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To G. J. Romanes 3 February 1880
Summary
Says it is not likely he will be able to criticise GJR’s work.
Recommends Jean-Henri Fabre, Souvenirs entomologiques [1879].
Encloses letters from J. F. Moulton [12350 and 12356].
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | George John Romanes |
| Date: | 3 Feb 1880 |
| Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.570) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-12454 |
From Asa Gray 3 February 1880
Summary
Germination of Megarrhiza. AG’s observations at variance with CD’s.
| Author: | Asa Gray |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 3 Feb 1880 |
| Classmark: | DAR 209.6: 201 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-12455 |
From R. B. Litchfield 3 February 1880
Summary
Thinks Huxley’s judgment on answering S. Butler’s charges would be trustworthy, though THH is horribly pugnacious and would naturally be for fighting.
| Author: | Richard Buckley Litchfield |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 3 Feb 1880 |
| Classmark: | DAR 92: B79–80 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-12456 |
From T. H. Huxley 3 February 1880
Summary
Has read Butler’s letter and CD’s draft reply and Litchfield’s letter. Has no hesitation in saying CD should take no notice. Litchfield’s advice is judicious.
| Author: | Thomas Henry Huxley |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 3 Feb 1880 |
| Classmark: | DAR 92: B82–3 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-12457 |
To T. H. Huxley 4 February [1880]
Summary
Greatly relieved by THH’s letter [advising against a reply to Samuel Butler].
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Thomas Henry Huxley |
| Date: | 4 Feb [1880] |
| Classmark: | Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine Archives (Huxley 5: 338) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-12458 |
To Ernst Krause 4 February 1880
Summary
Samuel Butler’s fierce attack on CD and EK in Athenæum. CD’s sentence saying that EK had altered his Kosmos article was accidentally omitted from second proofs. Butler insinuates that EK’s attack on his book was suggested by CD or interpolated by him in EK’s text.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Ernst Ludwig (Ernst) Krause |
| Date: | 4 Feb 1880 |
| Classmark: | The Huntington Library (HM 36200) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-12459 |
To W. Z. Seddon 4 February 1880
Summary
Comments on colours of races of man. Wishes WZS "or anybody else" could account for them.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | William Zaccheus Seddon |
| Date: | 4 Feb 1880 |
| Classmark: | DAR 147: 461 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-12460 |
To G. J. Romanes 5 February 1880
Summary
On GJR’s work on mental evolution in animals. Emphasises "love" among animals.
Comments on stimulation of plants.
On pleasure and pain.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | George John Romanes |
| Date: | 5 Feb 1880 |
| Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.571) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-12461 |
From W. S. Dallas 5 February 1880
Summary
Since CD has decided not to answer S. Butler’s charge, WSD will not reply either.
Will look over Francis Darwin’s lecture ["Climbing plants"] with a view to publishing it in Popular Science Review [19 (1880): 213–29].
| Author: | William Sweetland Dallas |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 5 Feb 1880 |
| Classmark: | DAR 99: 133–134 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-12462 |
From Ernst Krause 6 February 1880
Summary
Thinks CD has no need to reply to Samuel Butler’s hostile article [in the Athenæum]. Offers to reply himself.
| Author: | Ernst Ludwig (Ernst) Krause |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 6 Feb 1880 |
| Classmark: | DAR 92: B53 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-12463 |
From G. J. Romanes 6 February 1880
Summary
Thinks Herbert Spencer has done little service to science but a great service to thinking.
Thinks importance of mathematics overestimated [by J. F. Moulton] in criticising Spencer.
| Author: | George John Romanes |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 6 Feb 1880 |
| Classmark: | E. D. Romanes 1896, p. 95 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-12464 |
To Ernst Krause [12 December 1880]
Summary
CD is pleased that EK will answer Butler. Thinks Butler is half insane.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Ernst Ludwig (Ernst) Krause |
| Date: | [12 Dec 1880] |
| Classmark: | The Huntington Library (HM 36203) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-12465 |
From Ernst Krause 7 February 1880
Summary
Returns [Butler’s] attack, which he forgot to send yesterday.
| Author: | Ernst Ludwig (Ernst) Krause |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 7 Feb 1880 |
| Classmark: | DAR 92: B54 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-12466 |
From Ernst Haeckel 9 February 1880
Summary
Sends birthday wishes.
Discusses work on Medusae.
Recalls visit to Down.
| Author: | Ernst Philipp August (Ernst) Haeckel |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 9 Feb 1880 |
| Classmark: | DAR 166: 76 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-12467 |
To Ernst Krause 9 February 1880
Summary
CD advises EK on his proposed letter answering Butler.
