skip to content

Darwin Correspondence Project

Search: contains ""

400 Bad Request

Bad Request

Your browser sent a request that this server could not understand.


Apache Server at dcp-public.lib.cam.ac.uk Port 443
Search:
in keywords
19 Items

Darwin in letters, 1872: Job done?

Summary

'My career’, Darwin wrote towards the end of 1872, 'is so nearly closed. . .  What little more I can do, shall be chiefly new work’, and the tenor of his correspondence throughout the year is one of wistful reminiscence, coupled with a keen eye…

Matches: 28 hits

  • … ‘My career’, Darwin wrote towards the end of 1872, ‘is so nearly closed. . .  What little more I can …
  • … as evolution’ ( letter to A. R. Wallace,  27 July [1872] ). By the end of the year Darwin …
  • … s.  6 d.  ( letter from R. F. Cooke, 12 February 1872 ). Always closely involved in …
  • … translator ( letter to J. J. Moulinié, 23 September 1872 ). He recapped the history of the French …
  • … of the year ( letter from C.-F. Reinwald, 23 November 1872 ). To persuade his US publisher, …
  • … Mivart ( letter to St G. J. Mivart,  11 January [1872] ). A worsening breach The …
  • … beautiful’ ( letter from A. R. Wallace, 3 March 1872 ). I consider that you have …
  • … Darwin ( letter to St G. J. Mivart, 5 January 1872 ). Piqued, Mivart flung back by return of post …
  • … errors’ ( letter from St G. J. Mivart, 6 January 1872 ). Darwin likened the affair to the …
  • … towards me’ ( letter to St G. J. Mivart, 8 January [1872] ).  Despite Darwin’s request that he …
  • … world’ ( letter from St G. J. Mivart,  10 January 1872 ).  Darwin, determined to have the last …
  • … acknowledge it ( letter to St G. J. Mivart, 11 January [1872] ). 'I hate controversy,’ Darwin …
  • … I do it badly’ ( letter to A. R. Wallace, 3 August [1872] ).  Darwin's theories under …
  • … the world moves!’ ( letter from Mary Treat, 13 December 1872 ).  'Here is a bee' …
  • … it at least in part ( letter to August Weismann, 5 April 1872 ). ‘I wanted some encouragement’, he …
  • … to believe it’ ( letter to Herman Müller, [before 5 May 1872] ).  Müller had sent him a …
  • … of natural and sexual selection to bees (H. Müller 1872), and with his reply Darwin enclosed an …
  • … standing’ ( letter to Hermann Müller, [before 5 May 1872] ). Finishing  Expression …
  • … doing nothing’ ( letter to T. H. Huxley, 22 October [1872] ). He was far from idle during their …
  • … to be more erect’ ( letter to Briton Riviere, 19 May [1872] ).  Riviere had been suggested to …
  • … clever book’ ( letter to J. M. Herbert, 21 November 1872 ) and invited Butler to dinner the …
  • … from Samuel Butler to Francis Darwin, [before 30 May 1872] , and letter from Samuel Butler, 30 …
  • … feels no doubts’ ( letter to F. C. Donders, 17 June 1872 ). Right up to the beginning of June, …
  • … Buckley Litchfield ( letter to H. E. Litchfield, 13 May 1872 ). Delivery to the press brought only …
  • … myself’ ( letter to H. E. Litchfield, 25 July 1872 ). A battle for the independence of …
  • … partisan reply ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 14 May 1872 ). On 13 June, a messenger arrived in …
  • … to letter from John Lubbock to W. E. Gladstone, 20 June 1872 ).  Darwin was quietly using his …
  • … out such a litany of ill health to one correspondent that Emma protested: `My wife commands me to …

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: 12 hits

  • … her observations on the expression of emotion in dogs with Emma Darwin. Letter 8676 …
  • … Letter 8683 - Roberts, D. to Darwin, [17 December 1872] Dora Roberts reports an …
  • … Letter 5756 - Langton, E. & C. to Wedgwood S. E., [after 9 November 1868] Darwin …
  • … any way he can. Letter 8144 - Darwin to Wedgwood, L. C., [5 January 1872] …
  • … 8168 - Ruck, A. R . to Darwin, H., [20 January 1872] Amy Ruck reports the results …
  • … Letter 8224 - Darwin to Ruck, A. R., [24 February 1872] Darwin asks his …
  • … E. to Darwin, W. E., [January 23rd 1887]: Emma Darwin tells her eldest son, William, …
  • … E. to Darwin, W. E. , (March, 1862 - DAR 219.1:49) Emma Darwin updates her son, William, …
  • … is a great critic”, thought the article worth reprinting, Emma was less convinced. Letter …
  • … 8427 - Darwin to Litc hfield, H. E., [25 July 1872] Darwin thanks Henrietta for …
  • … 8153  - Darwin to  Darwin, W. E., [9 January 1872] Darwin thanks his son William …
  • … Letter 8676  - Treat, M. to Darwin, [13 December 1872] Mary Treat details her …

