To Charles Lyell 2 December [1859]
Summary
Comments on note from Charles Kingsley saying CD’s theory is not opposed to a high conception of the Deity.
Mentions negative views of Origin of Sedgwick, John Crawfurd, Roderick Murchison, John Phillips, and Joseph Prestwich.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Charles Lyell, 1st baronet |
Date: | 2 Dec [1859] |
Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.181) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2565 |
Matches: 9 hits
- … ed. , p. 481. See letter from Charles Kingsley, 18 November 1859 , and letter to Charles …
- … 31 [October 1859] , and letters from Charles Lyell , 28 October 1859 and 21 November …
- … 4. CD had sent Adam Sedgwick’s letter of 24 November 1859 to Lyell. …
- … See letter to Charles Lyell,29 [November 1859] . …
- … Kingsley, 30 November [1859] . See letter to John Murray, 2 December [1859] , n. …
- … Letter to Adam Sedgwick, 26 November [1859] . …
- … and dogs in particular. See especially letters to Charles Lyell , 25 October [1859] and …
- … ed. 1875, 2: 322). See letter to John Phillips, 26 November [1859] . In his presidential …
- … letter has not been located. His review of Origin appeared in the Examiner , 3 December 1859, …
To Caroline Sarah Wedgwood [after 21 November 1859]
Summary
Astounded she cares for his book [Origin] as much as she seems to.
Comments on variation among domestic dogs; believes domestic dog has descended from several wild species and those species from a single ancient ancestor.
Athenæum review is unfair.
Expects to convert four or five "really good judges".
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Caroline Sarah (Caroline) Darwin; Caroline Sarah (Caroline) Wedgwood |
Date: | [after 21 Nov 1859] |
Classmark: | DAR 153: 2 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2538 |
Matches: 4 hits
- … 31 [October 1859] , and letters from Charles Lyell , 28 …
- … the descent of domesticated species (see letters to Charles Lyell , 25 October [1859] and …
- … October 1859 and 21 November 1859 ). See letter from Charles Lyell, 21 November 1859 . …
- … in Athenæum , 19 November 1859, pp. 659–60. See also letter to J. D. Hooker, [20 …
To W. D. Fox 25 December [1859]
Summary
His poor health keeps him from work.
His book [Origin] is a success "in the ordinary sense" – has had to reprint another 3000 copies.
Will now begin his "bigger book" which he plans to publish in three separate volumes with distinct titles and also a general title.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | William Darwin Fox |
Date: | 25 Dec [1859] |
Classmark: | Christ’s College Library, Cambridge (MS 53 Fox 125) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2604 |
To John Lubbock 9 February [1859]
Summary
CD sees JL’s cases of same organs varying greatly in allied forms as a serious difficulty in regard to his own ideas.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Lubbock, 4th baronet and 1st Baron Avebury |
Date: | 9 Feb [1859] |
Classmark: | DAR 263: 27 (EH 88206476) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2411 |
Matches: 5 hits
- … to John Lubbock, [6 February 1859] , and letter from John Lubbock, 8 February 1859 . The …
- … and religion. See letter from John Lubbock, 8 February 1859 and n. 3. This letter was …
- … found. CD was to forward it to Wollaston (see letter to John Lubbock, [6 February 1859] ). …
- … missing portion of the letter from John Lubbock, 8 February 1859 . An extract from Thomas …
- … 1859 is the only one in which CD visited Moor Park in February (de Beer ed. 1959). See letter …
To J. D. Hooker 21 [December 1859]
Summary
Delighted JDH coming to Down. They will discuss Origin. JDH’s remarks that theory explains too much are excellent, yet CD cannot see his error.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
Date: | 21 [Dec 1859] |
Classmark: | DAR 115: 28 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2591 |
Matches: 4 hits
- … Gray, 21 December [1859] , and letter from J. D. Hooker, [20 December 1859] . …
- … and letter to J. D. Hooker, 23 [December 1859] . See letter to Asa …
- … to stay at Down ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 14 December [1859] ). William Henslow Hooker …
- … 1859, p. 441. Hooker must have mentioned the paper by Charles Victor Naudin on species and varieties published in the Revue Horticole ( Naudin 1852 ). See following letter …
To Asa Gray 21 December [1859]
Summary
Would welcome American edition of Origin.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Asa Gray |
Date: | 21 Dec [1859] |
Classmark: | Archives of the Gray Herbarium, Harvard University (16) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2592 |
To Asa Gray 24 December [1859]
Summary
Thanks for AG’s Japan memoir [Mem. Am. Acad. Arts & Sci. 6 (1857–9): 377–452]. Does not think AG’s arguments for a warm post-glacial period are sufficient, but will not be sorry to be proved wrong.