Considering the favourable reviews, sale of Erasmus Darwin has been poor.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Ernst Ludwig (Ernst) Krause |
| Date: | 9 Feb 1880 |
| Classmark: | The Huntington Library (HM 36201) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-12468 |
From Ernst Krause 10 February 1880
Summary
Birthday greetings.
Regrets Butler’s malicious attack.
| Author: | Ernst Ludwig (Ernst) Krause |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 10 Feb 1880 |
| Classmark: | DAR 92: B55 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-12469 |
From Wilhelm Breitenbach 10 February 1880
Summary
Describes formation of student nature study club at the University of Jena. Sends birthday greetings from the club.
| Author: | Wilhelm Breitenbach |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 10 Feb 1880 |
| Classmark: | DAR 160: 294 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-12470 |
From Anton Dohrn 11 February 1880
Summary
Sends birthday greetings
and the good news of a subvention for the Zoological Station received from the German government. There are now 20 naturalists working at the Station.
| Author: | Felix Anton (Anton) Dohrn |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 11 Feb 1880 |
| Classmark: | DAR 162: 218 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-12471 |
From James Torbitt 12 February 1880
Summary
It might be possible to borrow £500 [for potato experiments]. Variety of "The Champion" spreading over the Kingdom. Champion lately less able to produce.
| Author: | James Torbitt |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 12 Feb 1880 |
| Classmark: | DAR 144: 486 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-12472 |
From Lawson Tait [13 February 1880]
Summary
Encloses cuttings from Birmingham Daily Post, 12 February 1880, p. 4, and 13 February 1880, p.5, reporting the presentation to CD of the first honorary membership of the Birmingham Philosophical Society.
| Author: | Robert Lawson (Lawson) Tait |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | [13 Feb 1880] |
| Classmark: | DAR 226.2: 44 (1 and 2) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-12472F |
Author
| Darwin, C. R. | (327) |
| Darwin, W. E. | (15) |
| Krause, Ernst | (14) |
| Torbitt, James | (14) |
| Cooke, R. F. | (12) |
Addressee
| Darwin, C. R. | (303) |
| Torbitt, James | (17) |
| Darwin, G. H. | (16) |
| Darwin, W. E. | (14) |
| Huxley, T. H. | (14) |
Correspondent
| Darwin, C. R. | (630) |
| Torbitt, James | (31) |
| Darwin, W. E. | (29) |
| Krause, Ernst | (27) |
| Darwin, G. H. | (24) |
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36 Items
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: 13 hits
- … to his old Shrewsbury friend Henry Johnson on 14 November 1880 . Darwin became fully devoted to …
- … 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 …
- … of [William Alvey Darwin],’ George wrote on 28 May 1880 , ‘I … said you were anxious not to …
- … delighted to find an ordinary mortal who could laugh’ ( letter from W. E. Darwin to Charles and …
- … much powder & shot’ ( Correspondence vol. 27, letter from Ernst Krause, 7 June 1879 , and …
- … new was published). Butler wrote to Darwin on 2 January 1880 for an explanation: ‘Among the …
- … 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 …
- … him & given him Darwinophobia? It is a horrid disease’ ( letter from T. H. Huxley, 3 February …
- … squashing the ‘mosquito inflated to an elephant’ ( letter from Ernst Krause, 9 December 1880 ). …
- … behave so differently.’ ( Letter to Asa Gray, 17 February 1880 .) But Gray had based his …
Volume 28 (1880) now published
Summary
1880 opened and closed with an irksome controversy with Samuel Butler, prompted by the publication of Erasmus Darwin the previous year. Darwin became fully devoted to earthworms in the spring of the year, just after finishing the manuscript of Movement in…
Matches: 6 hits
- … 1880 opened and closed with an irksome controversy with Samuel Butler, prompted …
- … available. Read more about Darwin's life in 1880 in our Life in letters …
- … Scientific Society after meeting Darwin at Down in July 1880. Forty-three members of the society …
- … of his most prized curiosities. They, and others, recognised 1880 as an important year, the year …
- … before Butler made his views known. Butler complained in a letter to the Athenaeum , and in his …
- … & nothing else in this world In the autumn of 1880, after finishing work on the …