Dining at Down House

Summary

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

Matches: 10 hits

  • … In addition to sharing a tender relationship with his wife Emma, Darwin played an active role in the …
  • … traveling on horseback while ill. Letter 465 —Emma Wedgwood (Emma Darwin) to Charles …
  • … agreeable” for her sake. Letter 3626 —Emma Darwin to T. G. Appleton, 28 June [1862] …
  • … on the difficulties of finding a suitable cook. Emma Darwin to Henrietta Darwin, [4 …
  • … among other things, for Darwin’s complaints. Emma Darwin to Henrietta Darwin, [14 April …
  • … who was travelling in the south of France at the time, Emma describes typical nineteenth-century …
  • … Scottish medium, Daniel Dunglass Home, with Galton. Emma Darwin to Henrietta Darwin, [4 …
  • … taste of Darwin's life at Down House, recreate recipes from Emma Darwin's cookbook and …
  • … food that Darwin ate, using authentic recipes from his wife Emma Darwin’s cookbook. Our menu …
  • … were particularly intrigued by this letter written from Emma to Charles before they were married …

Darwin’s queries on expression

Summary

When Darwin resumed systematic research on emotions around 1866, he began to collect observations more widely and composed a list of queries on human expression. A number of handwritten copies were sent out in 1867 (see, for example, letter to Fritz Muller…

Matches: 7 hits

  • … Darwin, Francis [before 30 June 1872] New University …
  • … Galton, Francis 7 Nov 1872 Rutland Gate, London, …
  • … Abbey Place, London, England letter to Emma Darwin baby expression …
  • … Penmaenmawr, Conway, Wales letter to Emma Darwin infant daughter …
  • … Meyer, A.B. 25 April 1872 Manila, Philippin Islands …
  • … Reade, Winwood W. 7 Sept 1872 11 St Mary Abbot' …
  • … Reade, Winwood W. 5 Nov 1872 13 Alfred Place, …

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: 6 hits

  • … Questions | Experiment Earthworms and Wedgwood cousins As with many of …
  • … of his own family, in particular his nieces, Lucy and Sophy Wedgwood, the daughters of Emma Darwin& …
  • … these two young women, even going so far as to submit Lucy Wedgwood's observations for …
  • … Letters Letter 385 - Sarah Elizabeth Wedgwood & Josiah Wedgwood to Darwin, 10 …
  • … 8137 - William Darwin to Charles Darwin, 1 January 1872 Darwin’s eldest son writes …
  • … observed so much without aid.” [Letter 8140, 3 January 1872] Letters 8144 , 8169 …

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: 2 hits

  • … had been inspired by observations made by his uncle, Josiah Wedgwood of the uniform structure of the …
  • … at, but also to Francis Darwin playing the bassoon, and to Emma Darwin’s piano playing. From 1872, …

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: 4 hits

  • … E. to Darwin, W. E. , (March 1862 - DAR 219.1:49) Emma Darwin updates her eldest son, …
  • … Letter 8335 - Reade, W. W. to Darwin, [16 May 1872] Reade tells Darwin of his …
  • … Letter 8341 - Reade, W. W. to Darwin, [20 May 1872] Reade shares with Darwin his …
  • … 8611 - Cupples, A. J. to Darwin, E., [8 November 1872] Ann Cupples asks Emma to …

Darwin’s observations on his children

Summary

Charles Darwin’s observations on the development of his children, began the research that culminated in his book The Expression of the emotions in man and animals, published in 1872, and his article ‘A biographical sketch of an infant’, published in Mind…