Believes natural selection explains many classes of facts which repeated creation does not.
Writes of some responses to the Origin.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Asa Gray |
Date: | 24 Dec [1859] |
Classmark: | Archives of the Gray Herbarium, Harvard University (46) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2599 |
Matches: 8 hits
- … Joseph Dalton Hooker ( letter to J. D. Hooker, 11 May [1859] , and letter from J. D. …
- … Arts and Sciences in Boston in January 1859 (see letter to J. D. Hooker, 3 May [1859] ). …
- … A. Gray 1858–9 . See letters to John Murray , 22 December [1859] and 24 December [1859] . …
- … Hooker,[20 December 1859] ), and with Gray (see letter to Asa Gray, 11 August [1858] ). …
- … to J. D. Hooker, 28 [December 1859] . In his letter to Asa Gray, 11 August [1858] , CD …
- … the relationship to the letters to Asa Gray , 21 December [1859] , and to John Murray ,22 …
- … A. Gray 1859 , pp. 447–8. In a letter to Asa Gray, 31 May 1859 (Gray Herbarium, Harvard …
- … 1859 but stated: ‘Your Geological distribution we cannot follow at all, & Darwin & I both doubt your Geological facts, especially the Zoological Palæontology. ’ See also letter …
To Charles Lyell 29 [November 1859]
Summary
Encloses letter from Adam Sedgwick [2548].
Mentions conversion of A. C. Ramsay.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Charles Lyell, 1st baronet |
Date: | 29 [Nov 1859] |
Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.180) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2560 |
To Charles Lyell 24 [November 1859]
Summary
Sales of Origin.
Discusses revisions for second edition. Mentions possible French translation.
Views of Quatrefages [de Bréau].
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Charles Lyell, 1st baronet |
Date: | 24 [Nov 1859] |
Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.178) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2547 |
Matches: 6 hits
- … by the relationship to the letter to John Murray, 24 November [1859] . Letter from Charles …
- … Lyell, [22 November 1859] . See letter to Charles Lyell, 20 September [1859] , in which CD …
- … ed. 1959, p. 509). See letter from Charles Lyell, [22 November 1859] . In Journal of …
- … Swanton Belloc . See letter to John Murray, 14 November [1859] . The letter from Jean …
- … see letter to J. L. A. de Quatrefages de Bréau, 5 December [1859]. See letter from E. A. …
- … 1859] . The postscript was written on a separate slip of paper and enclosed with the letter. …
To John Lubbock 14 December [1859]
Summary
Is preparing a reprint of Origin. Asks JL’s opinion on the book’s merits; values his judgment.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Lubbock, 4th baronet and 1st Baron Avebury |
Date: | 14 Dec [1859] |
Classmark: | DAR 263: 15 (EH 88206464) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2584 |
Matches: 5 hits
- … Kingsley, 18 November 1859 , and letter to Charles Kingsley, 30 November [1859] . Kingsley …
- … Down House. See letters to John Lubbock , [19 November 1859] , [22 November 1859] , …
- … and 17 December [1859] . See letter from Charles …
- … of Down Hall. See letter to John Lubbock, [19 November 1859] . The enclosure has not been …
- … letters to J. W. Lubbock, 6 September [1853] , 11 October [1853] , and 10 January [1855] . CD’s Account book (Down House MS) records on 17 December 1859: ‘ …
To T. H. Huxley 25 November [1859]
Summary
Rejoices over THH’s lecture ["On species and races, and their origin", 10 Feb 1860, Not. Proc. R. Inst. G. B. 3 (1858–62): 195–200] to be given at Royal Institution. Offers pigeon illustrations.