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: 25 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 ). …
- … , a plant that exhibited all three types of movement ( letter from R. I. Lynch, [before 28 July …
- … and illustrated Horace’s machine in a paper (F. Darwin 1880, pp. 449–55). Diagram …
- … 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 …
- … only the regulator & not cause of movement ’. In the same letter, Darwin discussed terminology, …
- … suggested by Darwin’s son William in February 1880, probably to replace Frank’s ‘Transversal …
- … experiments and devised a new test, which he described in a letter to his mother, ‘ I did some …
- … to translate the paper into German, and it appeared in 1880 (F. Darwin 1880b). In the same letter, …
- … on holiday in the Lake District, Darwin received a long letter from De Vries detailing his latest …
- … ’. Luckily, De Vries published two papers in 1879 and 1880 that Darwin was later able to refer to in …
- … 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 ). …
- … would be killed by frost ( letter from Asa Gray, 4 April 1880 ). Darwin agreed, ‘ It seems almost …
- … of Plants’ ( letter to R. F. Cooke, 23 April [1880] ). Cooke replied, ‘ We are as much puzzled as …
- … ’. The manuscript was sent off towards the end of May 1880 and Darwin then spent a fortnight at his …
- … Alphonse de Candolle’s Phytographie (A. de Candolle 1880). In his letter of thanks for the book, …
- … all plants from their earliest youth ’. By July 1880, Darwin was correcting the first sets …
- … copies they should print ( letter to John Murray, 10 July 1880 ). Moreover, since he worried about …
- … on the usual terms ( letter from R. F. Cooke, 15 July 1880 ). This was also preferable to Darwin, …
- … or raising the price ( letter from R. F. Cooke, 20 July 1880 ). Darwin demurred, however, stating, …
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,…
Matches: 1 hits
- … fungus of cultivated Cruciferae , 17 February 1880 Volney Rattan's drawings of …
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: 30 hits
- … Observers Women: Letter 1194 - Darwin to Whitby, M. A. T., [12 August …
- … silkworm breeds, or peculiarities in inheritance. Letter 3787 - Darwin, H. E. to …
- … observations of cats’ instinctive behaviour. Letter 4258 - Becker, L. E. to Darwin, …
- … to artificially fertilise plants in her garden. Letter 4523 - Wedgwood, L. C. to …
- … be made on seeds of Pulmonaria officinalis . Letter 5745 - Barber, M. E. to …
- … Expression from her home in South Africa. Letter 6736 - Gray, A. & J. L …
- … Expression during a trip to Egypt. Letter 7223 - Darwin to Wedgwood, L. C., …
- … expression of emotion in her pet dog and birds. Letter 5817 - Darwin to Huxley, T. …
- … is making similar observations for him. Letter 6535 - Vaughan Williams , M. S. …
- … of a crying baby to Darwin's daughter, Henrietta. Letter 7179 - Wedgwood, …
- … briefly on her ongoing observations of wormholes. Letter 8611 - Cupples, A. J. …
- … expression of emotion in dogs with Emma Darwin. Letter 8676 - Treat, M. to Darwin, …
- … birds, insects or plants on Darwin’s behalf. Letter 8683 - Roberts, D. to …
- … of an angry pig and her niece’s ears. Letter 8701 - Lubbock, E. F . to Darwin, …
- … that she make observations of her pet cats. Letter 8989 - Treat, M. to Darwin, [28 …
- … on her experiments with fly-catching Drosera . Letter 9426 - Story …
- … without the birds attacking the buds and flowers. Letter 9616 - Marshall, T. to …
- … and her father of plants and insects. Men: Letter 2221 - Blyth, E. to Darwin …
- … specimens and bird observations from Calcutta. Letter 3634 - Darwin to Gray, A., [1 …
- … “enthusiasm and indomitable patience”. Letter 4242 - Hildebrand, F. H. G. to Darwin …
- … contained in “a little treatise”. Letter 4436 - Darwin to Hooker, J. D., [26-27 …
- … he has moved one or two of them into his bedroom. Letter 5602 - Sutton, S. to …
- … expression of emotion in chimpanzees and orangs. Letter 5705 - Haast, J. F. J. von …
- … to show in his museum in Canterbury, New Zealand. Letter 6453 - Langton, E. to …
- … to be attracted to dark spots on the wallpaper. Letter 5756 - Langton, E. & C. …
- … Letter 12389 - Johnson, M. to Darwin, [January 1880] Mary Johnson tells Darwin about her …
- … 12745 - Darwin to Wedg wood, K. E. S., [8 October 1880] Darwin asks his niece, …
- … 12760 - Wedgw ood, K. E. S. to Darwin, [15 October 1880] Darwin’s niece, Katherine …
- … publication of The Movement of Plants in 1880 and his “assistance” is proudly …
