To W. E. Darwin 8 February [1881]
Summary
Thanks WED for sending leaves and making observations on how earthworms drag them into their burrows.
Doubts justice of fierce review against J. Geikie’s book [Prehistoric Europe (1881)] in Nature [by W. B. Dawkins, 23 (1881): 309–10], but if reindeer and hippopotamus have really been found in close contact in same bed – "it tells horribly against interglacial periods".
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | William Erasmus Darwin |
| Date: | 8 Feb [1881] |
| Classmark: | DAR 210.6: 176 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13042 |
From Ernst Haeckel 9 February 1881
Summary
Sends birthday wishes.
Comments on Movement in plants.
Sends System der Ascrapeden [1880].
Describes work on Challenger Medusae.
Comments on success of CD’s theory.
| Author: | Ernst Philipp August (Ernst) Haeckel |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 9 Feb 1881 |
| Classmark: | DAR 166: 77 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13043 |
To Ernst Haeckel 9 February 1881
Summary
Asks EH to call on Zeiss and to help arrange for microscope for Francis Darwin.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Ernst Philipp August (Ernst) Haeckel |
| Date: | 9 Feb 1881 |
| Classmark: | Ernst-Haeckel-Haus |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13044 |
To R. D. Fitzgerald 9 February 1881
Summary
Thanks for pt 6 of [Australian orchids].
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Robert David Fitzgerald |
| Date: | 9 Feb 1881 |
| Classmark: | Mitchell Library, Sydney (A 2546) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13045 |
From Anthony Rich 9 February 1881
Summary
Contemptuous of Samuel Butler.
Has read that Huxley will be Inspector of Fisheries.
When CD visits in spring, he will acquaint him with legalities of Worthing house.
| Author: | Anthony Rich |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 9 Feb 1881 |
| Classmark: | DAR 176: 145 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13046 |
To W. W. Baxter 9 February 1881
Summary
Orders vaseline and pomatum – the latter to put on his beard, which in dry weather feels uncomfortably harsh.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | William Walmisley Baxter |
| Date: | 9 Feb 1881 |
| Classmark: | Bromley Historic Collections, Bromley Central Library (Baxter Collection, 1136/1) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13047 |
From Ernst Krause 10 February 1881
Summary
Birthday greetings.
Thinks it best not to reply further to Butler. Has read G. J. Romanes’ article with great pleasure. Romanes is right to ridicule Butler. Quotes passages about Butler from CD letters. Has received letter from F. M. Balfour urging him not to reply to Butler.
| Author: | Ernst Ludwig (Ernst) Krause |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 10 Feb 1881 |
| Classmark: | DAR 92: B63–4 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13048 |
From Francis Darwin to Ernst Krause [after 10 February 1881]
Summary
CD thanks him for his congratulations and for details of letters, which he will keep with the Butlerian documents.
FD is happy for his lecture to be republished in Kosmos.
| Author: | Francis Darwin |
| Addressee: | Ernst Ludwig (Ernst) Krause |
| Date: | [after 10 Feb 1881] |
| Classmark: | The Huntington Library (HM 36219) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13048F |
To G. J. Romanes 11 February 1881
Summary
Thanks GJR for his second letter replying to Butler [Nature 23 (1880–1): 335–6].
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | George John Romanes |
| Date: | 11 Feb 1881 |
| Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.582) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13049 |
To T. R. R. Stebbing 11 February 1881
Summary
Thanks him for his letter in Nature [23 (1880–1): 336, concerning Samuel Butler’s Unconscious Memory]. Explains how revision in Krause’s part [of Erasmus Darwin] and the subsequent misunderstanding came about.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Thomas Roscoe Rede Stebbing |
| Date: | 11 Feb 1881 |
| Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.583) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13050 |
From Josef Popper 11 February 1881
Summary
Interested in theory of flight machines. Thinks it may be possible to fly by hitching man to large birds. What does CD think?
