From John Coldstream 13 September 1831
Summary
Suggestions and information helpful to CD in preparation for Beagle voyage. David Brewster’s meteorological papers. Suggests an oyster-trawl for collecting marine animals. Recommends CD see R. E. Grant. For meteorological observations suggests F. W. Beechey’s Voyage to the Pacific [1831] and an interview with J. F. Daniell of King’s College.
Author: | John Coldstream |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 13 Sept 1831 |
Classmark: | DAR 204: 64 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-124 |
From Charles Whitley 13 September 1831
Summary
Congratulates CD on Beagle appointment as an "opportunity … of studying all the natural sciences at once, after your own taste".
Author: | Charles Thomas Whitley |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 13 Sept 1831 |
Classmark: | DAR 204: 69 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-125 |
To Susan Darwin [14 September 1831]
Summary
Pleasant three-day voyage to Plymouth has increased CD’s admiration for FitzRoy. Describes the Beagle as an excellent vessel, but the want of room is very bad. He likes the officers.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Susan Elizabeth Darwin |
Date: | [14 Sept 1831] |
Classmark: | DAR 223 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-126 |
To Susan Darwin 17 [September 1831]
Summary
Plans to come to Shrewsbury.
Is pleased with cabin assignment on Beagle. Beagle will map the east side of Tierra del Fuego and Patagonia and set longitude of many places.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Susan Elizabeth Darwin |
Date: | 17 [Sept 1831] |
Classmark: | DAR 223 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-127 |
To J. S. Henslow 17 [September 1831]
Summary
Plans to come to Cambridge to discuss Beagle voyage. Only difficulty is disposal of his collections. South Sea Islands now more probable.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Stevens Henslow |
Date: | 17 [Sept 1831] |
Classmark: | Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (Henslow letters: 6 DAR/1/1/6) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-128 |
From Adam Sedgwick 18 September 1831
Summary
Is glad of CD’s appointment and hopes it will be a source of happiness and honour.
Answers a query about books.
Suggests CD go to Geological Society, present himself, as AS’s friend, to William Lonsdale and study the Society’s collection.
Tells CD of his work in Wales; includes a diagram and explanations.
Ramsay’s death a grievous loss.
Author: | Adam Sedgwick |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 18 Sept 1831 |
Classmark: | DAR 204: 66 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-129 |
From Frederick Watkins [18 September 1831]
Summary
Rejoices in CD’s appointment and predicts he will rank with Candolle, Henslow, and Linnaeus.
Recounts their past pleasures and gives news of friends, who are scattering fast.
Author: | Frederick Watkins |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | [18 Sept 1831] |
Classmark: | DAR 204: 67 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-130 |
To Robert FitzRoy [19 September 1831]
Summary
Reports on errands he has done for RF. Has discussed with Beaufort the question of his having right to dispose of his collection.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Robert FitzRoy |
Date: | [19 Sept 1831] |
Classmark: | DAR 144: 112 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-131 |
To W. D. Fox 19 [September 1831]
Summary
Describes his appointment, the Beagle, his companions, and the objectives of the voyage. Gives his schedule before departure.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | William Darwin Fox |
Date: | 19 [Sept 1831] |
Classmark: | Christ’s College Library, Cambridge (MS 53 Fox 44) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-132 |
From Robert FitzRoy 23 September 1831
Summary
Regrets he cannot take Francis Owen on Beagle as midshipman. RF thinks CD had better be on the books [for victuals], but CD should do as he likes. Refitting progress is slow.
Author: | Robert FitzRoy |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 23 Sept 1831 |
Classmark: | DAR 204: 105 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-135 |
To Charles Thomas Whitley 23 [September 1831]
Summary
Thanks CTW for his letter [125]. "I do not think I ever received a more kind letter than yours or one that gave me so much pleasure.— You ought to have in your mind, the prospect of leaving England for 3 or 4 years before you can understand how to enjoy such a letter from such a person as yourself—". Regarding the voyage, "all is finally settled, & I have sealed away about half a chance of life.— If one lived merely to see how long one could spin out life,—I should repent my choice.— As it is I do not.—"
Thanks CTW for four fungi which have arrived.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Charles Thomas Whitley |
Date: | 23 [Sept 1831] |
Classmark: | Linnean Society of London (Quentin Keynes collection) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-135A |
To J. S. Henslow 28 [September 1831]
Summary
Has collected [Phalli] in Shropshire and compared them with Barmouth species. Is convinced they are different.
