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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: 26 hits

  • … Hist. [Jenyns 1838] Prichard; a 3 d . vol [Prichard 1836–47] Lawrence [W. Lawrence 1819] …
  • … 1829] Prostitution of Paris [Parent-Duchâtelet 1836]. about licentiousness destroying their …
  • … There appears to be good art. on Entozore 12  by Owen in Encyclop. of Anat. & Physiology [R. …
  • … researches on the Horse in N. America— [Harlan 1835] Owen has it. & Royal Soc Lord …
  • … has pub. in 1 st  vol of Annals of Vienna [Endlicher 1836]. sketch of S. sea Botany R. …
  • … Col. le Couteur has written on wheat [Le Couteur 1836] Bechstein on Caged Birds. 10 s  6 d …
  • … [Reimarius 1760] The Highlands & Western Isl ds  letter to Sir W Scott [MacCulloch 1824 …
  • … [?Heisch 1842] Coleridge. Literary Remains [Coleridge 1836–9] Inconsistency of Human …
  • … and Duméril 1821] Encyclop of Anat & Phys [Todd ed. 1836–59] [DAR *119: 14] …
  • … 36s.— Wiegmann. Archif fur Naturgeschicte. 33  1836. Meyen on distrib of plants in …
  • … 1834–40]: In Portfolio of “abstracts” 34  —letter from Skuckard of books on Silk Worm …
  • … geological History of the Horse [Karkeek 1841]. (not read.) Owen not got these No s . …
  • … read it— Erasmus has it Owens Brit. Mammalia [R. Owen 1846a]— Horner has it. (read) …
  • … M rs  Fry’s Life [Fry 1847] Horace Walpoles letter to C t . of Ossory [Walpole 1848] …
  • … Asiatic Society ]—contains very little Macleay’s letter to D r  Fleming [Macleay 1830] …
  • … Rich d . 2 d . poor. Henry IV [Shakespeare:  King Richard II ;  King Henry IV ] …
  • … [Heer 1854].— Hooker has it.— Very important Hookers letter Jan. 1859 Yules Ava [Yule 1858] …
  • … of the material from these portfolios is in DAR 205, the letter from William Edward Shuckard to …
  • … ( Notebooks , pp. 319–28). 55  The letter was addressed to Nicholas Aylward Vigors …
  • … British Association for the Advancement of Science (1854). Richard Owen gave the same paper at the …
  • … is confused; the citation given is actually that of Richard Owen’s paper on Dinornis  rather than …
  • … all sorts of trees, shrubs, and flowers . Revised by Richard Bradley. London.  *119: 19v.; 119: …
  • … [Other eds.]  *119: 13, 22; 119: 22b Beste, John Richard. 1855.  The Wabash; or, …
  • … Home life in Germany . London.  128: 11 Bradley, Richard. 1724.  A general treatise of …
  • … [Abstract in DAR 205.3: 143–51.]  128: 6 Dana, Richard Henry. [1840].  Two years before …
  • … of glaciers.  Edinburgh.  119: 15b Ford, Richard. 1846.  Gatherings from Spain . By the …

Darwin in letters, 1847-1850: Microscopes and barnacles

Summary

Darwin's study of barnacles, begun in 1844, took him eight years to complete. The correspondence reveals how his interest in a species found during the Beagle voyage developed into an investigation of the comparative anatomy of other cirripedes and…