Recalls gift of book sent to CD.
| Author: | Josef Popper (Josef Popper-Lynkeus) |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 11 Feb 1881 |
| Classmark: | DAR 201: 30 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13051 |
To Gaston de Saporta 13 [May] 1881
Summary
Thanks for work sent by GdeS and A. F. Marion [L’évolution du règne végétal 1 (1881)]. CD greatly pleased at boldness with which GdeS expresses his belief in evolution. Some of GdeS’s countrymen have been "a little timid" on this head.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Louis Charles Joseph Gaston (Gaston) de Saporta, comte de Saporta |
| Date: | 13 [May] 1881 |
| Classmark: | Archives Gaston de Saporta (private collection) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13052 |
From T. L. Brunton 14 February 1881
Summary
Forwards the preface to his book [see 12999] and comments on the effect of the Bible on science.
| Author: | Thomas Lauder Brunton, 1st baronet |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 14 Feb 1881 |
| Classmark: | DAR 160: 344 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13053 |
To Josef Popper 15 February 1881
Summary
Cannot help JP [with bird-powered flying machine].
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Josef Popper (Josef Popper-Lynkeus) |
| Date: | 15 Feb 1881 |
| Classmark: | Smithsonian Libraries and Archives (Dibner Library of the History of Science and Technology MSS 405 A. Gift of the Burndy Library) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13054 |
From W. E. Darwin 16 February 1881
Summary
Brokers have purchased Leeds Corporation Stock.
| Author: | William Erasmus Darwin |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 16 Feb 1881 |
| Classmark: | Cornford Family Papers (DAR 275: 90) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13054F |
To Grant Allen 17 February 1881
Summary
Thanks for Evolutionist at large [1881]. Envies GA’s power of writing. Some statements are too bold, but several of the views are new to CD and seem "extremely probable".
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Charles Grant Blairfindie (Grant) Allen |
| Date: | 17 Feb 1881 |
| Classmark: | Cleveland Health Sciences Library (Robert M. Stecher collection) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13055 |
From W. E. Darwin 18 February 1881
Summary
Discusses the possible rebuilding of a pair of cottages on CD’s farm at Beesby, Lincolnshire.
| Author: | William Erasmus Darwin |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 18 Feb 1881 |
| Classmark: | Cornford Family Papers (DAR 275: 91) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13055F |
From Anton Dohrn 18 February 1881
Summary
Belated birthday greetings
and reminiscences of CD’s help to the Station, which continues to prosper. A recent innovation is the establishment of the Zoologische Jahresbericht edited by J. V. Carus.
| Author: | Felix Anton (Anton) Dohrn |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 18 Feb 1881 |
| Classmark: | DAR 162: 221 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13056 |
From Grant Allen 19 February [1881]
Summary
Thanks for compliments on Evolutionist at large.
Reports on his improving health.
| Author: | Charles Grant Blairfindie (Grant) Allen |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 19 Feb [1881] |
| Classmark: | DAR 159: 47 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13057 |
To W. E. Darwin 19 February [1881]
Summary
Uncle Erasmus is ill.
Thanks WED for his trouble about the cottages.
He has signed the note to Higgins.
CD has used WED’s Rhododendron case in Earthworms [p. 69].
Is using paper triangles in experiments on intelligence of worms.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | William Erasmus Darwin |
| Date: | 19 Feb [1881] |
| Classmark: | Houghton Library, Harvard University (Autograph File, D) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13058 |
| Darwin, C. R. | (367) |
| Darwin, W. E. | (22) |
| Darwin, Francis | (14) |
| Darwin, G. H. | (14) |
| Hooker, J. D. | (12) |
| Darwin, C. R. | (352) |
| Darwin, Francis | (26) |
| Romanes, G. J. | (22) |
| Darwin, W. E. | (17) |
| Darwin, G. H. | (16) |
| Darwin, C. R. | (719) |
| Darwin, Francis | (40) |
| Darwin, W. E. | (39) |
| Romanes, G. J. | (33) |
| Darwin, G. H. | (30) |
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: 19 hits
- … In May 1881, Darwin, one of the best-known celebrities in England if not the world, …
- … 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 …
- … was another source of pleasure in the early months of 1881. This book had been a major undertaking …
- … publishers decided to print ‘500 more, making 2000’ ( letter to H. E. Litchfield, 4 January 1881 ) …
- … case is to me’ (letters to W. E. Darwin, 31 January [1881] and 19 February [1881] ). On 7 …
- … 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 …
- … 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 ). …
- … the kindly protection of the high priests of science’ ( letter from Francisco de Arruda Furtado, 29 …
- … Nature , which he thought ‘an excellent Journal’ ( letter to G. J. Romanes, 4 July [1881] ). In …
Volume 29 (1881) is published!