- … publication of The Movement of Plants in 1880 and his “assistance” is proudly …
Capturing Darwin’s voice: audio of selected letters
Summary
On a sunny Wednesday in June 2011 in a makeshift recording studio somewhere in Cambridge, we were very pleased to welcome Terry Molloy back to the Darwin Correspondence Project for a special recording session. Terry, known for his portrayal of Davros in Dr…
Matches: 5 hits
- … 1866] ; 8 June [1867-72?] ) and Sophy ( 8 October [1880] ). The …
- … seeking permission to go on the Beagle voyage, to a letter to C. A. Kennard written on 9 …
- … from the youthful exuberance of the Beagle letters (e.g. letter to Caroline Darwin, 29 April …
- … that led up to his ‘confessing a murder’ in his famous letter to J. D. Hooker, in which he admitted …
- … who was proofreading a draft chapter of Descent (letter to H. E. Darwin, [8 February 1870] ). …
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: 24 hits
- … ‘I feel a very old man, & my course is nearly run’ ( letter to Lawson Tait, 13 February 1882 ) …
- … fertility of crosses between differently styled plants ( letter from Fritz Müller, 1 January 1882 …
- … about new varieties of sugar cane produced by grafting. In 1880, Darwin had been sent details of …
- … 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 …
- … by the flippant witlings of the newspaper press’ ( letter from A. T. Rice, 4 February 1882 ). Rice …
- … men, and their role as providers for the family. In his letter, he conceded that there was ‘some …
- … of our homes, would in this case greatly suffer’ ( letter to C. A. Kennard, 9 January 1882 ). …
- … she be fairly judged, intellectually his inferior, please ( letter from C. A. Kennard, 28 January …
- … he has allied himself to so dreadful a man, as Huxley’ ( letter to John Collier, 16 February 1882 …
- … Would my actions be the same without my consciousness?’ ( letter from John Collier, 22 February …
- … a solid scientific foundation cannot be overestimated’ ( letter to William Jenner, 20 March [1882] …
- … to delight in his children’s accomplishments. In a letter to Anthony Rich, he shared several of his …
- … to take a long trip to Jamaica ‘for complete rest’ ( letter to Anthony Rich, 4 February 1882 ). …
Referencing women’s work
Summary
Darwin's correspondence shows that women made significant contributions to Darwin's work, but whether and how they were acknowledged in print involved complex considerations of social standing, professional standing, and personal preference.…
Matches: 23 hits
- … earthworms . Selected letters Letter 1113 - Darwin to Whitby, M. …
- … work are referenced throughout Variation . Letter 2395 - Darwin to Holland, …
- … her identity is both anonymised and masculinised. Letter 3316 - Darwin to Nevill, D …
- … Darwin’s Fertilisation of Orchids . Letter 4038 - Darwin to Lyell, C., …
- … being acknowledged publicly as a science critic. Letter 4370 - Wedgwood, L. C. to …
- … are identified only as “friends in Surrey”. Letter 4794 - Darwin to Lyell, C., [25 …
- … Sir C. Lyell” or received from “Miss. B”. Letter 7060 - Wedgwood, F. J. to …
- … was referenced in the final publication. Letter 7223 - Darwin to Wedgwood, L. C …
- … are not cited in Expression . Letter 5817 - Darwin to Huxley, T. H., …
- … description of a crying baby in Mary Barton. Letter 8321 - Darwin to …
- … he would “feel the public humming” at him. Letter 7345 - Wedgwood, L. C. to Darwin, …
- … lady, on whose accuracy I can implicitly rely”. Letter 8427 - Darwin to Litchfield H …
- … of Henrietta’s considerable editorial input. Letter 8719 - Darwin to Treat, M., [1 …
- … Letters relating to Earthworms Letter 7428 - Wedgwood, F. to Darwin, [4 …
- … depth of furrows in an old field near his house. Letter 8168 - Ruck, A. R. to …
- … activity in the fields of North Wales. Letter 8193 - Ruck, A. R. to Darwin, H …
- … published discussion of earthworm activity . Letter 8224 - Darwin to Ruck, A. …
- … discussion of turf-based worm castings . Letter 7345 - Wedgwood, L. C. to Darwin, …
- … lady, on whose accuracy I can implicitly rely”. Letter 11221 - Darwin to Darwin …
- … are referenced in Vegetable Mould . Letter 12742 - Darwin, H. to Darwin, …
- … "My son Horace" in Vegetable Mould . Letter 12745 - Darwin to …
- … anonymously in Vegetable Mould . Letter 12760 - Wedgwood, K. E. S. to …
- … but does not identify the workers in question. Letter 13037 - Darwin to Darwin, …
Religion
Summary
Design|Personal Belief|Beauty|The Church Perhaps the most notorious realm of controversy over evolution in Darwin's day was religion. The same can be said of the evolution controversy today; however the nature of the disputes and the manner in…
