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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: 18 hits

  • There are summaries of all Darwin's letters from the year 1879 on this website.  The full texts
  • Press . Darwin spent a considerable part of 1879 in the eighteenth century. His journey back
  • alongside a botanical interest in roots, as he and his son Francis carried out their latest
  • his publishers, he warned that it wasdry 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 agea 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 Horaces marriage settlement ( letter from W. M. Hacon, 31 December 1879 ). …
  • but they wereas nice and good as could be’ ( letter from Karl Beger, [ c. 12 February 1879] ) …
  • on your lifes work, which is crowned with glory’ ( letter from Ernst Haeckel, 9 February 1879 ). …
  • 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 Galtons aunt, Mary Anne
  • for Captain Robert FitzRoy on the Beagle voyage, Francis Beaufort of the Admiralty described the
  • … ( letter from V. H. Darwin, 28 May [1879] ). On the Galton side of the family, Elizabeth Anne
  • the book, the response from readers was gratifying. Francis Galton read the book with the greatest

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: 29 hits

  • … had concealed this in his preface to his and Krause’s 1879 book Erasmus Darwin . Although Darwin …
  • … 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 …
  • … of the false accusation’. Other friends rallied round. Francis Balfour translated Krause’s account …
  • … had been a major undertaking for both Darwin and his son Francis, who assisted in the many …
  • … publishers decided to print ‘500 more, making 2000’ ( letter to H. E. Litchfield, 4 January 1881 ) …
  • … 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 …
  • … July, sending the pages to Germany for further checks by Francis Darwin, who was spending the summer …
  • … Ruskin, who lived there. Sending the last two chapters to Francis on 27 May , Darwin wrote, …
  • … to begin any new subject requiring much work’, he told Francis Darwin on 30 May . ‘I have been …
  • … case.’ An additional motivation may have been to support Francis Darwin’s published research on …
  • … Darwin tried a variety of plants and reagents, telling Francis on 17 October , ‘I have wasted …
  • … up the job; but I cannot endure to do this’, Darwin told Francis on 9 November ,  and writing …
  • … for more suggestions of such plants, especially annuals ( letter to W. T. Thiselton-Dyer, 21 March …
  • … 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 ). …
  • … regular ‘bread-winners’ ( Correspondence vol. 30, letter to C. A. Kennard, 9 January 1882 ). …
  • … any future publication & to acknowledge any criticism’ ( letter to C. G. Semper, 19 July 1881 …
  • … view of the nature & capabilities of the Fuegians’ ( letter to W. P. Snow, 22 November 1881 ). …
  • … Cambridge Scientific Instrument Company led Darwin to chide Francis for giving a klinostat designed …
  • … supporters, and rejoiced in his election. Promoting Francis’s own botanical research was as …
  • … on 27 January for not commending papers presented by Francis at the Linnean Society the previous …
  • … realised was ‘incumbent’ upon him), Darwin, certain that Francis had not been offended, stated, ‘I …
  • … book were from those who had received presentation copies. Galton wrote on 9 October , ‘I wish …
  • … Leopold Würtenberger, who had received £100 from Darwin in 1879 to continue his work on the …

Darwin in letters, 1880: Sensitivity and worms

Summary

‘My heart & soul care for worms & nothing else in this world,’ Darwin wrote to his old Shrewsbury friend Henry Johnson on 14 November 1880. Darwin became fully devoted to earthworms in the spring of the year, just after finishing the manuscript of…

Matches: 21 hits

  • … book, Erasmus Darwin , had been published in November 1879. It was received well by his relations …
  • … my grandfather’s character is of much value to me’ ( letter to C. H. Tindal, 5 January 1880 ). …
  • … have influenced the whole Kingdom, & even the world’ ( letter from J. L. Chester, 3 March 1880 …
  • … delighted to find an ordinary mortal who could laugh’ ( letter from W. E. Darwin to Charles and …
  • … he had written for the German journal Kosmos in February 1879, an issue produced in honour of …
  • … Butler, Evolution old and new , which had appeared in May 1879. Krause wanted to correct Butler’s …
  • … much powder & shot’ ( Correspondence vol. 27, letter from Ernst Krause, 7 June 1879 , and …
  • … Darwin stated that Krause’s piece had been written in 1879 (before Evolution old and new was …
  • … modified; but now I much regret that I did not do so’ ( letter to Samuel Butler, 3 January 1880 ). …
  • … and ‘decided on laying the matter before the public’ ( letter from Samuel Butler, 21 January 1880 …
  • … and uncertain about what to do. He drafted two versions of a letter to the Athen æum , sending …
  • … in which he will have the last word’, she warned ( letter from H. E. Litchfield, [1 February 1880] …
  • … who will fight to the end’, added her husband Richard ( letter from R. B. Litchfield, 1 February …
  • … Mr Butler whatever.’ Power of movement With Francis’s assistance, the last of Darwin’s …
  • … had raised the plant from seeds sent by Asa Gray in December 1879. His observations differed, …
  • … by Gray in an article and textbook (A. Gray 1877 and A. Gray 1879, pp. 20–1). ‘I think you cannot …
  • … of the nervous system, and the nature of ‘sensitivity’. Francis Balfour described Movement in …
  • … the intake of stones and flints to aid digestion. He asked Francis to check for castings on old …
  • … rightly thought the ‘queer subject’ of interest to Francis Galton, who had already taken thumb …
  • … vol. 27, letter from J. D. Hooker, 18 December 1879 ). For some years, Wallace’s main source of …
  • … William’s interest in geology, and longed to see Francis elected fellow of the Royal Society. He …