Summary
In October 1881, Darwin published his last book, The formation of vegetable mould through the action of worms: with observations on their habits. A slim volume on a subject that many people could understand and on which they had their own opinions, it went…
Matches: 8 hits
- … From the start of 1881, Darwin had his demise on his mind. He increasingly relied on his son …
- … now available. Read more about Darwin's life in 1881 in our Life in letters series …
- … the enthusiasm with which the book has been received. Letter t o Francis Darwin, 9 November …
- … in my life as for its success. Letter to A. B. Buckley, 4 January 1881 …
- … & I have no little jobs which I can do. Letter to J. D. Hooker, 15 June 1881 …
- … Letter to W. E. Darwin, 4 August [1881] In …
- … seemed to me admirable. Letter to T. H. Farrer, 28 August 1881 …
- … Letter t o B. J. Sulivan, 1 December 1881 …
Intellectual capacities: From Caroline Kennard, 26 December 1881
Summary
We might assume that among female admirers of Darwin’s work, many would have been disappointed by his views on the comparative intellectual capacities of the sexes expressed in The Descent of Man (1872). This was certainly true of the American feminist…
Matches: 3 hits
- … as she clearly had not read Descent when, in December 1881, she heard a paper at the New England …
- … Club (of which she was a staunch member). On 26 December 1881 , she wrote to ask Darwin ‘whether …
- … the Darwin Correspondence Project edited Kennard’s first letter, the ‘Author’ of the paper on the …
Terms of engagement: To Julius Wiesner, 25 October 1881
Summary
Thomas Huxley’s pugnacious public defence of evolution led to his nickname ‘Darwin’s bulldog’ and to a view of Darwin as an evader of controversy. Darwin firmly believed that controversy rarely did any good, but this did not mean that he avoided challenges…
Matches: 4 hits
- … he was willing to engage with critics are apparent in a letter written to the German botanist Julius …
- … however, was tempered. Writing to Wiesner on 25 October 1881 , Darwin stated ‘I have no doubt …
- … do much, or any more original work.’ Darwin’s letter clearly conveys his view that science …
- … and courtesy, as exhibited so clearly by Wiesner. The letter begins with Darwin expressing his …
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 ) …
- … in Down, where his brother Erasmus had been interred in 1881. But some of his scientific friends …
- … fertility of crosses between differently styled plants ( letter from Fritz Müller, 1 January 1882 …
- … 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 ). …
- … last book, Earthworms , had been published in October 1881. It proved to be very popular, with …
- … 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 …
- … American, Caroline Kennard, had written on 26 December 1881 (see Correspondence vol. 29) to …
- … men, and their role as providers for the family. In his letter, he conceded that there was ‘some …
- … on the topic of science and art. He had sat for Collier in 1881 for a portrait commissioned by the …
- … letter from John Collier, 22 February 1882 ; T. H. Huxley 1881, pp. 199–245). Huxley used …
- … discoverer of tidal evolution’ ( Nature , 24 November 1881, p. 81). Darwin boasted to Rich: …
- … the birth of his first child (Erasmus Darwin) on 7 December 1881. Finally, Darwin had a second …
- … by Lyell’s sister-in-law Katherine (see K. M. Lyell ed. 1881, 2: 445–6). A complete draft and …
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: 24 hits
- … 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 …
- … much powder & shot’ ( Correspondence vol. 27, letter from Ernst Krause, 7 June 1879 , and …
- … 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 …
- … 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 ). …
- … from scientific debate. The matter spilled over into January 1881. With Henrietta’s aid, the advice …
- … inches of soil as a protection against enemies.’ ‘Your letter … made me open my eyes’, Gray replied …
- … his original description. Darwin was puzzled: ‘If my letter opened your eyes, yours has opened mine …
- … to the same species, should behave so differently.’ ( Letter to Asa Gray, 17 February 1880 .) But …
- … of the plant in its native habitat. He forwarded a letter from a botanist and schoolteacher in …
