would willingly do so’ ( letter from Robert Elliot to George …
- … with his noisy courting of the female in the garden ( letter from Frederick Smith, 8 October 1869 …
- … doubted her ability to recognise the different varieties ( letter to W. B. Tegetmeier, 25 February …
- … weary of everlasting males & females, cocks & hens.—’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 13 November …
- … with much more of the same description’ ( enclosure to letter from Henry Maudsley, 20 May 1869 ). …
- … in an additional & proximate cause in regard to Man’ ( letter to A. R. Wallace, 14 April 1869 …
- … orang-utan, and the bird of paradise (Wallace 1869a; letter to A. R. Wallace, 22 March [1869] ) …
- … does himself an injustice & never demands justice’ ( letter to A. R. Wallace, 14 April 1869 ). …
- … geological structures of the South American cordillera ( letter to Charles Lyell, 20 May 1869 ), …
- … of the same species that Darwin had investigated in depth ( letter from C. F. Claus, 6 February …
- … role of earthworms in the formation of the soil ( letter to Gardeners’ Chronicle , 9 May [1869] …
- … paid for himself: William Sweetland Dallas’s edition of Fritz Müller’s Für Darwin (Dallas trans. …
- … offering my book to English readers.—’ ( letter from Fritz Müller, 15 June 1869 ). …
- … oil over the bumptious man’ ( letter from J. D. Hooker, 7 September 1869 ). Huxley playfully …
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: 26 hits
- … ‘my wife … poor creature, has won only 2490 games’ ( letter to Asa Gray, 28 January 1876 ). …
- … quantity of work’ left in him for ‘new matter’ (letter to Asa Gray, 28 January 1876). The …
- … to a reprint of the second edition of Climbing plants ( letter from R. F. Cooke, 23 February …
- … & I for blundering’, he cheerfully observed to Carus. ( Letter to J. V. Carus, 24 April 1876. …
- … provided evidence for the ‘advantages of crossing’ (letter to Asa Gray, 28 January 1876). Revising …
- … year to write about his life ( Correspondence vol. 23, letter from Ernst von Hesse-Wartegg, 20 …
- … nowadays is evolution and it is the correct one’ ( letter from Nemo, [1876?] ). …
- … him ‘basely’ and who had succeeded in giving him pain ( letter to A. R. Wallace, 17 June 1876 ). …
- … disgrace’ of blackballing so distinguished a zoologist ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 29 January 1876 ) …
- … must have been cast by the ‘poorest curs in London’ ( letter to W. T. Thiselton-Dyer, [4 February …
- … her questions were ‘too silly to deserve an answer’ ( letter from S. B. Herrick, 12 February 1876 …
- … on Dionaea ‘to test the insect eating theory’ ( letter from Peter Henderson, 15 November 1876 …
- … sending Darwin small amendments to his results ( letter from Moritz Schiff, 8 May 1876 ). …
- … to get positive results in this year’s experiments’ ( letter from G. J. Romanes, [ c . 19 March …
- … in the Encyclopaedia Britannica the previous year ( letter to G. H. Darwin, [after 4 September …
- … and to promote work he admired. He was so interested in a letter from Fritz Müller in Brazil …
- … with the ants that inhabited the trunk that he sent the letter to Nature for publication. ‘It …
- … communicated this information in an article in Nature ( letter from Johann von Fischer, [before …
- … phyllotaxis by the mutual pressure of very young buds’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 21 June [1876] ). …
- … Scottish shoemaker and ardent naturalist Thomas Edward ( letter from F. M. Balfour, 11 December …
- … live blood-hound which shall hunt it to the death’ ( letter from James Torbitt, 19 April 1876 …
- … the public to consider Torbitt an untrustworthy fanatic ( letter to James Torbitt, 21 April 1876 ) …
- … request, with the ‘awful job’ of informing the author ( letter to G. G. Stokes, 21 April [1876] ). …
- … of the sick body to the natural laws’ ( letter from Fritz Hoddick, 23 November 1876 ). In late May …
- … the more shocking because associated with a happy event. On 7 September, Charles and Emma became …
- … harmony with yours’ ( letter from George Henslow, [ c. 7 December 1876] ). A more typical …
Darwin in letters, 1875: Pulling strings
Summary
‘I am getting sick of insectivorous plants’, Darwin confessed in January 1875. He had worked on the subject intermittently since 1859, and had been steadily engaged on a book manuscript for nine months; January also saw the conclusion of a bitter dispute…