Matches: 15 hits

  • … hurrah for my species-work’ ( Correspondence  vol. 3, letter to J. D. Hooker, [5 or 12 November …
  • … William Herschel, to write the chapter on geology ( letter to J. F. W. Herschel, 4 February [1848] …
  • … to Milne directly, he sent a long rejoinder in the form of a letter for publication in the Scotsman. …
  • … asked for it to be destroyed. Only the draft of Darwin’s letter remains ( letter to the  Scotsman …
  • … that his original fieldwork was ‘time thrown away’ ( letter to Charles Lyell, 8 [September 1847] ) …
  • … that it would be a ‘thorn in the side of É de B.’ (letter to Charles Lyell, 3 January 1850 ). …
  • … marine invertebrates himself (see Correspondence vol. 2, letter to Leonard Jenyns, 10 April [1837]) …
  • … of Cryptophialus minutus . He sent the manuscript to Richard Owen, presumably for his comments, …
  • … opinion that such a monograph was a ‘desideratum’ ( letter to J. L. R. Agassiz, 22 October 1848 ), …
  • … abortive stamens or pistils ( Correspondence  vol. 2, letter from J. S. Henslow, 21 November …
  • … care what you say, my species theory is all gospel.—’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 10 May 1848 ). …
  • … sacrifice the rule of priority for the sake of expedience ( letter to H. E. Strickland, [4 February …
  • … it as ‘the greatest curse to natural History’ ( letter to H. E. Strickland, 29 January [1849] ). …
  • … Museum of Zoology, has been transcribed with Darwin’s letter to H. E. Strickland, 29 January [1849 …
  • … the battle, he gave up only from fatigue and ill health ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 9 April 1849 ). …

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: 21 hits

  • found acceptance at the time Origin was published. In 1836, Jacques Boucher de Perthes had found
  • species such as the mammoth ( Correspondence vol. 8, letter to Charles Lyell, 4 May [1860] and n. …
  • Galton.   In February 1863, Lubbock received a letter from Lyell, evidently in response
  • of 1858 and 1859. 5 Another controversy arose when Richard Owen, writing in the Athenæum , …
  • about Lyells failure to support him. In April 1863, in a letter to the Athenæum , he discussed a
  • transmutation; he also wrote to Lyell telling him about the letter to the Athenæum . 9
  • 1863b, p. 213).  In May 1864, Lubbock received a letter from Falconer, who reiterated his
  • and went on to say that he intended to make a copy of his letter to show to friends. 18 In
  • wrote to Darwin to ask what he thought of the affair ( letter from J. D. Hooker, [2 June 1865] ). …
  • he reiterated his admiration for Lubbocks book ( letter to J. D. Hooker, [4 June 1865] ). A week
  • in the dispute. When Hooker pressed him for an opinion ( letter from J. D. Hooker, 13 July 1865 ), …
  • with Huxley in June and July and had seen Huxleys letter to Hooker about the affair, 24 he
  • reluctantly agreed to delete his own note. In his last letter to Huxley dealing with the affair, he
  • 30 However, two weeks later, in his last letter to Hooker on the matter, Lubbocks tone was
  • analysis of the situation was succinct. In his letter to Hooker of [4 June 1865] he warned that
  • third edition of Antiquity of man (C. Lyell 1863c; see letter from J. D. Hooker, [15 June 1865
  • written in Swedish, he gave me an abstract for my use, in a letter dated December 1859. He referred
  • 1983, Stocking 1987, and Van Riper 1993. 2. Letter from Charles Lyell to John Lubbock, 20
  • Lyell, see Bynum 1984 and L. G. Wilson 1996. 6. Owens complaints about C. Lyell 1863a
  • 1973. 8. See Correspondence vol. 11, letter to Charles Lyell, 6 March [1863] and
  • life . By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1859. Owen, Richard. 1863. Ape-origin of man

Darwin in letters, 1837–1843: The London years to 'natural selection'

Summary

The seven-year period following Darwin's return to England from the Beagle voyage was one of extraordinary activity and productivity in which he became recognised as a naturalist of outstanding ability, as an author and editor, and as a professional…