- … ‘Where is the profit for Author or publisher?’ ( letter from R. F. Cooke, 20 July 1880 ). ‘I must …
- … money by science, I must now lose some for science’ ( letter to R. F. Cooke, 21 July 1880 ). The …
- … without any corresponding structural differentiations’ ( letter from F. M. Balfour, [22 November …
- … In former years I was, also, rarely fit to see anybody’ ( letter to S. H. Haliburton, 13 December …
- … he pretended, ‘but the subject has amused me’ ( letter to W. C. McIntosh, 18 June 1880 ). Members …
- … back. Then we saw a steam tram—imagine my excitement’ ( letter from Horace Darwin to Emma Darwin, …
- … bags ( letter from G. J. Romanes, [6, 13, or 20] March 1881 ). Romanes was at work on a lengthy …
- … memorial was eventually submitted to Gladstone in January 1881 and was successful. For a copy of the …
1.18 John Collier, oil in Linnean
Summary
< Back to Introduction By 1881 it was clear to Darwin’s intimates that he was increasingly frail, and that, as he approached death, he had finally escaped from religious controversy to become a heroic figure, loved and venerated for his achievements…
Matches: 7 hits
- … < Back to Introduction By 1881 it was clear to Darwin’s intimates that he was …
- … Society in 1858. Moreover, the Society was now, in May 1881, dominated by Darwinians. Its President …
- … work and any other subject that cropped up.’ On 7 August 1881 Darwin was able to report to Romanes …
- … newly published Primer on Art , and received a pleasant letter of thanks. Darwin assured Collier …
- … of image John Collier date of creation 1881 computer-readable date …
- … . Linnean Society archive, manuscript letter LL/8, Darwin to Romanes, 27 May 1881. Correspondence …
- … pp. 118–121, correspondence between Romanes and Darwin in 1881 (DCP-LETT-13173, 13229, 13282). …
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: 5 hits
- … , with observations on their habits, which was published in 1881. Despite Darwin’s fears that a book …
- … book Darwin claimed had ‘much influence on my mind’ ( letter to W. T. Preyer, 17 February [1870 ]) …
- … earthworms. Although his monograph was not published until 1881, he had long been interested in …
- … 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] …
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. …
- … — Darwin, C. R. to Fegan, J. W. C., [Dec 1880 – Feb 1881] Darwin writes to J. W. C Fegan, a …
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
- … selected letters is followed by letters relating to Darwin's 1881 publication Vegetable …
- … 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, …
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: 29 hits
- … Were women a target audience? Letter 2447 - Darwin to Murray, J., [5 April 1859] …
- … Tollet for proofreading and criticisms of style. Letter 2461 - Darwin to Hooker, J. …
- … her to read to check that she can understand it. Letter 7312 - Darwin to Darwin, F. …
- … from all but educated, typically-male readers. Letter 7124 - Darwin to Darwin, H. E …
- … he seeks her help with tone and style. Letter 7329 - Murray , J. to Darwin, [28 …
- … in order to minimise impeding general perusal. Letter 7331 - Darwin to Murray, …
- … he uses to avoid ownership of indelicate content. Letter 8335 - Reade, W. W. to …
- … so as not to lose the interest of women. Letter 8341 - Reade, W. W. to Darwin, …
- … which will make it more appealing to women. Letter 8611 - Cupples, A. J. to …
- … Darwin’s female readership Letter 5391 - Becker, L. E. to Darwin, [6 February …
- … of the Manchester Ladies Literary Society . Letter 6551 - Becker, L. E . to …
- … the chapter on pangenesis, which is a revelation. Letter 6976 - Darwin to Blackwell, A. …
- … Darwin assumes that 'A. B. Blackwell' is a man. Letter 7177 - Cupples, G. to …
- … him to the psychology of Herbert Spencer. Letter 7624 - Bathoe, M . B. to Darwin …
- … his statements on a lack of reasoning in animals. Letter 7644 - Barnard, A. to …
- … during a visit to an asylum with her father. Letter 7651 - Wedgwood, F. J. to …
- … on any comments that she feels might be suitable. Letter 7411 - Pfeiffer, E. J. to …
- … and beauty in the process of sexual selection. Letter 8055 - Hennell, S. S. to Darwin, …
- … of a woman’s natural thinking”. Letter 8778 - Forster, L. M . to Darwin, H. …
- … and the showing of teeth in Expression . Letter 10072 - Pape, C. to …
- … and hopes Darwin will complete her questionnaire. Letter 10390 - Herrick, S. M. B. …