Matches: 24 hits
- … of departure reviews of Origin . The second is a single letter from naturalist A. R. Wallace to …
- … everything is the result of “brute force”. Letter 2855 — Darwin, C. R. to Gray, Asa, 3 …
- … nature, as he is in a “muddle” on this issue. Letter 3256 — Darwin, C. R. to Gray, Asa, …
- … shares a witty thought experiment about an angel. Letter 3342 — Darwin, C. R. to Gray, …
- … He asks Gray some questions about design. Letter 6167 — Darwin, C. R. to Gray, Asa, 8 …
- … of my precipice”. Darwin and Wallace Letter 5140 — Wallace, A. R. to Darwin, …
- … of variations. Darwin and Graham Letter 13230 — Darwin, C. R. to Graham, …
- … of people, including members of his own family. Letter 441 — Wedgwood, Emma to Darwin, …
- … about his “honest & conscientious doubts”. Letter 471 — Darwin, Emma to Darwin, C. …
- … there is a danger in giving up revelation”. Letter 2534 — Kingsley, Charles to Darwin, …
- … need of an act of intervention to bring change. Letter 2548 — Sedgwick, Adam to Darwin, …
- … with that knowledge which only He can give me.” Letter 5303 — Boole, M. E. to Darwin, C …
- … that his theory be compatible with her faith. Letter 5307 — Darwin, C. R. to Boole, M. …
- … and science should each run its own course. Letter 8070 — Darwin, C. R. to Abbot, F. E. …
- … “with qualifications”, if he wishes. Letter 8837 — Darwin, C. R. to Doedes, N. D., 2 …
- … man’s intellect, “but man can do his duty”. Letter 12041 — Darwin, C. R. to Fordyce, …
- … most correct description of my state of mind”. Letter 12757 — Darwin, C. R. to Aveling, …
- … as examples to illustrate his ideas on beauty. Letter 4752 — Darwin, C. R. to Lyell, …
- … discusses humming birds and orchids as examples. Letter 4939 — Shaw, James to Darwin, C …
- … a long discussion on beauty in the natural world. Letter 4943 — Darwin, C. R. to Shaw, …
- … beauty of flowers is solely to attract insects. Letter 5003f — Shaw, James to Darwin, C …
- … Beauty against the Duke of Argyll’s criticisms. Letter 5004 — Darwin, C. R. to Shaw, …
- … of beauty being displayed in conspicuous parts. Letter 5060 — Shaw, James to Darwin, C. …
- … Letter 12879 — Darwin, C. R. to Fegan, J. W. C., [Dec 1880 – Feb 1881] Darwin writes to J. W. …
Casting about: Darwin on worms
Summary
Earthworms were the subject of a citizen science project to map the distribution of earthworms across Britain (BBC Today programme, 26 May 2014). The general understanding of the role earthworms play in improving soils and providing nutrients for plants to…
Matches: 4 hits
- … book Darwin claimed had ‘much influence on my mind’ ( letter to W. T. Preyer, 17 February [1870 ]) …
- … His interest in earthworms never waned, but it was not until 1880 that he began to draw together the …
- … whole soul is absorbed with worms just at present!’ ( letter to W. T. Thiselton Dyer, 23 November …
- … ‘worms have much bigger souls than anyone wd suppose’ ( letter to W. E. Darwin, 31 January [1881] …
2.7 Joseph Moore, Midland Union medal
Summary
< Back to Introduction The Midland Union was an association of natural history societies and field clubs across the Midland counties, intended to facilitate – especially through its journal The Midland Naturalist – ‘the interchange of ideas’ and…
Matches: 5 hits
- … It was decided at the Union’s annual meeting in July 1880 to award an annual ‘Darwin Prize’ for the …
- … death in 1882, suggested that the initiation of the medal in 1880 had also been intended as a …
- … founded by the Midland Union of Natural History Societies 1880’. In the centre the name of the …
- … date of creation designed and first produced in 1880 computer-readable date 1880-01-01 …
- … and Field Clubs of the Midland Counties , 3:32 (August 1880), preface and pp. 181–2. Journal of …
Earthworms
Summary
As with many of Darwin’s research topics, his interest in worms spanned nearly his entire working life. Some of his earliest correspondence about earthworms was written and received in the 1830s, shortly after his return from his Beagle voyage, and his…
Matches: 9 hits
- … alone. Similarly, The Power of Movements in Plants (1880) was a study of incredible empirical …
- … John Murray. Chapters 1 and 3. Letters Letter 385 - Sarah Elizabeth …
- … by Emma’s sister at the behest of her father Josiah, this letter conveys the details of when and how …
- … In his reply of two days later, Darwin wrote, “Your letter & facts are quite splendid.—I cannot …