Adam Sedgwick has sent a "slashing" letter [2548] about Origin.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Thomas Henry Huxley |
Date: | 25 Nov [1859] |
Classmark: | Imperial College of Science, Technology, and Medicine Archives (Huxley 5: 74) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2554 |
Matches: 5 hits
- … letter from J. D. Hooker, [21 November 1859] , and letter to J. D. Hooker, [22 November …
- … from Eaton 1858 . See also letter to T. H. Huxley, 13 December [1859] . Letter from Adam …
- … copy of Origin (see letters to John Phillips , 11 November [ 1859] and 26 November [ …
- … Sedgwick, 24 November 1859 . John Phillips’s letter has not been found. …
- … 1860 ,p. 197). See letter to T. H. Huxley, 16 December [1859] . The coloured drawings to …
From Charles John Robinson [1866?]
Author: | Charles John Robinson |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | [1866?] |
Classmark: | DAR 176: 188 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4966 |
From Charles Lyell 4 October 1859
Summary
Response to Origin. Praise for summary of chapter 10 and chapter 11.
The dissimilarity of African and American species is ‘necessary result of “Creation” adapting new species to the pre-existing ones. Granting this unknown & if you please miraculous power acting’.
C. T. Gaudin writes of Oswald Heer’s finding many species common between Miocene floras of Iceland and Switzerland. Interesting for CD’s migration theory.
Author: | Charles Lyell, 1st baronet |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 4 Oct 1859 |
Classmark: | DAR 170: 81; The University of Edinburgh Centre for Research Collections (Notebook 241, pp. 75–90) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3132 |
Matches: 11 hits
- … to Charles Lyell, 30 September [1859] , and letter from Charles Lyell, 3 October 1859 , …
- … continues Lyell’s remarks in his letter of 3 October 1859 ( Correspondence vol. 7) on the …
- … Correspondence vol. 7, letter to Charles Lyell, 11 October [1859] . On Agassiz’s theory …
- … Correspondence vol. 7, letter to Charles Lyell, 11 October [1859] . In his discussion of …
- … Correspondence vol. 7, letter to Charles Lyell, 11 October [1859] ; for further comments …
- … Correspondence vol. 7, letter to Charles Lyell, 11 October [1859] ). See also L. G. …
- … see Correspondence vol. 7, letter to Charles Lyell, 11 October [1859] . The phrase ‘is …
- … Correspondence vol. 7, letter to Charles Lyell, 11 October [1859] . The reference has not …
- … tail’ ( Correspondence vol. 7, letter to Charles Lyell, 11 October [1859] ). CD discussed …
- … Lyell refers to a letter from Charles Théophile Gaudin dated 18 May 1859 (Lyell papers, …
- … Correspondence vol. 7, letter to J. D. Hooker, 23 [December 1859] ); however, there are …
To Charles Lyell 23 November [1859]
Summary
Thanks CL for his decision to accept CD’s "doctrine of modification" [in Elements of geology, 6th ed. (1865)]. Believes it "morally impossible that investigators of truth, like you and Hooker, can be wholly wrong". Does not think CL’s decision will injure his works.
Thinks CL overrates importance of multiple origin of dogs.
Mentions sending copy of Origin to Herschel. Asks CL about Herschel’s reaction.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Charles Lyell, 1st baronet |
Date: | 23 Nov [1859] |
Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.176) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2543 |
Matches: 7 hits
- … not yet received the letter from Charles Lyell, [22 November 1859] , since it is only …
- … mentioned later, in the letter to Charles Lyell, 24 [November 1859] . …
- … See letter from Charles Lyell, 21 November 1859 . …
- … William Herschel’s response to Origin , see letter to Charles Lyell, [10 December 1859] . …
- … the species question. CD refers to letters from Charles Lyell , 28 October 1859 and …
- … See letter to J. F. W. Herschel, 11 November [1859] . For John …
- … November 1859 , and to others that are now missing. At the time this letter was written, …
To John Murray 2 December [1859]
Summary
All sheets [of Origin, 2d ed.] are ready. Has made a few corrections
and inserted Charles Kingsley’s sentence in answer to those who may think the book is irreligious.
Insists page numbering be kept uniform with 1st edition.
Intends to start immediately on the "larger work", with a distinct title.
Fears reviews will be unfavourable but is confident his views will ultimately prevail.
Asks about plans for French edition.