- … of questions which she hopes aren’t too silly. Letter 10415 - Darwin to Herrick, S. …
- … and is pleased that his work has interested her. Letter 10508 - Treat, M. to Darwin …
- … it nearly all night before she could lay it down. Letter 13547 - Tanner, M. H. …
- … involving worms which occurred in her garden. Letter 13650 Kennard, C. A. to Darwin …
- … Reading Variation Letter 5712 - Dallas, W. S. to Darwin, [8 December 1867] …
- … array of facts” contained in the work. Letter 5861 - Blyth, E. to Darwin, [11 …
- … are a few things which must be altered”. Letter 5928 - Gray, A. to Darwin, [25 …
- … to be made to the text for the second edition. Letter 6040 - Haeckel, E. P. A. to …
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: 20 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 …
- … an extra 500 to meet demand ( Letter 12862 ). In 1881 Darwin sent Murray the manuscript of …
- … sale of my book and utterly astonished’ ([after 25 October 1881?] Letter 13433 ). …
- … his publisher, after Murray’s annual sale in the autumn of 1881, Darwin expressed his satisfaction …
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,…
Darwin in letters, 1874: A turbulent year
Summary
The year 1874 was one of consolidation, reflection, and turmoil for Darwin. He spent the early months working on second editions of Coral reefs and Descent of man; the rest of the year was mostly devoted to further research on insectivorous plants. A…
Matches: 24 hits
- … be done by observation during prolonged intervals’ ( letter to D. T. Gardner, [ c . 27 August …
- … pleasures of shooting and collecting beetles ( letter from W. D. Fox, 8 May [1874] ). Such …
- … And … one looks backwards much more than forwards’ ( letter to W. D. Fox, 11 May [1874] ). …
- … was an illusory hope.— I feel very old & helpless’ ( letter to B. J. Sulivan, 6 January [1874] …
- … inferred that he was well from his silence on the matter ( letter from Ernst Haeckel, 26 October …
- … in such rubbish’, he confided to Joseph Dalton Hooker ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 18 January [1874] …
- … that Mr Williams was ‘a cheat and an imposter’ ( letter from T. H. Huxley, 27 January 1874 ). …
- … his, ‘& that he was thus free to perform his antics’ ( letter to T. H. Huxley, 29 January [1874 …
- … Darwin had allowed ‘a spirit séance’ at his home ( letter from T. G. Appleton, 2 April 1874 ). …
- … edition, published in 1842 ( Correspondence vol. 21, letter to Smith, Elder & Co., 17 …
- … Hooker, and finally borrowed one from Charles Lyell ( letter to Smith, Elder & Co., 8 January …
- … to take so sweetly all the horrid bother of correction’ ( letter to H. E. Litchfield, 21 [March …
- … sent an apology for misinterpreting Darwin on this point ( letter from J. D. Dana, 21 July 1874 ); …
- … numbers and sex ratios among the Pitcairn islanders ( letter from William Dealtry, 16 January 1874 …
- … will say that I have pounded the enemy into a jelly’ ( letter from T. H. Huxley, 14 April 1874 ). …
- … by none but anatomists; and never mind where it goes’ ( letter from T. H. Huxley, 16 April 1874 ). …
- … the return on subsequent print runs would be very good ( letter from R. F. Cooke, 12 November 1874 …
- … by the conciseness & clearness of your thought’ ( letter from G. H. Darwin, 20 April 1874 ). …
- … legal action over the ‘scurrilous libel’ on his son ( letter to G. H. Darwin, [27 July 1874] ). …
- … false, scurrilous accusation of [a] lying scoundrel’ ( letter to G. H. Darwin, 1 August [1874] ). …
- … as father and son agonised over the wording of both the letter to the editor and the letter to …
- … relationship with Murray on the outcome ( enclosure to letter from G. H. Darwin, 6 [August] 1874 ) …
- … is refused I’m really no worse off than if I had sent my letter direct to the Editor & it had …
- … failure of observations in New Zealand (see G. B. Airy ed. 1881). Darwin’s third son Francis …
Darwin's bad days
Summary
Despite being a prolific worker who had many successes with his scientific theorising and experimenting, even Darwin had some bad days. These times when nothing appeared to be going right are well illustrated by the following quotations from his letters:
Matches: 1 hits
- … Despite being a prolific worker who had many successes with his scientific theorising and …
Darwin as mentor
Summary