Life of Erasmus Darwin

Summary

The Life of Erasmus Darwin (1879) was a curious departure for Darwin. It was intended as a biographical note to accompany an essay on Erasmus's scientific work by the German writer Ernst Krause. But Darwin became immersed in his grandfather's…

Matches: 9 hits

  • … The Life of Erasmus Darwin (1879) was a curious departure for Darwin. It was intended as a …
  • … the book into grist for controversy.  In February 1879, Darwin received an unusual birthday …
  • … in Darwinismus '; ' It piles up the glory and would please Francis '. Darwin' …
  • … my grandfathers life ', Darwin wrote to Krause on 14 March 1879. He made contact with family …
  • … my tether '. The book was published in November of 1879. Darwin filled his notice with …
  • … Erasmus's character and restored his good reputation. Francis Galton was pleased to have been …
  • … whose Evolution Old and New had been published in May of 1879, had not failed to find the …
  • … much regret that I did not do so '. On the top of Butler's letter, Emma Darwin wrote: & …
  • … the matter before the public '. He stated his case in a letter to the Athenaeum , a leading …

Discussion Questions and Essay Questions

Summary

There are a wide range of possibilities for opening discussion and essay writing on Darwin’s correspondence.  We have provided a set of sample discussion questions and essay questions, each of which focuses on a particular topic or correspondent in depth.…

Matches: 3 hits

  • … people? What sort of things could one say in a letter that could not be said in print, and …
  • … Boole (1864), F. E. Abbot (1871-4), John Fordyce (1879), William Graham (1881)] How did Darwin …
  • … Müller and the adaptations of insects to flowers (1867), Francis Galton on inheritance theory …

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: 27 hits

  • … are not found listed here. The description given by Francis Darwin of his father’s method of …
  • … Darwin Library (AC.34). Darwin’s books were bequeathed to Francis Darwin, who, in 1908, gave all but …
  • … to be available to scholars using the archive. Books that Francis Darwin had kept were left to his …
  • … [Reimarius 1760] The Highlands & Western Isl ds  letter to Sir W Scott [MacCulloch 1824 …
  • … 1828] 31 An analysis of British Ferns. G. W. Francis 4 s  [Francis 1837]— plates of …
  • … 1834–40]: In Portfolio of “abstracts” 34  —letter from Skuckard of books on Silk Worm …
  • … 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] …
  • … [Heer 1854].— Hooker has it.— Very important Hookers letter Jan. 1859 Yules Ava [Yule 1858] …
  • … Vol 2 & 3. } 20 th . Galtons Tour in S. Africa [Galton 1853] good Aug 23. Moore …
  • … Smith life [S. Smith 1855] Galtons Art of Travelling [Galton 1855] March 13 th  2 d …
  • … 9  CD did not follow his own advice. In 1879, he stated that he had unbounded respect for …
  • … of the material from these portfolios is in DAR 205, the letter from William Edward Shuckard to …
  • … work is listed again on p. [22]. 44  Probably Francis Boott. 45  Edward …
  • … ( Notebooks , pp. 319–28). 55  The letter was addressed to Nicholas Aylward Vigors …
  • … to William Jackson Hooker. See  Correspondence  vol. 3, letter to J. D. Hooker, [5 or 12 November …
  • … Africa . London.  *119: 18v.; 119: 14a Bacon, Francis. 1825–36.  The works of Francis
  • … 119: 21b Broughton, William Grant. 1832.  A letter in vindication of   the principles of …
  • … ed. London. [Darwin Library.]  128: 12 Castelnau, Francis, Comte de. 1846. M. de Castelnau …
  • … of   Linnæus . n.p.  119: 4a Davis, John Francis. 1852.  China, during war and since …
  • … the Second.  London. [Other eds.]  119: 17b Francis, George William. 1837.  An analysis …
  • … of J. Galt . 2 vols. London.  119: 21b Galton, Francis. 1853.  The narrative of an …
  • … Cowper . 4 vols. London.  119: 5a Head, Francis Bond. 1834.  Bubbles from the Brunnens …
  • … by Bekhur to   Garoo and the Lake Manasarowara: with a letter from … J.   G. Gerard, Esq. …
  • … 1830. On the dying struggle of the dichotomous sytem. In a letter to N. A. Vigors.  Philosophical …
  • … *119: 8v., 22v.; *128: 165 ——. 1850a. Letter to the Rev. John Bachman, on the question of …
  • … art of improving the   breeds of domestic animals. In a letter addressed to the   Right Hon. Sir …