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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: 24 hits

… On 6 March 1868 , Darwin wrote to the entomologist and accountant John Jenner Weir, ‘If any …
… he ought to do what I am doing pester them with letters.’ Darwin was certainly true to his word. The …
… 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 …
… 12, letter to A. R. Wallace, 28 [May 1864] ). Darwin’s theory of sexual selection as …
… to the stridulation of crickets. At the same time, Darwin continued to collect material on …
… and his immediate circle of friends and relations. In July 1868 Darwin was still anticipating that …
… which was devoted to sexual selection in the animal kingdom. Darwin described his thirst for …
… and not too much’ ( letter to Albert Günther, 15 May [1868 ] ). My book is horribly …
… as early as 1865, the two-volume work appeared in January 1868 . A final delay caused by the indexing …
… 1867 and had expected to complete it in a fortnight. But at Darwin’s request, he modified his …
… the text. This increased the amount of work substantially. Darwin asked Murray to intervene, …
… … though it would be a great loss to the Book’. But Darwin’s angry letter to Murray crossed one from …
… look rather blank’ ( letter from W. S. Dallas, 8 January 1868 ). Darwin sympathised, replying on …
… fairly nauseated’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 3 February [1868 ] ). But such worries were laid to …
… was clearly impressed by Lewes’s reviews. On 7 August 1868 , he wrote him a lengthy letter from …
… not behind my back’ ( letter to John Murray, 25 February [1868 ] ). Wallace commiserated: ‘I am …
… to the paper’ ( letter from A. R. Wallace, 24 February [1868 ] ). The review was in fact by John …
… a veritable ass’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 1 September [1868 ] ). I am bothered with …
… Yorkshire, wrote of the colour of duck claws on 17 April 1868 . The letter was addressed to ‘the …
… Commons than any assembly in the world’ (from ?, 6 April 1868 ). On 21 May , Darwin complained to …
… collector in his student days, Darwin encouraged his son Francis , now an undergraduate at Cambridge, …
… ( letter to A . R. Wallace, 16 September [1868 ] ). Francis sought additional advice from the …
… vaccination ( letter from W. E. Darwin, [7 April 1868 ] ). Francis was also drafted into the …

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: 26 hits

… When Darwin resumed systematic research on emotions around 1866, he began to collect …
… for ease of distribution sometime in late 1867 or early 1868 . Darwin went over his questions, …
… was the collection of observations on a global scale. Darwin was especially interested in peoples …
… cultural and conventional, or instinctive and universal. Darwin used his existing correspondence …
… and with the mouth a little drawn back at the corners?” Darwin’s questionnaire was an extension of …
… was also carefully devised so as to prevent the feelings of Darwin’s remote observers from colouring …
… in Ceylon, wrote the botanist George Thwaites on 22 July 1868 , “all endeavour to drill their …
… Scottish botanist John Scott wrote from Calcutta, 4 May 1868 : “Shame is … expressed by an …
… and not the susceptibilities of a moral nature.” Darwin did not typically countenance such …
… the collection of information to its display in print. After Darwin received all of the replies to …
… except “yes” or “no.” “The same state of mind” Darwin would later assert in Expression of the …
… uniformity.” Table of Correspondence about Darwin’s Questionnaire (click on the letter …
… could available online ahead of schedule as part of the “Darwin and Human Nature” project, funded by …
… Bulmer, J 13 Aug 1868 [Gipps Land, nr. Flemington? …
… Bunnett, Templeton 13 Aug 1868 Echuca, Australia …
… blushing Darwin, Francis 20 June 1867 …
… and S. Sutton Darwin, Francis [before 30 …
… Darwin, W.E. [after 29 March 1868 ] Chester Place, …
… Darwin, W.E. [7? April 1868 ] Southampton, England …
… Darwin, W.E. [22? April 1868 ] Southampton, England …
… Forbes, David 26 March 1868 Boulton, England (about …
… from Mansel Weale Galton, Francis 7 Nov …
… Geach, F.F. April 1868 Johore, Malaysia …
… Glenie, S.O. 22 July 1868 Peradeniya, Ceylon …
… Glenie, S.O. [July 1868 ] Trincomalee, Ceylon …
… Hagenauer, J.A. 13 Aug 1868 Flemington, Australia …