- … request, and his gratitude for her observations. Letter 12745 - Darwin to Sophy …
- … such a case as grass roots, weeds, in a gravel path.” [ Letter 12760 , 15 October 1880] …
- … her interest in earthworms and its significance. Letter 13632 - Darwin to John …
- … QUESTIONS 1. What do you think of Darwin's letter to John Murray? What does Darwin …
- … this experiment? Can you relate your own observations to the letter selections for this module? …
Darwin in letters, 1863: Quarrels at home, honours abroad
Summary
At the start of 1863, Charles Darwin was actively working on the manuscript of The variation of animals and plants under domestication, anticipating with excitement the construction of a hothouse to accommodate his increasingly varied botanical experiments…
Matches: 23 hits
- … that he was ‘unwell & must write briefly’ ( letter to John Scott, 31 May [1863] ), and in a …
- … persevered with his work on Variation until 20 July, his letter-writing dwindled considerably. The …
- … from ‘some Quadrumanum animal’, as he put it in a letter to J. D. Hooker of 24[–5] February [1863] …
- … ‘I declare I never in my life read anything grander’ ( letter to T. H. Huxley, 26 [February 1863] …
- … than Origin had (see Correspondence vol. 8, letter to Charles Lyell, 10 January [1860] ). …
- … from animals like the woolly mammoth and cave bear ( see letter from Jacques Boucher de Perthes, 23 …
- … leap from that of inferior animals made him ‘groan’ ( letter to Charles Lyell, 6 March [1863] ). …
- … out that species were not separately created’ ( letter to Charles Lyell, 17 March [1863] ). Public …
- … book he wished his one-time mentor had not said a word ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 24[–5] February …
- … I respect you, as my old honoured guide & master’ ( letter to Charles Lyell, 6 March [1863] ). …
- … against stronger statements regarding species change ( letter from Charles Lyell, 11 March 1863 ). …
- … thinking, while Huxley’s book would scare them off ( see letter from Asa Gray, 20 April 1863 ). In …
- … change of species by descent put him ‘into despair’ ( letter to Asa Gray, 11 May [1863] ). In the …
- … disaffected towards Lyell and his book. In a February letter to the Athenæum , a weekly review of …
- … find great difficulty in answering Owen unaided ’ ( letter from J. D. Hooker, [23 February 1863] …
- … of so much of Lyell’s book being written by others’ ( letter from J. D. Hooker, [23 February 1863] …
- … is wretched to see men fighting so for a little fame’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 17 March [1863] ). …
- … overt act, and I shall watch for a fitting opportunity’ ( letter to Hugh Falconer, 5 [and 6] …
- … God demented Owen, as a punishment for his crimes… ?’ ( letter from Hugh Falconer, 3 January [1863] …
- … Darwin’, a transitional form between reptiles and birds ( letter from Hugh Falconer, 3 January …
- … a significant gap had been filled in the fossil record ( letter to Hugh Falconer, 5 [and 6] January …
- … continued to capture his and others’ attention ( see letter to J. D. Dana, 20 February [1863] , …
- … or origin of species’, Darwin considered writing a letter to the Athenæum in response ( letter …
What is an experiment?
Summary
Darwin is not usually regarded as an experimenter, but rather as an astute observer and a grand theorist. His early career seems to confirm this. He began with detailed note-taking, collecting and cataloguing on the Beagle, and edited a descriptive zoology…
Matches: 7 hits
- … ‘all kinds of facts’ across a wide range of fields ( letter to W. D. Fox [25 January 1841] ). He …
- … men, with a curb on make far the best observers’ ( letter to C. H. L. Woodd , 4 March 1850 ). He …
- … speculation there is no good & original observation’ ( letter to A. R. Wallace, 22 December …
- … of an engineer on his early experiments with Drosera ( letter to Edward Cresy, 12 December …
- … ‘I have become very fond of little experiments’ ( letter to J. D. Hooker, [21 March 1857] ; …
- … ‘all nature is perverse & will not do as I wish it’ ( letter to W. D. Fox, 7 May [1855] ). But …
- … at Science … & am never happy except when at work’ ( letter to J. M. Herbert, 25 December [1880 …
Power of movement in plants
Summary
Sources|Discussion Questions|Experiment Family experiments Darwin was an active and engaged father during his children's youth, involving them in his experiments and even occasionally using them as observational subjects. When his children…
Matches: 10 hits