Matches: 24 hits

  • … of the emotions in man and animals , published in 1872, and his article ‘A biographical sketch of …
  • … an aspect of Darwin’s character clearly perceived by Emma during their engagement: ‘You will be …
  • … period but in far less detail. By September 1844, Henrietta Emma was one year old, and there are a …
  • … 1850; and Horace, born 18 May 1851. It appears to have been Emma who resumed the observations on the …
  • … the notebook and, with the exception of two brief entries by Emma, made all the notes until July …
  • … certainly during first fortnight at sudden sounds. & at Emma’s moving 3 [11]  When …
  • … & inwards as in sleep.[14] Six weeks old & 3 days, Emma saw him smile—not only with …
  • … his eyes becoming fixed & the movements of his arms ceasing. Emma argues that his smiles were …
  • … made in the little noises he was uttering that he recognized Emma by sight when she came close to …
  • … been caused by the novelty of the situation producing fear. Emma thinks that when he was vaccinated …
  • … whole expression appearing pleased.— Recognizes Emma Anne & myself perfectly— does not find …
  • … Lady” were repeated.— 26 th . Cried, when Emma left off playing the pianoforte.— Did this …
  • … Anny says Papa pretty clearly—[40] A few days ago Emma gave her doll, but she sensibly shuddered, …
  • … to play with in farther part of room, she immediately led Emma by the hand towards the tea-chest. I …
  • … on quite suddenly.—[43] On the 13 th . of March Emma positively ascertained that what the …
  • … things & when choleric he will hurl books or sticks at Emma. About a month since; he was running …
  • … “oh kind Doddy” “kind Doddy”— April 2 d . Emma had left her handkerchief on the other side …
  • … th ——42. Willy’s observation on dress very curious: Emma put on a pair of boots, which she had not …
  • … the first day I put on a new dull-coloured trowsers. Emma one morning put on an unconspicuous bonnet …
  • … & then gave him a kiss.— Nov. /54/ Whenever Emma or I came home from a journey, Lenny has …
  • … 131–2. [6]  Correspondence  vol. 2, letter from Emma Wedgwood, [23 January 1839] . …
  • … and comments section. [10] William Erasmus was Emma and CD’s first child. [11] The …
  • … [15] ‘Annie . . . fortnight’ was written by Emma Darwin on the verso of page 3 and opposite the …
  • … later; Anne Elizabeth was born in 1841 and Henrietta Emma in 1843. Mrs Locke was probably the …

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: 9 hits

  • … for the book may have been increased by the publication in 1872 of  Corals and coral islands , by …
  • …  vol. 20, letter to St G. J. Mivart, 11 January [1872] ). To Darwin’s relief, Murray replied …
  • … satisfaction. Assisted in the wording by his wife, Emma, and daughter Henrietta, he finally wrote a …
  • …  vol. 20, letter to Hubert Airy, 24 August 1872 ). The passage took twelve weeks aboard the …
  • … a comfortable cabin ( see letter from Leonard Darwin to Emma Darwin, [after 26 June -- 28 September …
  • … to become Darwin’s secretary. They rented Down Lodge and Emma Darwin wrote, ‘They have . . . made …
  • … the average in prettiness & snugness’ ( letter from Emma Darwin to J. B. Innes, 12 October …
  • … letter to Down School Board, [after 29 November 1873] ). Emma saw a ‘great blessing’ in the rumour …
  • … dead uncle’s position of vicar of Deptford ( letter from Emma Darwin to J. B. Innes, 12 October …

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: 4 hits

  • … book’s “lucid vigorous style”. In consultation with Emma, Darwin offers Henrietta “some little …
  • … Letter 8140 - Darwin to Darwin, W. E., [3 January 1872] Darwin congratulates his son for …
  • … Letter 8146 - Darwin to Treat, M., [5 January 1872] Darwin praises Mary Treat’s …
  • … journal”. Letter 8171 - Darwin to Wedgwood, L., [21 January 1872] Darwin …

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: 4 hits

  • … In these notes, written shortly before his courtship with Emma, Darwin weighed the pros and cons of …
  • … of physiology at Bedford College for girls. Appealing to Emma’s “feminine sympathies”, Cresy is keen …
  • … Letter 8335 - Reade, W. W. to Darwin, [16 May 1872] Reade tells Darwin of his plans to …
  • … Letter 8341 - Reade, W. W. to Darwin, [20 May 1872] Reade tells Darwin of his …

Darwin in letters, 1871: An emptying nest

Summary

The year 1871 was an extremely busy and productive one for Darwin, with the publication in February of his long-awaited book on human evolution, Descent of man. The other main preoccupation of the year was the preparation of his manuscript on expression.…

Matches: 2 hits

  • … home, Leith Hill Place in Surrey, and CD’s niece Lucy Wedgwood collected and weighed the dried …
  • … & sherry’ ( letter from H. E. Litchfield to Charles and Emma Darwin, [5 November 1871] ). Her …

Expression

Summary

Darwin's interest in emotional expression can be traced as far back as the Beagle voyage. He was fascinated by the different sounds and gestures among the peoples of Tierra del Fuego, and on his return from the voyage he started recording observations…

Matches: 4 hits

  • … accumulated over time, and when the book finally appeared in 1872, it had been over thirty years in …
  • … his marriage, he shared his interest in expression with Emma (then his fiancée), and asked her to …
  • … and their communications were often addressed either to Emma or her eldest daughter . 'I am …
  • … extended to caged creatures. Darwin requested his niece Lucy Wedgwood to ' think of any fact …

Darwin and Fatherhood

Summary

Charles Darwin married Emma Wedgwood in 1839 and over the next seventeen years the couple had ten children. It is often assumed that Darwin was an exceptional Victorian father. But how extraordinary was he? The Correspondence Project allows an unusually…