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: 20 hits

… There are summaries of all Darwin's letters from the year 1879 on this website. The full texts …
… 27 of the print edition of The correspondence of Charles Darwin , published by Cambridge …
… to publish a biographical account of his grandfather Erasmus Darwin to accompany a translation of an …
… the sensitivity of the tips. Despite this breakthrough, when Darwin first mentioned the book to his …
… 1879 ). He was also unsatisfied with his account of Erasmus Darwin, declaring, ‘My little biography …
… W. T. Thiselton-Dyer, [after 26] July [1879] ). From July, Darwin had an additional worry: the …
… that his grandfather had felt the same way. In 1792, Erasmus Darwin had written: ‘The worst thing I …
… contained a warmer note and the promise of future happiness: Darwin learned he was to be visited by …
… Hacon, 31 December 1879 ). Seventy years old Darwin’s seventieth birthday on 12 …
… the veteran of Modern Zoology’, but it was in Germany that Darwin was most fêted. A German …
… with Charles Darwin and Ernst Haeckel. Kosmos was, as Francis Darwin reported from Germany that …
… the children correctly’, mentioning in particular that Francis Galton was the son of one of Erasmus …
… to contradict false statements that had been published by Francis Galton’s aunt, Mary Anne …
… for Captain Robert FitzRoy on the Beagle voyage, Francis Beaufort of the Admiralty described the …
… and poet’ ( Correspondence vol. 1, letter from Francis Beaufort to Robert FitzRoy, 1 September …
… perplexed than ever about life of D r . D’ ( letter to Francis Darwin, 12 July [1879] ). It was …
… in plants. Over the previous two years, he and his son Francis had worked together on the …
… of radicles, the embryonic roots of seedlings ( letter to Francis Darwin, 16 June [1879] ). …
… to continue experiments on the sensitivity of radicles. Francis experienced obstacles from the start …
… and Farrer had corresponded on scientific topics since 1868 and after Farrer’s second marriage to …

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: 27 hits

… the result of a decade-long project to provide evidence for Darwin’s belief that ‘‘Nature thus tells …
… on plants with two or three different forms of flowers, Darwin had focused on the anatomical and …
… of different forms of pollen. Although many plants that Darwin observed had flowers with adaptations …
… rates, growth, and constitutional vigour. Although Darwin was no stranger to long months and years …
… … is highly remarkable’ In September 1866, Darwin announced to the American botanist …
… several years ( To Édouard Bornet, 1 December 1866 ). Darwin began a series of experiments, …
… ). It was only after a new season of experiments that Darwin would confirm that this poppy shed its …
… access to flowers was only the tip of the iceberg. Darwin next focused on the California …
… conditions’ ( From Fritz Müller, 1 December 1866 ). Darwin’s interest was piqued and he described …
… when self-fertilised, although fewer than crossed plants. Darwin sent some of these seeds to Müller, …
… to produce capsules’ ( To Fritz Müller, 30 January [1868 ] ). Müller, in turn, sent seeds from his …
… Müller remarked, on receiving a new batch of seeds from Darwin, ‘that it was ‘curious to see, on …
… ( From Fritz Müller, 15 June 1869 ). By May 1870, Darwin reported that he was ‘rearing crossed …
… From a fairly early stage in his experimental programme, Darwin began to pay more attention to the …
… produced by the former ( From Robert Caspary, 18 February 1868 ). Darwin eagerly requested seed …
… their power of growth’ ( To Robert Caspary, 25 February [1868 ] ). By this time he had already …
… (Variation 2: 128-9), which was published on 30 January 1868 . In April 1868 , Darwin informed …
… quite intelligible to me’ ( To George Bentham, 22 April 1868 ). A month later, he had another set …
… taken from the same plant!’ ( To J. D. Hooker, 21 May [1868 ] ) Pollen tubes, or rapidly elongating …
… he told Müller ( To Fritz Müller, 28 November 1868 ). In March 1869, Müller reported results of …
… 8 January 1876] ). It was his cousin, the statistician Francis Galton, who provided a statistical …
… to publish the report in the introduction to the book ( To Francis Galton, 13 January [1876] ). …
… 6 June 1876] ). The project proved to be too complex and Francis Darwin later recalled, ‘the …
… birth of Darwin’s first grandchild, a son born to Amy and Francis Darwin on 7 September, suddenly …
… if, as I expect, you find it too much for you’ ( To Francis Darwin, 16 September [1876] ). Francis …
… have accepted all, though some slightly modified’ ( To Francis Darwin, 20 September [1876] ). …
… ‘Your corrections are very good & very useful’ ( To Francis Darwin 25 September [1876] ). …