Thanks JM for his exertions on behalf of sales of Origin.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 2 Dec [1859] |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42152 ff.51–53) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2566 |
To John Lubbock 8 March [1859]
Summary
Wants examples of insects (especially Diptera) in which embryo resembles adult, to show that the metamorphic stages may be lost.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Lubbock, 4th baronet and 1st Baron Avebury |
Date: | 8 Mar [1859] |
Classmark: | DAR 263: 29 (EH 88206478) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2426 |
Matches: 4 hits
- … letter from John Lubbock, 15 March 1859 , and letters to John Lubbock , 16 [March 1859] …
- … Dated by Lubbock’s reply ( letter from John Lubbock, 15 March 1859 ). …
- … See letter from John Lubbock, 8 February 1859 , which is now incomplete. A reference to …
- … pp. 573–4). See also letter to John Lubbock, 16 [March 1859] . CD did not use Diptera to …
To J. D. Hooker [22 November 1859]
Summary
CD hopes Woodward was not the Athenæum reviewer. "The manner in which he drags in immortality, & sets the Priests at me … is base".
JDH has made CD feel he can "face a score of savage reviewers".
H. C. Watson has written to him in tremendous praise of the Origin.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
Date: | [22 Nov 1859] |
Classmark: | DAR 115: 26 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2542 |
Matches: 6 hits
- … Gazette . See letter to J. D. Hooker, [20 November 1859] , and letter from J. D. …
- … from J. D. Hooker, [21 November 1859] . Letter from J. D. Hooker, [21 November 1859] . …
- … instead of Watson here ( LL 2: 229). Letter from H. C. Watson, 21 November [1859] . …
- … John R. Leifchild (see letter to J. D. Hooker, [20 November 1859] , n. 2). Thomas Henry …
- … Hooker, [21 November 1859] . Francis Darwin’s edition of CD’s letters erroneously gives …
- … s species views. See letter from J. D. Hooker, [21 November 1859] . Michael Faraday , the …
To J. D. Hooker 7 April [1859]
Summary
Has read first sheets of JDH’s Flora Tasmaniae [introductory] essay [published separately as On the flora of Australia (1859)]. Criticises lack of evidence supporting views that best marked varieties occur at edges of range of species and that species remain under cultivation for many generations and suddenly begin to vary.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
Date: | 7 Apr [1859] |
Classmark: | DAR 115: 10 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2450 |
Matches: 5 hits
- … Hooker, 5 [March 1859] , and letter from J. D. Hooker, [9 March 1859] ). …
- … the proof-sheets of Hooker 1859 , which Hooker had asked him to read (see letter to J. D. …
- … of plant species and varieties. CD refers to Hooker 1859 , p. viii. See following letter. …
- … 2 April [1859] ). The details were not fixed until later in the month (see letters to J. …
- … in Hooker 1859 , p. viii. This sentence and the remainder of the letter were added in …
To Charles Lyell 20 October [1859]
Summary
Comments on CL’s letters.
Discusses foreign animals naturalised in Australia and elsewhere.
Affirms man’s capacity to survive in Eocene climate.
Comments on American types.
Denies necessity for "continued intervention of creative power".
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Charles Lyell, 1st baronet |
Date: | 20 Oct [1859] |
Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.173) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2507 |
letter | (807) |
people | (16) |
bibliography | (2) |
Darwin, C. R. | (497) |
Hooker, J. D. | (51) |
Gray, Asa | (18) |
Lyell, Charles | (17) |
Wallace, A. R. | (7) |
Darwin, C. R. | (285) |
Hooker, J. D. | (97) |
Lyell, Charles | (58) |
Huxley, T. H. | (26) |
Murray, John (b) | (25) |
Darwin, C. R. | (782) |
Hooker, J. D. | (148) |
Lyell, Charles | (75) |
Gray, Asa | (42) |
Huxley, T. H. | (32) |
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Natural selections: a longer read in Commentary
Darwin in letters, 1858-1859: Origin
Summary
The years 1858 and 1859 were, without doubt, the most momentous of Darwin’s life. From a quiet rural existence filled with steady work on his ‘big book’ on species, he was jolted into action by the arrival of an unexpected letter from Alfred Russel Wallace…
Matches: 1 hits
- … The years 1858 and 1859 were, without doubt, the most momentous of Darwin’s life. From a quiet …
The evolution of honeycomb
Summary
Honeycombs are natural engineering marvels, using the least possible amount of wax to provide the greatest amount of storage space, with the greatest possible structural stability. Darwin recognised that explaining the evolution of the honey-bee’s comb…
Matches: 1 hits
- … Honey-bees construct wax combs inside their nests. The combs are made of hexagonal prisms – cells …