- … on experiments for The Power of Movement in Plants (1880). The correspondence between Darwin …
- … to his theory of evolution by natural selection. This 1880 book sought to illustrate that evolution …
- … Darwin, C.R. The power of movement in plants. 1880. London: John Murray. Chapter nine: …
- … its transmitted effects Letters Letter Pack: Power of movement in plants …
- … are in danger of compromising their character. Letter 10517 - Darwin to Francis …
- … about Francis’ experimental technique. Letter 11586 - Darwin to Francis Darwin, 2 …
- … been made, but that they would be worth making. Letter 11628 - Francis Darwin to …
- … remarking that he was “too floppy to work”. Letter 12152 - Francis Darwin to Darwin, …
- … latest experiment on movement in plants. By the time this letter was written, he and Darwin were …
- … publication of The Power of Movement in Plants in 1880. After reading Chapter Nine of …
John Murray
Summary
Darwin's most famous book On the origin of species by means of natural selection (Origin) was published on 22 November 1859. The publisher was John Murray, who specialised in non-fiction, particularly politics, travel and science, and had published…
Matches: 21 hits
- … end of 1845, Darwin was not happy with Colburn’s terms ( Letter 856 ). Instead he asked his friend …
- … John Murray, to open negotiations with his own publisher ( Letter 824 ). Lyell’s talk with Murray …
- … have transacted the business with me’ (27 August [1845] Letter 908 ). Thus began the business …
- … copies some pages in Darwin’s chapter were transposed ( Letter 1244 ). Darwin was anxious lest an …
- … & make the poor workman some present’ (12 June [1849] Letter 1245 ). Darwin’s next …
- … his ‘big species book’; on 18 June 1858, he received a letter from Alfred Russel Wallace with the …
- … asked Lyell to act as his intermediary with John Murray ( Letter 2437 ), who, without even reading …
- … not repent of having undertaken it’ (15 October [1859] Letter 2506 ). Murray decided on a retail …
- … proud at the appearance of my child’ ([3 November 1859] Letter 2514 ). In the event, all Murray’s …
- … – and a second edition was immediately called for ( Letter 2549 ). In the end Murray paid Darwin …
- … (Variation ), but work progressed slowly ( Letter 3078 ); meanwhile in 1862 Murray published On …
- … Murray only offered Darwin half profits for this title ( Letter 3261 ); it was never a best-seller …
- … ‘I fear it can never pay’ (3 January [1867] Letter 5346 ). In the end Murray decided to print …
- … to Brazil, the beginning of a life-long correspondence ( Letter 4881 ). Subsequently Darwin …
- … the risk himself. Murray suggested printing 750 copies ( Letter 6597 ), but Darwin decided on 1000 …
- … fail, I think, to be much read’ (28 September [1870] Letter 7329 ). Murray decided to print 2500 …
- … hope to Heaven book will sell well’ (12 January [1871] Letter 7438 ). A second printing was …
- … America, of St George Mivart‘s Genesis of species ( Letter 7907 ) ; this was Darwin’s …
- … By November of that year, fourteen copies had been sold ( Letter 8044 ). Meanwhile, Darwin was …
- … Darwin chose to print the photographic illustrations ( Letter 7773 ), proved to be expensive ( …
- … by science, I must now lose some for science’ (21 July 1880 Letter 12665 ). A thousand copies …
Moral Nature
Summary
In Descent of Man, Darwin argued that human morality had evolved from the social instincts of animals, especially the bonds of sympathy and love. Darwin gathered observations over many decades on animal behavior: the heroic sacrifices of social insects,…
Matches: 11 hits
- … save another. Letters Letter 7048 : Darwin, W. E., to Darwin, …
- … but rather in a muddle on the whole subject" Letter 7645 : Morley, John to Darwin, …
- … but 'in the air' from generation to generation." Letter 7685 : Darwin to …
- … that man ever existed as a non-social animal." Letter 7691 , Morley, John, to …
- … the moral sense, at a time when Paris is aflame". Letter 7145 : Darwin to Cobbe, F. …
- … apes & savages at the moral sense of mankind." Letter 7149 : Cobbe, F. P. to …
- … metaphysics & physics form one great philosophy?" Letter 7470 : Wedgwood, …
- … which look with reverence or respect is shame." Letter 7537 : Darwin, C. R. to …
- … dissatisfied with himself & regret his conduct." Letter 9377 : Darwin, C. R. to …
- … the same so-called instinctive nature as before?" Letter 12610 : Preston, S. T. to …
- … or random) is Self or Self-Interest." Letter 12615 : Darwin, C. R. to Preston, …
Science: A Man’s World?