Francis Galton

Summary

Galton was a naturalist, statistician, and evolutionary theorist. He was a second cousin of Darwin’s, having descended from his grandfather, Erasmus. Born in Birmingham in 1822, Galton studied medicine at King’s College, London, and also read mathematics…

Matches: 10 hits

… and evolutionary theorist. He was a second cousin of Darwin’s, having descended from his grandfather …
… a natural historical narrative of the journey (Galton 1853). Darwin enjoyed and admired Galton’s …
… Hereditary Genius (1869), which contained an entry on the Darwin family, including the “author of …
… for subjects of natural history”. Shortly after Darwin published his preliminary hypothesis …
… Royal Society claiming that his results tended to disprove Darwin’s theory (Galton 1871). This …
… 1871 ). His views on inheritance continued to diverge from Darwin’s, however. He studied cases of …
… Galton shared his views in several lengthy letters, but Darwin struggled with the abstract reasoning …
… and infirmities, with the aim of improving the population. Darwin was less optimistic about such a …
… ( 4 January [1873] ). Like most of his contemporaries, Darwin continued to believe in the …
… men of science: their nature and nurture (Galton 1874), Darwin insisted that he had no particular …

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: 21 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 …
… garden. Letter 4523 - Wedgwood, L. C. to Darwin, [6 June 1864] Darwin’s …
… . Letter 5745 - Barber, M. E. to Darwin, [after February 1867] Mary Barber …
… Letter 5817 - Darwin to Huxley, T. H., [30 January 1868 ] Darwin asks Thomas Huxley to …
… 6453 - Langton, E. to Wedgwood, S. E., [9 November 1868 ] Darwin’s nephew, Edmund, …
… - Langton, E. & C. to Wedgwood S. E., [after 9 November 1868 ] Darwin’s nephews, Edmund …
… Letter 6139 - Doubleday, H. to Darwin, [22 April 1868 ] Doubleday responds to Darwin’s …
… Darwin, [9 January 1871] Darwin’s brother-in-law, Francis , reports on the appearance and …
… tells her eldest son, William, that her third eldest son, Francis , is receiving help with his plant …
… February 1857] Darwin’s nephew, Edmund, writes to Francis with the results of his …
… Letter 6046 - Weir, J. J. to Darwin, [24 March 1868 ] John Weir describes experiments …
… Letter 6083 - Casparay, J. X. R. to Darwin, [2 April 1868 ] Casparay details his …
… Letter 6139 - Doubleday, H. to Darwin, [22 April 1868 ] Naturalist Henry Doubleday …
… in his home. Letter 10517 - Darwin to Francis , F., [29 May 1876] Darwin …
… Letter 6046 - Weir, J. J. to Darwin, [24 March 1868 ] John Weir describes experiments …
… Letter 6066 - Weir, H. W. to Darwin, [28 March 1868 ] Harrison Weir passes on …
… Letter 6081 - Darwin to Bowman, W., [2 April 1868 ] Darwin requests surgeon and …
… Letter 10517 - Darwin t o Francis , F., [29 May 1876] Darwin gives his son, Francis …

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

… The year 1876 started out sedately enough with Darwin working on the first draft of his book on the …
… 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 …
… the first member of the next generation of the family, with Francis and Amy’s child expected in …
… four days later. ‘I cannot bear to think of the future’, Darwin confessed to William on 11 …
… once, the labour of checking proofs proved a blessing, as Darwin sought solace for the loss of his …
… had involved much time and effort the previous year, and Darwin clearly wanted to focus his …
… When Smith, Elder and Company proposed reissuing two of Darwin’s three volumes of the geology of …
… single-volume edition titled Geological observations , Darwin resisted making any revisions at …
… Darwin reassured his close friend Joseph Hooker that he and Francis would attend the meeting. Darwin …
… subject takes an opposite line’. Although he conceded that Francis had the best of an argument with …
… expressed in the pangenesis hypothesis, first published in 1868 ( Variation 2: 357–404). Others …
… to propose the young rising star of Cambridge morphology, Francis Maitland Balfour, for fellowship …
… of the earliest available commercial models of typewriter. Francis Darwin and his wife, Amy, …
… point, and he was reliant on his son George and cousin Francis Galton for the calculations. ‘I have …
… in their research. He revelled in the praise heaped on Francis by George Henry Lewes for an article …
… chemical pycrotoxine in vivisection experiments ( letter to Francis Darwin, [1 May 1876] ). Darwin …
… 2 May [1876] ). Darwin even cautioned the otherwise healthy Francis , ‘Take care and do not overwork …
… first time to a large and healthy boy, the son of Amy and Francis . Just four days later, Darwin had …

