From Charles Lyell 11 March 1863
Summary
Defends position he takes on species [in Antiquity of man]. CD overestimates CL’s capacity to influence public. Will not dogmatise on descent of man; prepared to accept it, but it "takes away much of the charm from my speculations on the past". Cannot go to Huxley’s length with regard to natural selection. Responds to CD’s comments on Antiquity of man.
Author: | Charles Lyell, 1st baronet |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 11 Mar 1863 |
Classmark: | K. M. Lyell ed. 1881, 2: 362–4 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4035 |
To Charles Lyell 12–13 March [1863]
Summary
[On Antiquity of man] CD is "convinced that at times … you have … given up immutability". "A clear expression from you, if you could have given it, would have been potent with the public."
Objects to CL’s description of CD’s view "as a modification of Lamarck’s doctrine". Quotes Henrietta [Darwin]’s observations on this description.
Comments on CL’s controversy with Owen concerning the human brain.
The controversy between Falconer and CL.
The "wretched" review of CL [Antiquity of man, Athenæum 14 Feb 1863, pp. 219–21] and Huxley [Man’s place in nature].
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Charles Lyell, 1st baronet |
Date: | 12–13 Mar [1863] |
Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.290) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4038 |
Matches: 4 hits
- … Letter from Charles Lyell, 11 March 1863 . CD refers to Lyell’s reaction to the criticisms …
- … letter has been found. See letter from Charles Lyell, 11 March 1863 and n. 13. CD refers …
- … of geology ( C. Lyell 1830–3 ). See letter from Charles Lyell, 11 March 1863 . In the …
- … Lyell’s copy of the part of the Transactions of the Zoological Society of London containing Owen 1862c (see letter to Charles Lyell, 6 March [1863] and n. 44). Lyell appears to have replied to this request in a missing portion of his letter to CD of 11 …
To J. D. Hooker 13 [March 1863]
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
Date: | 13 [Mar 1863] |
Classmark: | DAR 115: 186 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4039 |
To J. D. Hooker 17 March [1863]
Summary
Lyell’s Antiquity of man lacks originality.
Statements in Lyell provoke CD to determine exact publication date of Origin and JDH’s introductory essay [to Flora Tasmaniae].
CD now believes in repeated periods of global cooling and migration.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
Date: | 17 Mar [1863] |
Classmark: | DAR 115: 187 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4048 |
To Asa Gray 20 March [1863]
Summary
Discusses the meaning of C. K. Sprengel’s term "dichogamy". Dichogamous plants are functionally monoecious; Primula is functionally dioecious.
Reports Hermann Crüger’s observations of Cattleya and of bees pollinating Catasetum. Crüger will observe Melastomataceae.
Has built a hothouse.
Fears Amsinckia cannot be dimorphic.
Ill health slows his work on Variation.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Asa Gray |
Date: | 20 Mar [1863] |
Classmark: | Gray Herbarium of Harvard University (58) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4053 |
From W. E. Darwin 17 and 20 May [1863]
Summary
Alarmed that CD did not see what WED saw in Corydalis lutea. Has found buckbean in the New Forest. Will get seeds of Corydalis claviculata.
Author: | William Erasmus Darwin |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 17 and 20 May 1863 |
Classmark: | Cornford Family Papers (DAR 275: 16) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4168F |
From Asa Gray 20 April 1863
Author: | Asa Gray |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 20 Apr 1863 |
Classmark: | DAR 165: 134 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4112 |
To J. D. Hooker 15 and 22 May [1863]
Summary
The Lyell–Falconer squabble.
Discusses island vs continental floras and their degree of modification.
Critical of Wallace.
CD’s observations on phyllotaxy.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
Date: | 15 and 22 May 1863 |
Classmark: | DAR 115: 193 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4167 |
From J. D. Hooker [15 March 1863]
Summary
JDH battling with Lyell over treatment of species question in Antiquity of man. Distressed by Lyell’s raising false priority issue between JDH and CD. Falconer involved in a priority squabble.
Author: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | [15 Mar 1863] |
Classmark: | DAR 101: 117–20 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4040 |
To Hugh Falconer 5 [and 6] January [1863]
Summary
His admiration for HF’s paper on American fossil elephant.
Notes "temporary irruption of S. American forms into N. America".
Rejoices that HF has "smashed" case of Mastodon on Timor.
Shares HF’s anger at Owen.
He is eager to hear about fossil bird [Archaeopteryx].
Comments on criticisms of species theory by [Johann Andreas?] Wagner.
Describes research on fertilisation of Melastomataceae.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Hugh Falconer |
Date: | 5 and 6 Jan 1863 |
Classmark: | DAR 144: 29 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3901 |
From Charles Lyell 9 May 1863
Summary
Has been to Osborne on the Isle of Wight to visit Queen Victoria, who had lots of questions about CD.
Author: | Charles Lyell, 1st baronet |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 9 May 1863 |
Classmark: | The University of Edinburgh Centre for Research Collections (Lyell collection Coll-203/B9) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4149F |
To Asa Gray 11 May [1863]
Summary
CD despairs when men like AG and Lyell consider themselves incapable of judging on change of species by descent.
Is confused over phyllotaxy.