Matches: 26 hits
- … On 8 January , he told Hooker: ‘I will write a savage letter & that will do me some good, if I …
- … ‘Without cutting him direct’, he advised Darwin on 7 January , ‘I should avoid him, & if he …
- … to the Editor … Poor Murray shuddered again & again’ ( letter from J. D. Hooker, 16 January …
- … offered to pay the costs for printing an additional 250 ( letter to John Murray, 3 May 1875 ). …
- … & bless the day That ever you were born (letter from E. F. Lubbock, [after 2 …
- … that the originally red half has become wholly white’ ( letter from G. J. Romanes, [before 4 …
- … can make several parts clearer,’ Darwin reiterated on 7 November , ‘I believe (though I hope I am …
- … pp. 188–90). He drew attention to this discussion in a letter to George Rolleston, remarking on 2 …
- … Darwin wrote, ‘I beg ten thousand pardon & more’ ( letter to Francis Darwin, [ c . February …
- … signed himself, ‘Your affect son … the proofmaniac’ ( letter from Francis Darwin, 1 and 2 May [1875 …
- … the Oxford professor of oriental languages, Friedrich Max Müller. George’s article also rehearsed …
- … which had become a debating point between Whitney and Max Müller. In Descent 2d ed., pp. 86–8, …
- … through unconscious processes, and had criticised Max Müller’s insistence that language was an …
- … Darwin 1874c, p. 894). On previous occasions, Max Müller and Darwin had aired their …
- … vol. 21), and George’s review prompted Max Müller to write to Darwin affirming that his convictions …
- … ancestry. ‘You know better than anybody’, he wrote on 7 January , ‘how infinitely great is the …
- … I find it in language & what is implied by language.’ Max Müller also published an article in …
- … offer on astronomy, or the Duke of Wellington on art (Max Müller 1875, pp. 305–7). The debate …
- … both critical and reverential. On 16 July he received a letter from an advocate of women’s …
- … included long-term correspondents such as Ernst Haeckel, Fritz and Hermann Müller, and Anton Dohrn. …
- … many German philosophers to “Darwinism”!’ The author, Fritz Schultze, contacted Darwin himself on …
- … her presentation copy of Insectivorous plants ( letter to D. F. Nevill, 15 July [1875] ). Such …
- … of my house within the short time I can talk to anyone’ ( letter to John Lubbock, 3 May [1875] ). …
- … and had agreed to see him at Down with Thiselton-Dyer ( letter to W. T. Thiselton-Dyer, 7 July 1875 …
- … lay of hair in eyelashes and on arms, a typically lengthy letter full of personal observations, …
- … examination it was pronounced to be of a ‘high type’ ( letter from Woodward Emery, 17 September …
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: 28 hits
- … I omitted to observe, which I ought to have observed” ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 12 January [1873] …
- … work your wicked will on it—root leaf & branch!” ( letter from J. D. Hooker, 12 January 1873 ) …
- … studies in February. He received detailed observations from Fritz Müller in Brazil, Friedrich …
- … parts of the flower would become modified & correlated” ( letter to T. H. Farrer, 14 August …
- … it again, “for Heaven knows when it will be ready” ( letter to John Murray, 4 May [1873] ). …
- … we take notes and take tracings of their burrows” ( letter from Francis Darwin, 14 August [1873] ) …
- … in importance; and if so more places will be created” ( letter to E. A. Darwin, 20 September 1873 …
- … our unfortunate family being fit for continuous work” ( letter from E. A. Darwin, 25 September …
- … on any point; for I knew my own ignorance before hand” ( letter to George Cupples, 28 April [1873] …
- … “he would fly at the Empr’s throat like a bulldog” ( letter from L. M. Forster to H. E. Litchfield, …
- … force & truth of the great principle of inheritance!” ( letter to F. S. B. F. de Chaumont, 3 …
- … the heavy breathing that accompanied sexual intercourse? (letter from ?, [1873?]). The Scottish …
- … with up lines; & sadness & decay with the reverse—” ( letter from William Main, 2 April …
- … with the advance of civilisation and good breeding ( letter from Henry Reeks, 3 March 1873 ). …
- … have never felt an inclination to have a second dose” ( letter from Robert Swinhoe, 26 March 1873 …