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

… 7 November 1880, was the final large botanical work that Darwin wrote. It was the only work in which …
… about their research while he was away from home. Although Darwin lacked a state of the art research …
… research being pursued by other naturalists who, like Francis , had come to this centre for the study …
… methods and use the most advanced laboratory equipment. Darwin also benefitted from the instrument …
… copied but also improved on some of the apparatuses that Francis had been introduced to at Würzburg. …
… plant physiology, but it was at its core informed by Darwin’s theory of evolution, particularly by …
… early 1860s, at a time when his health was especially bad, Darwin had taken up the study of climbing …
… and plants under domestication , eventually published in 1868 , became too strenuous. His paper, ‘On …
… reproduced as a small book, giving it a much wider audience. Darwin was not the first naturalist to …
… which eventually appeared in 1875. In the same year, Darwin published a much longer work, …
… about the nature of movement, so much so, that at one point Darwin had considered combining the …
… digestive processes. With his final great botanical work, Darwin would attempt ‘ to bring all the …
… emotions had their origins in non-human animal expression. Darwin had not done experimental work in …
… viewed the division between animals and plants as absolute, Darwin was interested in similarities. …
… his laboratory in the botanical institute at Würzburg in 1868 . His Lehrbuch der Botanik …
… from all over Europe and beyond. When Darwin’s son Francis worked in this laboratory in the summers …
… had also asked Horace to discuss the point with his friend Francis Balfour(258). Darwin promised to …
… of any success. '. Just two months later, Darwin put Francis in charge of this aspect of the …
… more familiar with the research in Sachs’s laboratory as Francis ’s departure for Würzburg was …
… to Wurzburg, & work by myself will be dull work’ . Francis was in Würzburg until early August. …
… good instruments were never far from Darwin’s thinking. Francis viewed the new instruments he was …
… design an improved version of the instrument, a klinostat; Francis later described and illustrated …
… was the relationship between bending movement and growth. Francis described the disagreements about …

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: 28 hits

… At the start of 1869, Darwin was hard at work making changes and additions for a fifth edition of …
… appeared at the end of 1866 and had told his cousin William Darwin Fox, ‘My work will have to stop a …
… vol. 16, letter to W. D. Fox, 12 December [1868 ] ). He may have resented the interruption to his …
… material on emotional expression. Yet the scope of Darwin’s interests remained extremely broad, and …
… plants, and earthworms, subjects that had exercised Darwin for decades, and that would continue to …
… Carl von Nägeli and perfectibility Darwin’s most substantial addition to Origin was a …
… a Swiss botanist and professor at Munich (Nägeli 1865). Darwin had considered Nägeli’s paper …
… principal engine of change in the development of species. Darwin correctly assessed Nägeli’s theory …
… in most morphological features (Nägeli 1865, p. 29). Darwin sent a manuscript of his response (now …
… are & must be morphological’. The comment highlights Darwin’s apparent confusion about Nägeli’s …
… ‘purely morphological’. The modern reader may well share Darwin’s uncertainty, but Nägeli evidently …
… pp. 28–9). In further letters, Hooker tried to provide Darwin with botanical examples he could use …
… problems of heredity Another important criticism that Darwin sought to address in the fifth …
… prevailing theory of blending inheritance that Jenkin and Darwin both shared, would tend to be lost …
… ( Origin 5th ed., pp. 103–4). The terminology that Darwin and others employed in these matters ( …
… ‘I must have expressed myself atrociously’, Darwin wrote to Alfred Russel Wallace on 2 February , …
… of Origin was the result of correspondence between Darwin and the geologist James Croll. In the …
… but it was his theory of alternate ice ages that piqued Darwin’s interest the most. He wrote, ‘this …
… ( letter to James Croll, 31 January [1869] ). Darwin had argued ( Origin , pp. 377–8) that plant …
… would always exist. In Origin 5th ed., pp. 450–61, Darwin accounted for the survival of tropical …
… on the German translation of Variation (Carus trans. 1868 ). The French translation proved …
… the French edition of Variation (Moulinié trans. 1868 ), and CD now extended his permission for …
… Scientific Opinion , launched towards the end of 1868 , was one of several periodicals begun in …
… of concern were received for months afterwards. Francis Galton: Hereditary genius and …
… Emma read aloud from a new book by Darwin’s half-cousin, Francis Galton. The work, Hereditary …
… is an eminently important difference’ ( letter to Francis Galton, 23 December [1869] ). …
… of inheritance through experiments on rabbits ( letter from Francis Galton, 11 December 1869 ). …
… the first to give me freedom of thought’ ( letter from Francis Galton, 24 December 1869 ). …