Has been looking at Plantago lanceolata.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Asa Gray |
Date: | 11 May [1863] |
Classmark: | Gray Herbarium of Harvard University (59) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4153 |
Matches: 2 hits
- … 11 April 1863 , 13 April 1863 , and 20 April 1863 . In his letter of 20 April 1863 , Gray commented favourably on Charles Lyell’ …
- … Lyell’s cautious tone regarding his views on transmutation in the letter to Asa Gray, 23 February [1863] , the letter to J. D. Hooker, 24[–5] February [1863] , and the letter to Charles Lyell, 6 March [1863] . See also letter from Charles Lyell, 11 …
From J. D. Hooker [24 May 1863]
Summary
Flora of Cameroons shakes JDH’s faith in ability to explain past or present migrations. Sees need for a major novel explanation such as natural selection, glacial cold, or continental connections.
Lyell in a bad way about feud with Falconer.
JDH’s opinion of Wallace, Bates, J. E. Gray, Owen, Asa Gray, Lubbock, and Bentham.
Bentham’s Linnean Society address [see 4118].
Author: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | [24 May 1863] |
Classmark: | DAR 101: 143–6 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4169 |
To Charles Lyell 6 March [1863]
Summary
Comments at length on CL’s book [Antiquity of man (1863)]. CD is "greatly disappointed that you have not given judgment and spoken fairly out what you think about the derivation of species".
Lists large number of queries concerning minor points.
Praises especially the chapters on language and glaciers.
Comments on the temperature of Africa during the glacial period, especially with regard to the views of Hooker.
Mentions Owen’s paper on the aye-aye [Rep. BAAS 32 (1862) pt 2: 114–16].
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Charles Lyell, 1st baronet |
Date: | 6 Mar [1863] |
Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.289) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4028 |
To T. H. Huxley 27 June [1863]
Summary
Has caught a frog and examined its possibly rudimentary toe. Asks THH if he will dissect it.
Has heard THH is abused in Edinburgh Review and in Anthropological Review [reviews of Man’s place in nature, Edinburgh Rev. 117 (1863): 541–69 and Anthrop. Rev. 1 (1863): 107–17].
Owen on heterogeny and the aye-aye.
Has been very ill.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Thomas Henry Huxley |
Date: | 27 June [1863] |
Classmark: | Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine Archives (Huxley 5: 225) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4223 |
From Charles Lyell 15 March 1863
Summary
Lyell has received compliments for letting readers draw own inferences [on species question]. Now feels he earlier did Lamarck injustice. [CD’s] substitution of variety-making power for volition [as in Lamarck] in some respects only a change of names.
Thinks Huxley taking on too many responsibilities.
Author: | Charles Lyell, 1st baronet |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 15 Mar 1863 |
Classmark: | K. M. Lyell ed. 1881, 2: 364–6 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4041 |
Matches: 2 hits
- … Lyell of 12–13 March [1863] , CD offered suggestions regarding the text of Antiquity of man ( C. Lyell 1863a ), particularly with respect to Lyell’s treatment of natural selection. Joseph Dalton Hooker had sent Lyell a ‘ deflagrating … yarn’, concerning his failure publicly to endorse natural selection in the book (see letter from J. D. Hooker, [15 March 1863] ). See letter from Charles Lyell, 11 …
- … Lyell had long been an outspoken critic of the progressivist palaeontology common in Britain during the mid-nineteenth century (see Bartholomew 1976 ). For CD’s observations on progression, see the letter to Charles Lyell, 12–13 March [1863] ; see also n. 15, below, and Correspondence vol. 3, letter to J. D. Hooker [11 …
To Charles Lyell 14 August [1863]
Summary
Congratulates CL on finding Arctic shells.
Comments on paper by E. B. Hunt ["On the origin, growth, substructure and chronology of the Florida reef", Am. J. Sci. 2d ser. 35 (1863): 197–210].
Mentions J. D. Dana’s health.
George Bentham’s statement on species [Proc. Linn. Soc. Lond. (1863): xi–xxix].
Praises Bates’s book [Naturalist on the river Amazons (1863)].
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Charles Lyell, 1st baronet |
Date: | 14 Aug [1863] |
Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.296) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4267 |
From George Bentham 21 April 1863
Summary
Has not yet read the pamphlets [selection of reviews of Origin, sent by CD at GB’s request]. Though GB does not go so far as Hooker in accepting all of CD’s hypotheses and does not feel up to a thorough discussion of his views, he hopes in his Linnean Anniversary Address [Proc. Linn. Soc. Lond. (1863): xi–xxix] to speak on the present state of the [species] question.
Author: | George Bentham |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 21 Apr 1863 |
Classmark: | DAR 160: 156 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4118 |
To Athenæum 18 April [1863]
Summary
Attacks the doctrine of "heterogeny" (spontaneous generation during each geological period) as completely lacking in evidence.
Defends natural selection as connecting large classes of facts in natural history. That certain forms have not changed since remote epochs is not an objection of any force.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Athenæum |
Date: | 18 Apr [1863] |
Classmark: | Athenæum, 25 April 1863, pp. 554–5 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4108 |
From Asa Gray 13 April 1863
Summary
Hopes CD will finish and bring out his book on variation.
AG will publish extracts of H. W. Bates’s paper on mimetic analogy [Am. J. Sci. 2d ser. 36 (1863): 279–94].
Author: | Asa Gray |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 13 Apr 1863 |
Classmark: | DAR 165: 133 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4089 |
letter | (25) |
Darwin, C. R. | (15) |
Lyell, Charles | (3) |
Gray, Asa | (2) |
Hooker, J. D. | (2) |
Bentham, George | (1) |
Darwin, C. R. | (10) |
Hooker, J. D. | (5) |
Lyell, Charles | (4) |
Falconer, Hugh | (2) |
Gray, Asa | (2) |
Darwin, C. R. | (25) |
Hooker, J. D. | (7) |
Lyell, Charles | (7) |
Gray, Asa | (4) |
Falconer, Hugh | (2) |