To A. R. Wallace 29 April [1867]
Summary
Comments on ARW’s view of colouring in relation to sexual selection and protection. It is not new to CD. Hopes to discuss subject fully in his "Essay on Man" [Descent]. As to the problem of brightly coloured females, CD is not satisfied that it is due to males taking over incubation. Admires "value and beauty" of ARW’s generalisations.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Date: | 29 Apr [1867] |
| Classmark: | The British Library (Add 46434, f. 84) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5517 |
To A. R. Wallace 5 May [1867]
Summary
Returns ARW’s notes. He will work up subject much better than CD.
Apologises for the note of illiberality in his letter regarding ARW’s work on the colouring and other sexual differences in mammals.
Discusses laws of inheritance based on sexual selection.
He questions the extent of applicability of principles of protection and sexual selection to lower animal forms, though Ernst Haeckel has shown how protection may account for transparency and absence of colour in lower oceanic animals.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Date: | 5 May [1867] |
| Classmark: | The British Library (Add 46434 f. 89) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5528 |
To A. R. Wallace 6 July [1867]
Summary
Acknowledgment of article on mimicry [Westminster Rev. 88 (1867): 1–43].
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Date: | 6 July [1867] |
| Classmark: | The British Library (Add 46434, f. 92) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5579 |
To A. R. Wallace 12 and 13 October [1867]
Summary
Response to ARW’s "Creation by law", especially the Angraecum sesquipedale and the predicted Madagascar moth.
ARW’s argument on beauty strikes CD as good.
Wishes ARW had made more clear the assumption of the reviewer [in North Br. Rev.] that each variation is a strongly marked one.
The Duke of Argyll’s argument on beauty is not candid.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Date: | 12 and 13 Oct 1867 |
| Classmark: | The British Library (Add 46434 f. 96) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5648 |
To A. R. Wallace 22 February [1868]
Summary
Reports work on sexual selection. Problems with the relative numbers of the two sexes and polygamy. Asks ARW’s help with several questions on polygamous birds.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Date: | 22 Feb [1868] |
| Classmark: | The British Library (Add MS 46434: 104–5) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5912 |
To A. R. Wallace 27 February [1868]
Summary
Pleased by ARW’s response to Pangenesis.
On negative reception by his friends.
Further argument concerning sterility and natural selection.
Polygamy and sexual selection.
Protection.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Date: | 27 Feb [1868] |
| Classmark: | The British Library (Add MS 46434: 108–11) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5940 |
To A. R. Wallace 7 March [1867]
Summary
Grateful for addresses of informants, especially that of Rajah James Brooke.
Dispatch of queries on expression. Answers will make interesting appendix to his "Essay on man" [Descent].
Protective adaptation of female butterflies believed probable.
Believes in sexual selection as applied to man.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Date: | 7 Mar [1867] |
| Classmark: | The British Library (Add 46434 ff. 20–20v) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5992 |
To A. R. Wallace 17 [March 1868]
Summary
On his Primula paper for the Linnean Society ["On the specific difference between Primula veris, Brit. Fl. (var. officialis, Linn.), P. vulgaris, Brit. Fl. var. acaulis, Linn.), and P. elatior, Jacq.; and on the hybrid nature of the common oxlip; with supplementary remarks on naturally produced hybrids of the genus Verbascum", [officinalis!?] J. Linn. Soc. Lond. (Bot.) 10 (1869): 437–54].
Peacocks and sexual selection.
ARW’s sterility argument has driven CD’s sons half-mad.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Date: | 17 [Mar 1868] |
| Classmark: | The British Library (Add MS 43434: 115–17) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6018 |
To A. R. Wallace [21 March 1868]
Summary
On problem of sterility, CD cannot persuade himself that it has been gained by natural selection.
On sexual selection and minute variations, he tends to agree with ARW. Sends George Darwin’s notes on ARW’s argument.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Date: | [21 Mar 1868] |
| Classmark: | The British Library (Add MS 46434: 119–20); DAR 106: B160–3 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6033 |
To A. R. Wallace 27 March [1868]
Summary
There are so many doubtful points on the problems relating to sterility that they will never agree.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Date: | 27 Mar [1868] |
| Classmark: | The British Library (Add MS 46434: 123–4) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6058 |
To A. R. Wallace 6 April [1868]
Summary
More on the "terrible problem" of natural selection and sterility. CD’s reasons for disagreeing with ARW. CD analyses and answers ARW in detail in defence of his conclusion that sterility cannot be increased through natural selection.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Date: | 6 Apr [1868] |
| Classmark: | The British Library (Add MS 46434: 125–9) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6095 |
To A. R. Wallace 9 April [1868]
Summary
Warns ARW of dubious character of list of European alpine genera and species in volcanoes of Hawaii. Problems of geographical distribution in oceanic islands.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Date: | 9 Apr [1868] |
| Classmark: | The British Library (Add MS 46434) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6109 |
To A. R. Wallace 15 April [1868]
Summary
Admires ARW’s "Theory of birds’ nests" [J. Travel & Nat. Hist. 1 (1868): 73].
Discusses their respective views on birds’ nests, sexual selection, and protection.
Asks why, if brilliant colours of female butterflies are result of protective mimicry, do not males become equally brilliant? CD believes variation in females alone accounts for it, rather than protection.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Date: | 15 Apr [1868] |
| Classmark: | The British Library (Add MS 46434: 133–5) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6121 |
To A. R. Wallace 30 April [1868]
Summary
More on CD’s objections to ARW’s views on protection and natural selection.
Sexual selection.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Date: | 30 Apr [1868] |
| Classmark: | The British Library (Add MS 46434: 136–9) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6146 |
To A. R. Wallace 5 May [1868]
Summary
Criticism of ARW for too little esteem of the role of sexual selection as agent in giving colour.
Response to other topics.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Date: | 5 May [1868] |
| Classmark: | The British Library (Add MS 46434: 140–1) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6161 |
To A. R. Wallace 19 August [1868]
Summary
The problem of dimorphic plants and their fertility.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Date: | 19 Aug [1868] |
| Classmark: | The British Library (Add MS 46434: 143–6) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6322 |
To A. R. Wallace 16 September [1868]
Summary
CD’s oscillating views relating to protection and sexual selection.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Date: | 16 Sept [1868] |
| Classmark: | The British Library (Add MS 46434: 149–50) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6368 |
To A. R. Wallace 23 September [1868]
Summary
On their differences concerning sexual selection and protection.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Date: | 23 Sept [1868] |
| Classmark: | The British Library (Add MS 46434: 153–6) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6386 |
To A. R. Wallace 6 October [1868]
Summary
Sexual selection, protection.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Date: | 6 Oct [1868] |
| Classmark: | The British Library (Add MS 46434: 162–3) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6412 |
To A. R. Wallace 22 January [1869]
Summary
Response to letter about dedication of Malay Archipelago and several scientific papers.
Changes in 5th ed. of Origin.
Now feels individual differences of paramount importance. Fleeming Jenkin has convinced him about "single variations".
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Date: | 22 Jan [1869] |
| Classmark: | The British Library (Add MS 46434: 165–6) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6567 |
| letter | (191) |
| Wallace, A. R. | (97) |
| Darwin, C. R. | (94) |