Matches: 8 hits

  • … Charles Darwin married Emma Wedgwood in 1839 and over the next seventeen years the couple had ten …
  • … a result, Darwin rarely spent a day without the company of Emma and at least some of his children. …
  • … they employed eight servants including two nursery maids. Emma actively supervised and assisted with …
  • … to see their father when he was working (Darwin to his wife Emma,  [7-8 February 1845] ). Although …
  • … understanding of human development, including his book of 1872,  The expression of the emotions in …
  • … (Darwin to W. D. Fox,  10 October [1850] ) as he and Emma tried to choose suitable schools and …
  • … children in letters to friends, and the choices that he and Emma made were deliberately conventional …
  • … the age of twenty-six. This meant that in old age Darwin and Emma continued to share Down House with …

Darwin in public and private

Summary

Extracts from Darwin's published works, in particular Descent of man, and selected letters, explore Darwin's views on the operation of sexual selection in humans, and both his publicly and privately expressed views on its practical implications…

Matches: 1 hits

  • … Letter 8146 – Darwin to Treat, M., [5 January 1872] Darwin praises Mary Treat’s …

Darwin in letters, 1868: Studying sex

Summary

The quantity of Darwin’s correspondence increased dramatically in 1868 due largely to his ever-widening research on human evolution and sexual selection.Darwin’s theory of sexual selection as applied to human descent led him to investigate aspects of the…

Matches: 5 hits

  • … at Cambridge, George Robert Crotch, writing to his mother Emma in a letter dated [after 16 October …
  • … Langton wrote from the south of France to Sarah Elizabeth Wedgwood on 9 Novembe r, describing …
  • … and received a number of reports from family members. Emma Darwin’s niece, Cicely Mary Hawkshaw, …
  • … old daughter Katherine ( letter from C. M. Hawkshaw to Emma Darwin, 9 February [1868] ). Darwin’s …
  • … other national papers, and within a few days Darwin and Emma were receiving letters of …

Darwin in letters, 1864: Failing health

Summary

On receiving a photograph from Charles Darwin, the American botanist Asa Gray wrote on 11 July 1864: ‘the venerable beard gives the look of your having suffered, and … of having grown older’.  Because of poor health, Because of poor health, Darwin…

Matches: 5 hits

  • … garden, taking notes by dictation. His niece Lucy Caroline Wedgwood sent observations of  …
  • … household news, were sometimes written by Darwin’s wife, Emma, or by Henrietta. Darwin’s own replies …
  • … case of Dimorphism’ in  Menyanthes  ( letter from Emma and Charles Darwin to W. E. Darwin, [20 …
  • … for The expression of the emotions in man and animals  (1872). The Copley medal …
  • … he saw few people outside the family and, according to Emma Darwin’s diary and his own ‘Journal’, …

Darwin’s first love

Summary

Darwin’s long marriage to Emma Wedgwood is well documented, but was there an earlier romance in his life? How was his departure on the Beagle entangled with his first love? The answers are revealed in a series of flirtatious letters that Darwin was…

Matches: 5 hits

  • … Darwin’s long marriage to Emma Wedgwood is well documented, but was there an earlier romance in his …
  • … cons of marriage, Darwin decided to propose to his cousin Emma Wedgwood. Their engagement letters …
  • … about her.— ’ In the letter accompanying his book in 1872, Darwin had asked Sarah for news of the …
  • … On re-establishing contact with Sarah again in 1872, Darwin had summed up his life for her:   …
  • … it appears that Darwin did live happily ever after with Emma. …

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: 9 hits

  • … 1833] (Boot) Leslie life of Constable [Leslie 1843]. (Emma) (read) M rs  Fry’s Life …
  • … Public Library. 3  ‘Books … Read’ is in Emma Darwin’s hand. 4  “”Traité …
  • … 6  The text from page [1v.] to page [6] is in Emma Darwin’s hand and was copied from Notebook C, …
  • … to old Aristotle.’ ( LL 3: 252). 10  Emma Darwin wrote ‘7 th ’ instead of “3 d “ …
  • … 12  A mistranscription for ‘Entozoa’ by Emma Darwin. See Notebook C, p. 266 ( Notebooks ). …
  • … wrote ‘Transact’ to replace ‘Journal’ written in Emma Darwin’s hand. 16  Emma Darwin …
  • …  The text from page [1a] to half way down page [5a] is in Emma Darwin’s hand and is a copy of CD’s …
  • … in ink by CD. 73  This entry was written by Emma Darwin. 74  “8 … …
  • … of wheat . Jersey and London. [Darwin Library; 2d ed. (1872) also in Darwin Library.]  *119: 7v.; …