Matches: 12 hits

  • of thinking about the significance of John Goulds and Richard Owens identifications of his bird
  • … . The work comprises five partsFossil Mammalia , by Richard OwenMammalia , by G. R. …
  • Henslow 1837a and 1838; W. J. Hooker and G. A. W. Arnott 1836, 1841; J. D. Hooker 18447, 1845, 1846
  • to the views of his master. Their correspondence began in 1836 and from the start Lyell accepted
  • letters have suffered an even more severe loss. In a letter to Lyells sister-in-law, Katharine
  • of fact . . . on the origin & variation of species” ( Letter to J. S. Henslow, [November 1839] …
  • that he had a sound solution to what J. F. W. Herschel in a letter to Lyell had called themystery
  • about searching for evidence to support his hypothesis. In a letter to Lyell, [14] September [1838
  • just the same, though I know what I am looking for' ( Letter to G. R. Waterhouse, [26 July
  • there were no doubts as to how one ought to act’ ( Letter from Emma Darwin, [  c.  February 1839] …
  • for several months (See  Correspondence  vol. 1, letter to Caroline Darwin, 13 October 1834 , …
  • notebook). See also Allan 1977, pp. 12830). The letter, onDouble flowersto the  …

Journal of researches

Summary

Within two months of the Beagle’s arrival back in England in October 1836, Darwin, although busy with distributing his specimens among specialists for description, and more interested in working on his geological research, turned his mind to the task of…

Matches: 5 hits

  • … Ships Adventure and Beagle, between the years 1826 and 1836, describing their examination of the …
  • … months of the Beagle’s arrival back in England in October 1836, Darwin, although busy with …
  • … quite difficult to stop to criticize ’. By the end of 1836, the matter of whether Darwin’s journal …
  • … Buckland praised its ‘ high scientific merits ’; Richard Owen thought it ‘ as full of good …
  • … Alexander von Humboldt, who wrote a long and appreciative letter about the ‘ excellent et admirable …

Darwin in letters, 1861: Gaining allies

Summary

The year 1861 marked an important change in the direction of Darwin’s work. He had weathered the storm that followed the publication of Origin, and felt cautiously optimistic about the ultimate acceptance of his ideas. The letters from this year provide an…

Matches: 25 hits

  • will do me & Natural Selection, right good service’ ( letter to Asa Gray, 267 Februrary [1861] …
  • … ‘barometerof scientific opinion, Charles Lyell ( see letter to Charles Lyell, 20 July [1861] ). …
  • selection could not bedirectly proved’ ( see second letter to J. D. Hooker, 23 [April 1861] ). …
  • wasthe only one proper to such a subject’ ( letter from Henry Fawcett, 16 July [1861] ). Mill in
  • or against some view if it is to be of any service!’ ( letter to Henry Fawcett, 18 September [1861] …
  • chapter on the imperfection of the geological record ( see letter to George Maw, 19 July [1861] ). …
  • he planned to reportat a favourable opportunity’ ( letter from Joseph Leidy, 4 March [1861] ). …
  • laboratory where Nature manufactures her new species’ ( letter from H. W. Bates, 28 March [1861] ) …
  • study of natural history was evident. He told Darwin in his letter of [1 December] 1861: …
  • by insect enemies from which the other set is free’ ( letter from H. W. Bates, 30 September 1861 ) …
  • be avery valuable contribution to Nat. History.—’ ( letter to H. W. Bates, 4 April [1861] ). He
  • causes &c’, andMonkeys,—our poor cousins.—’ ( letter to H. W. Bates, 3 December [1861] ). …
  • a view to obtaininglarge distributionfor the work ( letter to H. W. Bates, 25 September [1861] …
  • and of special creation. Supported by such authorities as Richard Owen and Louis Agassiz who
  • however, was mild in comparison with the controversy between Richard Owen and Thomas Henry Huxley
  • relationship between the human species and the higher apes. Owen had given anatomical lectures to
  • brought back from West Africa by Paul Belloni Du Chaillu. Owen, while pointing out the similarities
  • dissimilar. Huxley pointed out, publicly and acerbicly that Owen was mistaken in his interpretations
  • For his part, Darwin enjoyed Huxleys sparring with Owen, though periodically concerned at the
  • attacks. On reading an article by Huxley that criticised Owens views on the brain, Darwin
  • the year, he did not wish foropen quarrel’, but he and Owen wouldnever be friends again’ ( …
  • fully believe a better man never walked this earth’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 18 [May 1861] ). …
  • had defended Darwin against criticism from Adam Sedgwick and Richard Owen. Darwin himself was able
  • could perhapsthrow some light on Hybridisation’ ( letter to Asa Gray, 16 September [1861] ). …
  • the diversity & perfection of the contrivances.–-’ ( letter of [28 July10 August 1861] ). …