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: 24 hits

… The year 1871 was an extremely busy and productive one for Darwin, seeing the publication of his …
… book out of my head’. But a large proportion of Darwin’s time for the rest of the year was devoted …
… way, and the initial reception of the book in the press. Darwin fielded numerous letters from …
… offered sharp criticism or even condemnation. Darwin had expected controversy. ‘I shall be …
… a bare-faced manner.”‘ The most lively debate centred on Darwin’s evolutionary account of the …
… taste. Correspondence with his readers and critics helped Darwin to clarify, and in some cases …
… year was the preparation of his manuscript on expression. Darwin continued to investigate the …
… also brought a significant milestone for the family, as Darwin’s eldest daughter Henrietta was …
… during several past years, has been a great amusement’. Darwin had been working fairly continuously …
… work on species theory in the late 1830s. In recent years, Darwin had collected a wealth of material …
… to human evolution was comparatively small, reflecting Darwin’s aim of showing kinship with animals …
… he is “torn to pieces” by people wanting copies’, Darwin wrote to his son Francis on 28 February …
… letter from J. D. Hooker, 26 March 1871 ). The profits for Darwin were considerable. After …
… man.’ Promoting the book As usual, Darwin did his best to obtain a wide and favourable …
… (see Correspondence vol. 19, Appendix IV). Four of Darwin’s five sons received a copy, and his …
… received a special acknowledgment in the form of a gift. Darwin credited her for whatever he had …
… ‘to keep in memory of the book’ ( letter to H. E. Darwin, 20 March 1871 ). Reaction …
… liberal or orthodox. The American philosopher and journalist Francis Ellingwood Abbot incorporated …
… man & we were the best of friends’, he wrote to his son Francis on 28 February . However, …
… Darwin had been receiving regular reports from his cousin Francis Galton on the progress of …
… in order to facilitate cross-circulation ( letter from Francis Galton, 13 September 1871 ). …
… science ( letter to Horace Darwin, [15 December 1871] ). Francis was now studying medicine at St …
… of Trinity College, planned a trip to America, and invited Francis and two Cambridge friends. Darwin …
… be almost superhuman virtue to give it up’ ( letter to Francis Darwin, 16 May [1871] ). Darwin …

Darwin's life in letters

Summary

For all his working life, Darwin used letters as a way both of discussing ideas and gathering the ‘great quantities of facts’ that he used in developing and supporting his theories. They form a fascinating collection from many hundreds of correspondents,…

Matches: 5 hits

… do what I am doing pester them with letters. ( Darwin to John Jenner Weir, [6 March 1868 …
… and even specimens. So many letters flowed in that Darwin had a habit of burning batches of old …
… 8000 still survive in the main repository of his papers, the Darwin Archive at Cambridge University …
… these also to his archive. The researchers of the Darwin Correspondence Project based in …
… to the volumes of the Correspondence of Charles Darwin , the narrative of his life as …

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: 13 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] …
… that his views are original and will appeal to the public. Darwin asks Murray to forward the …
… and criticisms of style. Letter 2461 - Darwin to Hooker, J. D., [11 May 1859] …
… typically-male readers. Letter 7124 - Darwin to Darwin, H. E., [8 February 1870] …
… Letter 5861 - Blyth, E. to Darwin, [11 February 1868] Zoologist Edward Blyth sends …
… Letter 5928 - Gray, A. to Darwin, [25 February 1868] American naturalist Asa Gray …
… Letter 6040 - Haeckel, E. P. A. to Darwin, [23 March 1868] Haeckel informs Darwin …
… Letter 6110 - Samuelson, J. to Darwin, [10 April 1868] James Samuel, editor of …
… Letter 6126 - Binstead, C. H. to Darwin, [17 April 1868] Charles Binstead, “an …
… Letter 6237 - Bullar, R. to Darwin, [9 June 1868] Rosa Bullar reports a case of a …
… Letter 6335 - Innes, J. B. to Darwin, [31 August 1868] John Innes reports that he has …

Darwin in letters,1870: Human evolution

Summary

The year 1870 is aptly summarised by the brief entry Darwin made in his journal: ‘The whole of the year at work on the Descent of Man & Selection in relation to Sex’. Descent was the culmination of over three decades of observations and reflections on…