Darwin provided advice, encouragement and praise to his fellow scientific 'labourers' of both sexes. Selected letters Letter 2234 - Darwin to Unidentified, [5 March 1858] Darwin advises that Professor C. P. Smyth’s observations are not…
Matches: 13 hits
- … of both sexes. Selected letters Letter 2234 - Darwin to Unidentified, [5 …
- … sweeping conclusions on insufficient grounds. Letter 3934 - Darwin to Scott, J., [21 …
- … how to make the material worthy of publication. Letter 4185 - Darwin to Scott, J., [25 …
- … indefatigable worker you are!”. Letter 7605 - Darwin to Darwin, H. E., [20 March …
- … memorial” in memory of the book. Letter 8140 - Darwin to Darwin, W. E., [3 …
- … how he made so many observations without aid. Letter 8146 - Darwin to Treat, M., [5 …
- … “in some well-known scientific journal”. Letter 8171 - Darwin to Wedgwood, L., [21 …
- … that Lucy is worth her weight in gold. Letter 9005b - Darwin to Treat, M., [12 …
- … flies until he had repeated the experiment. Letter 9580 - Darwin to Darwin, G. H. D., …
- … should not yet be submitted to the publisher. Letter 9613 - Darwin to Hooker, J. D., …
- … and thinks that it ought to be published. Letter 10523 - Darwin to Treat, M., [1 June …
- … in the pursuit of her “admirable work”. Letter 11096 - Darwin to Romanes, G. J., [9 …
- … her manuscript to Nature for publication. Letter 13414 - Darwin to Harrison, L., …
3.20 Elliott and Fry, c.1880-1, verandah
Summary
< Back to Introduction In photographs of Darwin taken c.1880-1, the expression of energetic thought conveyed by photographs of earlier years gives way to the pathos of evident physical frailty. While Collier’s oil portrait of this time emphasises…
Matches: 5 hits
- … and Letters of his father (1887), and there it was dated 1881. However, another photograph from …
- … by the National Portrait Gallery (NPG X5938) to 29 November 1881. However, Janet Browne points out …
- … recollected his father’s air of sadness at that time. In a letter to Hooker of 15 June 1881, echoed …
- … of Elliott and Fry date of creation c.1880-1881 computer-readable date c …
- … and bibliography letters from Darwin to Hooker, 15 June 1881 (DCP-LETT-13207) and to B.J. Sulivan, …
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: 8 hits
- … Geological Society (Ser. 2) 5:505-509. Darwin, C.R. 1881. The Formation of Vegetable Mould, …
- … 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] …
- … 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? …
- … Vegetable Mould and Earth-Worms (London: John Murray, 1881), 26. [2] Ibid., 26-27. …
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 …
Animals, ethics, and the progress of science
Summary
Darwin’s view on the kinship between humans and animals had important ethical implications. In Descent, he argued that some animals exhibited moral behaviour and had evolved mental powers analogous to conscience. He gave examples of cooperation, even…
Matches: 14 hits
- … by the prospect of animals suffering for science. In a letter to E. Ray Lankester, he wrote: ‘You …
- … another word about it, else I shall not sleep to-night’ ( letter to E. R. Lankester, 22 March [1871 …
- … pangenesis. Darwin was taken aback, and swiftly replied in a letter to Nature , insisting that he …
- … deserved credit for his ‘ingenuity and perseverance’ ( letter to Nature , [before 27 April 1871] …
- … for further cross-circulation and ‘Siamesing’ ( letter from Francis Galton, 13 September 1871 ). …
- … Some of the results were promising, but inconclusive (see letter from G. J. Romanes, 14 July 1875 …
- … results will be necessary to convince physiologists’ ( letter to G. J. Romanes, 18 July 1875 ). …
- … for your work; & I suppose birds can be chloroformed (letter to G. J. Romanes, 27 December …
- … branded physiologists as ‘demons let loose from hell’ ( letter to F. B. Cobbe, [14 January 1875] ) …
- … detail here . He stated his position most frankly in a letter to Henrietta, 4 January [1875] . …
- … point of view I have rejoiced at the present agitation. ( letter to H. E. Litchfield, 4 January …
- … science of Physiology as doomed to death in this country. ( letter To T. H. Huxley, 14 January 1875 …
- … are now in the position of a persecuted religious sect’ ( letter to G. J. Romanes, 4 June [1876] ) …
- … of the utility of experiment amongst people in general’ ( letter from T. L. Brunton, 12 February …