Summary
Discussion Questions|Letters Darwin's correspondence show that many nineteenth-century women participated in the world of science, be it as experimenters, observers, editors, critics, producers, or consumers. Despite this, much of the…
Matches: 17 hits
- … feminine world of family, home and sociability. Letter 489 - Darwin to Wedgwood, E., …
- … an hour “with poor Mrs. Lyell sitting by”. Letter 3715 - Claparède, J. L. R. A. E. to …
- … whose attractions are not those of her sex”. Letter 4038 - Darwin to Lyell, C., [12-13 …
- … her own steam and is a “first rate critic”. Letter 4377 - Haeckel, E. P. A. to Darwin, …
- … ornaments in the making of feminine works”. Letter 4441 - Becker, L. E. to Darwin, [30 …
- … the young, especially ladies, to study nature. Letter 4940 - Cresy, E. to Darwin, E., …
- … Anderson is “neither masculine nor pedantic”. Letter 6976 - Darwin to Blackwell, A. B., …
- … to him as a published science author, is a man. Letter 7314 - Kovalevsky, S. to Darwin, …
- … Theoriae Functionum Ellipticarum , (1829). Letter 7329 - Murray, J. to Darwin, [28 …
- … to prick up what little is left of them ears”. Letter 8055 - Hennell, S. S. to Darwin, …
- … almost out of a woman’s natural thinking”. Letter 8079 - Norton, S. R. to Darwin, [20 …
- … but has not read the pamphlet herself. Letter 8335 - Reade, W. W. to Darwin, [16 May …
- … narrative so not to lose the interest of women. Letter 8341 - Reade, W. W. to Darwin, …
- … which will make it more appealing to women. Letter 10746 – Darwin to Dicey, E. M., …
- … inability to cope well with the sight of blood. Letter 12389 - Johnson, M. to Darwin, …
- … to have entered the cave “since the flood”. Letter 13414 - Darwin to Harrison, L., [18 …
- … and possess strong powers of patience. Letter 13607 – Darwin to Kennard, C. A., [9 …
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: 29 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 ). …
- … to wish Darwin a ‘long and serene evening of life’. This letter crossed with one from Darwin, …
- … 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 …
- … everything into ridicule. He hates scientific men’ ( letter to Ernst Krause, 14 May 1879 ). …
- … must be ‘in some degree interesting to the public’ ( letter to Reginald Darwin, 10 April [1879] ). …
- … ‘very tastefully and well, and with little fatigue’ ( letter to G. H. Darwin, 12 July 1879 , and …
- … ‘more perplexed than ever about life of D r . D’ ( letter to Francis Darwin, 12 July [1879] ). …
- … telling, and he regretted going beyond his ‘tether’ ( letter to W. T. Thiselton-Dyer, 5 June 1879 …
- … never again to be tempted out of his ‘proper work’ ( letter to James Paget, 14 July 1879 ). At …
- … of the tips of radicles, the embryonic roots of seedlings ( letter to Francis Darwin, 16 June [1879 …
- … experienced obstacles from the start, as he reported in a letter of 29 May . Sachs had changed …
- … survived the ordeal as his paper was published by Sachs in 1880. Family matters Before …
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…
Matches: 22 hits
- … & I can see it even through a grove of Palms.—’ (letter to Caroline Darwin, 25–6 April [1832] …
- … wrote to the contrary: ‘I am sorry to see in your last letter that you still look forward to the …
- … near the British Museum or some other learned place’ (letter from E. A. Darwin, 18 August [1832] …
- … it is a sort of scene I never ought to think about—’ (letter to W. D. Fox, [9–12 August] 1835 ). …
- … However, what remains is cordial; in the first extant letter of the correspondence, Darwin wrote to …
- … (a local charity), which he administered from 1848 to 1869 (letter to J. B. Innes, [8 May 1848] …
- … he would make an excellent Guardian [of the Poor Fund]’ (letter to J. W. Lubbock, 28 March [1854] …
- … club the use of his own lawn for its meetings (Moore 1985; letter to J. S. Henslow, 17 January …
- … the family’s dog, Quiz, when he moved away from Down (letter to J. B. Innes, 15 December [1861] ) …
- … was considered to be a cross between a cow and a red deer (letter from J. B. Innes, 7 December …
- … ancestor. Please think of my request favourably—’ (letter from J. B. Innes, 26 May 1871 ). Indeed …
- … and leaves Moses to take care of himself. Letter from J. B. Innes, 1 December 1878 …
- … take care of the financial complications he left behind (letter from S. J. O’H. Horsman, 2 June …
- … seemed to have made off with the church’s organ fund (letter to J. B. Innes, 15 June [1868] ). So …
- … by Horsman relating to the Down school and organ funds (letter to J. B. Innes, 13 January 1871 ). …
- … Dissenters’ chapel, rather than the Down parish church (letter to J. B. Innes, 1 December 1868 ). …
- … in the Parish, but preaches, I hear, very dull sermons’ (letter to J. B. Innes, 18 January [1871] …
- … capital testimonials to his wife’s qualifications’ (letter from J. B. Innes, 5 June 1871 ). …
- … support, and presented their answer to the School Committee (letter to Down School Board, [after …
- … of letters to both men, vainly seeking to reconcile them (letter from John Lubbock, 5 April [1875] …
- … During the reign of Ffinden, there is an interesting letter from Darwin to the evangelist J. W. C. …
- … do not know that there is a drunkard left in the village’ (letter to J. W. C. Fegan, [December …