Matches: 23 hits

… The year 1870 is aptly summarised by the brief entry Darwin made in his journal: ‘The whole of the …
… in relation to Sex’. Always precise in his accounting, Darwin reckoned that he had started writing …
… gathered on each of these topics was far more extensive than Darwin had anticipated. As a result, …
… and St George Jackson Mivart, and heated debates sparked by Darwin’s proposed election to the French …
… Finishing Descent; postponing Expression Darwin began receiving proofs of some of the …
… ( letter to Albert Günther, 13 January [1870] ). Darwin was still working hard on parts of the …
… style, the more grateful I shall be’ ( letter to H. E. Darwin, [8 February 1870] ). She had …
… , the latter when she was just eighteen years of age. Darwin clearly expected her to make a …
… have thought that I shd. turn parson?’ ( letter to H. E. Darwin, [8 February 1870] ). Henrietta …
… so unimportant as the mind of man!’ ( letter from H. E. Darwin, [after 8 February 1870] ). …
… philanthropist Frances Power Cobbe. At Cobbe’s suggestion, Darwin read some of Immanuel Kant’s …
… ( letter to F. P. Cobbe, 23 March [1870?] ). Cobbe accused Darwin of smiling in his beard with …
… as animals: ears Despite Cobbe’s plea, most of Darwin’s scientific attention in 1870 was …
… fairy in Shakespeare’s A midsummer night’s dream. Darwin obtained a sketch of a human ear from …
… of a pointed tip projecting inward from the folded margin. Darwin, who had posed for the sculptor in …
… vol. 16, letter to J. D. Hooker, 26 November [1868 ] ; this volume, letter to Thomas Woolner, 10 …
… muscles A more troubling anatomical feature for Darwin was the platysma myoides, a band of …
… furrows radiating on the side of the neck of his son Francis when he was playing the flute. …
… Darwin received a string of letters from his cousin Francis Galton, reporting on his efforts to …
… by breaking adjacent veins into one’ ( letter from Francis Galton, 25 June 1870 ). Occasionally …
… the latest litters has a white forefoot’ ( letter from Francis Galton, 12 May 1870 ). But in …
… an old fellow as I daresay I appear to you Francis completed his studies at Cambridge, …
… an old fellow as I daresay I appear to you’ ( letter to Francis Darwin, 18 October [1870] ). …

Darwin in letters, 1877: Flowers and honours

Summary

Ever since the publication of Expression, Darwin’s research had centred firmly on botany. The year 1877 was no exception. The spring and early summer were spent completing Forms of flowers, his fifth book on a botanical topic. He then turned to the…

Matches: 26 hits

… Ever since the publication of Expression , Darwin’s research had centred firmly on botany. The …
… of these projects would culminate in a major publication. Darwin’s botany was increasingly a …
… assisted his father’s research on movement and bloom, and Darwin in turn encouraged his son’s own …
… The year 1877 was more than usually full of honours. Darwin received two elaborate photograph albums …
… from Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands. Closer to home, Darwin received an honorary Doctorate of …
… sites for possible earthworm activity. Now in his 69th year, Darwin remained remarkably productive, …
… no controversy. In his autobiographical reflections, Darwin remarked: ‘no little discovery of …
… (‘Recollections’, p. 419). During the winter and spring, Darwin was busy preparing the manuscript of …
… and trimorphism that he had written between 1861 and 1868 and presented to the Linnean Society of …
… as dimorphic without comparing pollen-grains & stigmas’, Darwin remarked to Joseph Dalton …
… measurements of the size and number of pollen-grains, Darwin compared the fertility of individual …
… primrose and purple loosestrife. In the course of his work, Darwin found a number of other …
… dreadful work making out anything about dried flowers’, Darwin complained to Asa Gray on 8 March …
… which include heterstyled species. This pleases me.’. Darwin dedicated the book to Gray, ‘as a small …
… separate publications together into a larger whole enabled Darwin to advance more speculative views …
… In the end, Darwin did not publish on the subject, but Francis later reported some of the results of …
… 25 August 1877 ). At Down House, Darwin and Francis devised a method of recording leaf …
… with thread, card, and bits of glass. Encouraging Francis Darwin greatly enjoyed …
… eminent German botanist Ferdinand Julius Cohn, who confirmed Francis ’s observations: ‘the most …
… Infusoria’ ( letter from F. J. Cohn, 5 August 1877 ). Francis ’s paper eventually appeared in the …
… had visited Down House and become friendly with George and Francis . He wrote to Francis on 24 …
… ‘As for “natural selection”’, he wrote to Francis on 25 November , ‘frankly to me it now seems a …
… for he began to receive petitions from strangers. The writer Francis Lloyd, who was in poor health …
… for his further work. Lloyd had written a critique of Francis Galton’s theory of heredity in 1876, …
… will allow me to send you a cheque for £10’ ( letter to [Francis Lloyd], 1 May [1877] ). Another …
… Charles Norton, had stayed at Keston Rectory near Down in 1868 and had visited Down House. Darwin …