Darwin in letters, 1844–1846: Building a scientific network

Summary

The scientific results of the Beagle voyage still dominated Darwin's working life, but he broadened his continuing investigations into the nature and origin of species. Far from being a recluse, Darwin was at the heart of British scientific society,…

Matches: 10 hits

  • Government grant was exhausted ( Correspondence  vol. 2, letter to A. Y. Spearman, 9 October 1843, …
  • Henslow, Leonard Horner, Leonard Jenyns, Edward Forbes, and Richard Owen shows. These friends, with
  • on species mutability with Hooker, Horner, Jenyns, Lyell, Owen, and Charles James Fox Bunbury; he
  • are not (it is like confessing a murder) immutable’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, [11 January 1844] ). …
  • the essay of 1844 to read (see  Correspondence  vol. 4, letter to J. D. Hooker, 8 [February 1847]) …
  • himself: as he told his cousin William Darwin Fox in a letter of [24 April 1845] , he felt he
  • Natural selection Perhaps the most interesting letter relating to Darwins species theory, …
  • Edward Forbes, William Lonsdale, Hugh Edwin Strickland, or Owenthe last with the caveat that he
  • Darwin not only used his personal notes and records but, by letter, marshalled the resources of
  • of the laws of creation, Geographical Distribution’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, [10 February 1845] ) …

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: 25 hits

  • … be done by observation during prolonged intervals’ ( letter to D. T. Gardner, [ c . 27 August …
  • … pleasures of shooting and collecting beetles ( letter from W. D. Fox, 8 May [1874] ).  Such …
  • … And … one looks backwards much more than forwards’ ( letter to W. D. Fox, 11 May [1874] ). …
  • … was an illusory hope.— I feel very old & helpless’  ( letter to B. J. Sulivan, 6 January [1874] …
  • … inferred that he was well from his silence on the matter ( letter from Ernst Haeckel, 26 October …
  • … in such rubbish’, he confided to Joseph Dalton Hooker ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 18 January [1874] …
  • … that Mr Williams was ‘a cheat and an imposter’ ( letter from T. H. Huxley, 27 January 1874 ). …
  • … his, ‘& that he was thus free to perform his antics’ ( letter to T. H. Huxley, 29 January [1874 …
  • … Darwin had allowed ‘a spirit séance’ at his home ( letter from T. G. Appleton, 2 April 1874 ). …
  • … edition, published in 1842 ( Correspondence  vol. 21, letter to Smith, Elder & Co., 17 …
  • … Hooker, and finally borrowed one from Charles Lyell ( letter to Smith, Elder & Co., 8 January …
  • … to take so sweetly all the horrid bother of correction’ ( letter to H. E. Litchfield, 21 [March …
  • … sent an apology for misinterpreting Darwin on this point ( letter from J. D. Dana, 21 July 1874 ); …
  • … numbers and sex ratios among the Pitcairn islanders ( letter from William Dealtry, 16 January 1874 …
  • … of ape and human brains that had raged between himself and Richard Owen since the 1860s. Darwin had …
  • … will say that I have pounded the enemy into a jelly’ ( letter from T. H. Huxley, 14 April 1874 ). …
  • … by none but anatomists; and never mind where it goes’ ( letter from T. H. Huxley, 16 April 1874 ). …
  • … the return on subsequent print runs would be very good ( letter from R. F. Cooke, 12 November 1874 …
  • … by the conciseness & clearness of your thought’ ( letter from G. H. Darwin, 20 April 1874 ). …
  • … legal action over the ‘scurrilous libel’ on his son ( letter to G. H. Darwin, [27 July 1874] ). …
  • … false, scurrilous accusation of [a] lying scoundrel’ ( letter to G. H. Darwin, 1 August [1874] ). …
  • … as father and son agonised over the wording of both the letter to the editor and the letter to …
  • … relationship with Murray on the outcome ( enclosure to letter from G. H. Darwin, 6 [August] 1874 ) …
  • … is refused I’m really no worse off than if I had sent my letter direct to the Editor & it had …
  • … of the ornithologist and senior assistant curator Richard Bowdler Sharpe for promotion at the …