Asks JSH for introductions to R. T. Lowe and Andrew Smith.
Has been given another week’s respite by FitzRoy.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Stevens Henslow |
Date: | 28 [Sept 1831] |
Classmark: | Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (Henslow letters: 7 DAR/1/1/7) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-138 |
To Robert FitzRoy [4 or 11 October 1831]
Summary
CD’s luggage is frightfully bulky, though he has been as economical as possible. Has made financial arrangements for his expenses.
Plans to study mathematics during voyage.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Robert FitzRoy |
Date: | [4 or 11] Oct 1831 |
Classmark: | DAR 144: 113 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-139 |
To J. S. Henslow [4 or 11 October 1831]
Summary
Asks JSH to take charge of his consignments of specimens from the voyage.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Stevens Henslow |
Date: | [4 or 11] Oct 1831 |
Classmark: | Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (Henslow letters: 8 DAR/1/1/8) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-140 |
To Robert FitzRoy [10 October 1831]
Summary
Has just heard Beagle sailing is delayed so he will remain another week in London. Asks whether RF has a good set of mountain barometers, which geologists tell him are important.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Robert FitzRoy |
Date: | [10 Oct 1831] |
Classmark: | DAR 144: 114 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-142 |
From J. S. Henslow 25 October 1831
Summary
Gives CD directions for sending him specimens from Beagle.
Writes of Cambridge politics.
Author: | John Stevens Henslow |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 25 Oct 1831 |
Classmark: | DAR 204: 108 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-143 |
To J. S. Henslow 30 [October 1831]
Summary
Hopes to be able to help Cambridge Philosophical Society with his collections, but thinks most will have to go to British Museum.
Describes Beagle quarters, the surgeon [Robert McCormick, M.D.], and officers.
Asks JSH’s advice on studying mathematics.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Stevens Henslow |
Date: | 30 [Oct 1831] |
Classmark: | Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (Henslow letters: 9 DAR/1/1/9) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-144 |
To J. S. Henslow 15 [November 1831]
Summary
Sailing date fixed for end of month. Beagle is beautiful. Details of instructions and route. Hopes voyage will not exceed four years. Quarters very confined. Considers Jenyns did wisely in not coming. If CD were longer out of college and some years older he never could have endured it.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Stevens Henslow |
Date: | 15 [Nov 1831] |
Classmark: | Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (Henslow letters: 10 DAR/1/1/10) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-147 |
To Charles Whitley 15 November [1831]
Summary
Regrets that it will be impossible to visit Cambridge for some years. Reminisces about CW’s "classical Sunday evenings", the Glutton Club, and his friends.
"We spend about 2 years in S. America, the rest of time larking round the world."
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Charles Thomas Whitley |
Date: | 15 Nov [1831] |
Classmark: | T. H. W. Bower (private collection) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-148 |
To W. D. Fox 17 [November 1831]
Summary
Still delayed; will not sail until 5 December. Instructions have come, with proposed itinerary.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | William Darwin Fox |
Date: | 17 [Nov 1831] |
Classmark: | Christ’s College Library, Cambridge (MS 53 Fox 45) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-149 |
Darwin, C. R. | (40) |
Mostyn Owen, Fanny | (5) |
Myddelton Biddulph, Fanny | (5) |
Henslow, J. S. | (3) |
Matthew, Henry | (3) |
Darwin, C. R. | (23) |
Henslow, J. S. | (12) |
Fox, W. D. | (10) |
Darwin, S. E. | (6) |
Whitley, C. T. | (4) |
Darwin, C. R. | |
Henslow, J. S. | (15) |
Fox, W. D. | (10) |
Darwin, S. E. | (7) |
Mostyn Owen, Fanny | (5) |
Myddelton Biddulph, Fanny | (5) |
Whitley, C. T. | (5) |
Darwin, Caroline | (4) |
FitzRoy, Robert | (4) |
Wedgwood, Caroline | (4) |
Matthew, Henry | (3) |
Sedgwick, Adam | (2) |
Beaufort, Francis | (1) |
Coldstream, John | (1) |
Darwin, Catherine | (1) |
Darwin, R. W. | (1) |
Haliburton, S. H. | (1) |
Herbert, J. M. | (1) |
Langton, Catherine | (1) |
Langton, Charlotte | (1) |
Mostyn Owen, S. H. | (1) |
Peacock, George | (1) |
Simpson, George | (1) |
Watkins, Frederick | (1) |
Wedgwood, Charlotte | (1) |
Williams, S. H. | (1) |