Darwin and the Church

Summary

The story of Charles Darwin’s involvement with the church is one that is told far too rarely. It shows another side of the man who is more often remembered for his personal struggles with faith, or for his role in large-scale controversies over the…

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… The story of Charles Darwin’s involvement with the church is one that is told far too rarely. It …
… unique window into this complicated relationship throughout Darwin’s life, as it reveals his …
… belief (and doubt) than many non-conformist denominations. Darwin’s parents attended a Unitarian …
… the necessary studies to be a clergyman. During Darwin’s lifetime, the vast majority of the …
… income was essential to enjoy a gentlemanly lifestyle. For Darwin, who could rely on the financial …
… compatible with the pursuit of scientific interests. Indeed, Darwin’s Cambridge mentor, John Stevens …
… (Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine (1887): 321). Darwin started on his journey around the world …
… it even through a grove of Palms.—’ (letter to Caroline Darwin, 25–6 April [1832] ). Darwin’s …
… Museum or some other learned place’ (letter from E. A. Darwin, 18 August [1832] ). Writing to Fox …
… about—’ (letter to W. D. Fox, [9–12 August] 1835 ). Darwin’s doubts about orthodox belief, and …
… in 1838 and 1839, as can be read here. In the end, Darwin chose a middle course—a life of ease in …
… within six years of his return from the Beagle voyage, Darwin moved to Down House, in the …
… where their children Mary and Charles were buried; later Darwin’s brother Erasmus, Emma’s sister …
… of Emma, whose religious scruples are discussed here. But Darwin’s correspondence reveals his own …
… Although he was not the principal landowner in Down, Darwin was a gentleman of means, and clearly …
… made inroads on Anglican authority in the countryside. The Darwin family took an interest in, and …
… Many of the letters highlighted in this section focus on Darwin’s long-standing relationship with …
… To the end of his life Innes refused to be persuaded by Darwin’s theory of evolution, but …
… cordial; in the first extant letter of the correspondence, Darwin wrote to Innes expressing concern …
… a cow and a red deer (letter from J. B. Innes, 7 December 1868 ). Innes had a tendency to tease …
… he left behind (letter from S. J. O’H. Horsman, 2 June [1868 ] ). Among the reasons justifying his …
… the church’s organ fund (letter to J. B. Innes, 15 June [1868 ] ). So embroiled in this process …
… the Down parish church (letter to J. B. Innes, 1 December 1868 ). Darwin wrote of the next …
… Darwin, including an autobiographical chapter . Edited by Francis Darwin. 3 vols. London: John …

Darwin's 1876 letters online

Summary

Birth, tragic death . . . and cardigan jackets. To mark the 211th anniversary of Darwin's birth, we have released online the transcripts and footnotes of over 460 letters written to and from him in 1876 and a supplement of 180 letters written before…

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… . . . and cardigan jackets. To mark the 211th anniversary of Darwin's birth, we have released …
… of 180 letters written before 1876. Read more about Darwin's life in 1876 and see a full …
… The year 1876 started energetically, with Darwin working on the first draft of his book on the …
… in August and the book was published by John Murray, Darwin’s usual publisher, in November; he …
… quantity of work left in me for new matter. Darwin had to be disciplined about his urge …
… second edition of Orchids was published in January 1877; Darwin had been working on it since May …
… Annie’s death, though not so grievous to me. Darwin’s daughter-in-law, Amy, died a few …
… his parents; Emma and Charles took on the care of the baby. Francis too took refuge in work, …
… from a recently discovered collection of letters to Charles Darwin from his son William. They reveal …
… , the cardigan was first mentioned in print in the UK in 1868 .) …

3.14 Julia Margaret Cameron, photos

Summary

< Back to Introduction In the summer of 1868 Darwin took a holiday on the Isle of Wight with his immediate family, his brother Erasmus, and his friend Joseph Hooker. The family’s accommodation at Freshwater was rented from the photographer Julia…