Books on the Beagle

Summary

The Beagle was a sort of floating library.  Find out what Darwin and his shipmates read here.

Matches: 27 hits

  • … Captain FitzRoy in the  Narrative  (2: 18). CD, in his letter to Henslow, 9 [September 1831] , …
  • … . . . There will be  plenty  of room for Books.’ (Letter from Robert FitzRoy, 23 September 1831 …
  • … the ‘immense stock’ which CD mentions may be had from a letter FitzRoy wrote to his sister during an …
  • … , p. 196). In another field notebook, at Cape Town in May 1836, he lists, probably with the …
  • … some of his idiosyncratic spelling during the summer of 1836 (Sulloway 1982b, pp. 331–2, n. 13). …
  • … on board the  Beagle §  —  mentioned in a letter or other source as being on board …
  • … . . compiled from papers . . . of . . . Lord Anson . . . by Richard Walter . London, 1748. ( …
  • … Naturelle  3 (1834): 84–115. (DAR 37.1: 677v.; letter to J. S. Henslow, 12 July 1835). * …
  • … d’histoire naturelle . 17 vols. Paris, 1822–31. (Letter from J. S. Henslow, 15–21 January [1833]). …
  • … a report of the proceedings . .  . Cambridge, 1833.  (Letter to Charles Whitley, 23 July 1834). …
  • … of the 2d meeting . . . Oxford, 1832 . London, 1833.  (Letter to J. S. Henslow, March 1834 and …
  • … also Hawkesworth, John). (DAR 32.2: 89v.; Robert FitzRoy’s letter to the South African Christian …
  • … residence in New Zealand in 1827 . . . London, 1832. (Letter to Caroline Darwin, 27 December 1835). …
  • … 33: 254). § Euclid.  Elements of geometry.  (Letter to J. S. Henslow, 30 October 1831). …
  • … The philosophy of zoology . . .  2 vols. Edinburgh, 1822. (Letter from Susan Darwin, 15 October …
  • … to the mountain barometer.  2d ed. London, n.d. [1802]. (Letter to Robert FitzRoy, [10 October 1831 …
  • … ‘Charles Darwin Esq from the Author Dunheved Jan 26 1836’). ‘Philosophical tracts’, Darwin Library …
  • … de l’ordre des polypiers.  Paris, 1821. (DAR 30.1: 13v.; letter to J. S. Henslow, 24 July – 7 …
  • … Video. Novem r . 1832’; vol. 3 (1833): ‘C. Darwin’; letter to J. S. Henslow, 24 July – 7 November …
  • … of England.  Volume one. London, 1830. (Robert FitzRoy’s letter to the  South African Christian …
  • … ‘A few little books written by Miss Martineau’. (Letter from Caroline Darwin, 28 October [1833]). …
  • … and La Plata . . .  2 vols. London, 1826. (DAR 31.2: 319; letter to Robert Fitzroy, 28 August 1834) …
  • … John.  Paradise lost.  ( ’Beagle’ diary , p. 107; letter to J. S. Henslow, 24 November 1832). …
  • letter to the  South African Christian Recorder , 28 June 1836,  Collected papers  1: 28). …
  • letter to the  South African Christian Recorder , 28 June 1836,  Collected papers  1: 26). …
  • … 109v.). Werner, G. See Syme, P. [Whateley, Richard].  A view of the Scripture …
  • letter to the  South African Christian Recorder , 28 June 1836,  Collected papers  1: 22–3). …