- … of an orbital one produces snapping of the jaws” ( letter from James Crichton-Browne, 16 April 1873 …
- … that illustrated the physiognomy of the disease ( letter to James Crichton-Browne, 30 December 1873 …
- … by an individual could be transmitted to its offspring ( letter from J. T. Moggridge, 1 February …
- … a related discussion in Nature magazine, forwarding a letter from William Huggins on a case of …
- … Kepler who was fearful of butchers and butcher’s shops ( letter to Nature , [before 13 February …
- … smell. Darwin joined the debate, writing to Nature ( letter to Nature , [before 13 March …
- … The debate later shifted to ants when Darwin forwarded a letter from the mining engineer James …
- … disperse wildly after he had smashed some with his finger ( letter to Nature , [before 3 April …
- … privilege to offer” ( letter from E. F. Lubbock, [before 7 April 1873] ). Hooker added: “I have …
- … but he is a deal too sharp” ( letter from J. D. Hooker, [7 April 1873] ). A group of Huxley …
- … been criticised for this by the philologist Friedrich Max Müller in a series of lectures at the …
- … than species are permanent” ( letter from John Farr, 7 July 1873 ). Further thoughts on the …
- … past memories” ( letter to A. A. L. P. Cochrane, [after 7 June 1873] ). Darwin did accept …
Movement in Plants
Summary
The power of movement in plants, published on 7 November 1880, was the final large botanical work that Darwin wrote. It was the only work in which the assistance of one of his children, Francis Darwin, is mentioned on the title page. The research for this…
Matches: 23 hits
- … The power of movement in plants , published on 7 November 1880, was the final large botanical work …
- … had considered combining the works in a single volume ( letter to J. V. Carus, 7 February 1875 ). …
- … 1877, Darwin asked one of his most trusted correspondents, Fritz Müller, to ‘ observe whether any …
- … , a plant that exhibited all three types of movement ( letter from R. I. Lynch, [before 28 July …
- … the woodblock using photography for scientific accuracy ( letter from J. D. Cooper, 13 December …
- … lost colour, withered, and died within a couple of days ( letter from A. F. Batalin, 28 February …
- … how their observations could have been so much at odds ( letter to Hugo de Vries 13 February 1879 …
- … the botanist Gaetano Durando, to find plants and seeds ( letter to Francis Darwin, [4 February – 8 …
- … into March 1879, and Darwin seemed weary when he told Fritz Müller, ‘ I have little or nothing to …
- … only the regulator & not cause of movement ’. In the same letter, Darwin discussed terminology, …
- … to replace Frank’s ‘Transversal-Heliotropismus’ ( letter from W. E. Darwin, 10 February [1880] ). …
- … experiments and devised a new test, which he described in a letter to his mother, ‘ I did some …
- … and it appeared in 1880 (F. Darwin 1880b). In the same letter, Francis revealed the frustration of …
- … on holiday in the Lake District, Darwin received a long letter from De Vries detailing his latest …
- … described as ‘little discs’ and ‘greenish bodies’ ( letter to W. T. Thiselton-Dyer, 29 October 1879 …
- … of cotton that he had not been able to observe earlier ( letter to W. T. Thiselton-Dyer, 20 …
- … might have been too weak to lift the weight of the seed ( letter from Asa Gray, 3 February 1880 ). …
- … germination occurred, the plant would be killed by frost ( letter from Asa Gray, 4 April 1880 ). …
- … Plants’ or ‘The Nature of the Movements of Plants’ ( letter to R. F. Cooke, 23 April [1880] ). …
- … Phytographie (A. de Candolle 1880). In his letter of thanks for the book, Darwin promised to send …
- … for advice about the number of copies they should print ( letter to John Murray, 10 July 1880 ). …
- … works, Murray was willing to publish on the usual terms ( letter from R. F. Cooke, 15 July 1880 ). …
- … only suggest printing more copies or raising the price ( letter from R. F. Cooke, 20 July 1880 ). …
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: 3 hits
- … & do not find that it is known, I will perhaps write a letter to you for the chance of its …
- … days later, Oliver apologised for the tone of his previous letter (‘more seemly if addressed to one …
- … afield in Brazil, a new and important correspondent, Fritz Müller , began to supply Darwin with a …