Matches: 22 hits

… < Back to Introduction In the summer of 1868 Darwin took a holiday on the Isle of …
… Cameron, who seized this opportunity to portray both Darwin and Hooker – portraits that would come …
… and in particular Hooker’s speech – a ‘Eulogium’ of Darwin, would represent a public victory for the …
… such as to heighten the demand for images of Hooker and of Darwin himself. She was in any case a …
… from Cameron’s portraits that included the one of Darwin, thought that ‘Something of what William …
… done’, had been achieved by these photographs. Darwin was not a natural inhabitant of this …
… characteristics of the four or five known photographs of Darwin which Cameron took in the summer of …
… them romantically dishevelled and swathed in rough drapery, Darwin is wearing his usual conventional …
… than a passing resemblance’ between these photographs and Darwin’s own engraved portrait of Leonardo …
… one serves as frontispiece to R.B. Freeman’s Charles Darwin: A Companion . In another shot, he …
… powerful resolve, and there is a quality which his son Francis described as characteristic of him – …
… captured by Cameron with great skill: in fact, her image of Darwin was such as to offset the …
… of Descent of Man. Indeed, such ennobling images of Darwin fed into a perception of the superior …
… that it was ‘Not a very successful picture, although Mr. Darwin was very pleased with it’. In fact …
… revered sitter, Tennyson. Nevertheless, this photograph of Darwin was highly favoured, and had a …
… actuality. Ernst Haeckel recalled his first impressions of Darwin on a visit to Down House in 1866: …
… of Dr Johnson discoursing; and Cameron’s emphasis on Darwin’s domed skull is attuned to nineteenth …
… intelligence. Relations between Cameron and the Darwin family continued to be very cordial, …
… been pleased with her. Darwin wrote to Hooker in August 1868 , ‘How about Photographs? Can you …
… Cameron   date of creation July – August 1868   computer-readable date …
… 2, pp. 442–468. Darwin’s letters to Hooker, 17 [Aug. 1868 ] and 23 Aug. [1868 ] (DCP-LETT-6321 and …
… Haeckel on Darwin’ in Times (28 Sept. 1882), p. 6. Francis Darwin (ed.), The Life and Letters …

George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans)

Summary

George Eliot was the pen name of celebrated Victorian novelist Mary Ann Evans (1819-1880). She was born on the outskirts of Nuneaton in Warwickshire and was educated at boarding schools from the age of five until she was 16. Her education ended when she…

Matches: 4 hits

… novels, under her pen name, achieved great acclaim. Darwin and his family were keen readers …
… Allen, [26 March 1873], DAR 219.11: 14). A few days later Darwin asked if his daughter and son-in …
… to lunch but there is no evidence that this happened (Emma Darwin to Horace Darwin, [14 October 1873 …
… started ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 18 January [1874] ). Darwin took Emma to a Sunday afternoon at …

Dining at Down House

Summary

Sources|Discussion Questions|Experiment Dining, Digestion, and Darwin's Domestic Life While Darwin is best remembered for his scientific accomplishments, he greatly valued and was strongly influenced by his domestic life. Darwin's…

Matches: 14 hits

… Questions | Experiment Dining, Digestion, and Darwin's Domestic Life …
… chance for what share of happiness this world affords." ( Darwin to H.W. Bates , 26 …
… and they partook in his scientific endeavours. One of Darwin's defining characteristics …
… through his correspondence. Letters written to and from Darwin, as well as those exchanged between …
… provides into the bright and engaging personalities of the Darwin children and of family life in the …
… SOURCES Book Darwin, Charles. On the Origin of Species . 1859. London: John …
… Dining at Down House Letter 259 —Charles Darwin to Caroline Darwin, 13 October …
… South American cities, cultures, geography, flora and fauna) Darwin complains to his sister Caroline …
… while ill. Letter 465 —Emma Wedgwood (Emma Darwin) to Charles Darwin, [30 December 1838] …
… agreeable” for her sake. Letter 3626 —Emma Darwin to T. G. Appleton, 28 June [1862] …
… behalf to his American publisher, T. G. Appleton. Darwin, who is too ill to write himself, wishes to …
… cod liver oil and moderate work, among other things, for Darwin’s complaints. Emma Darwin …
… suffers a bout of “rocking & giddiness”. Emma Darwin to Henrietta Darwin, [5 September …
… luncheon fare. Letter 8296 —Darwin to Francis Galton, 21 April [1872] In this …

Fake Darwin: myths and misconceptions

Summary

Many myths have persisted about Darwin's life and work. Here are a few of the more pervasive ones, with full debunking below...

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… Many myths have persisted about Darwin's life and work. Here are a few of the more pervasive …

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Darwin Correspondence Project

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