From J. G. Malcolmson 31 August 1839
Summary
Observations on the geology of Arabia.
Author: | John Grant Malcolmson |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 31 Aug 1839 |
Classmark: | DAR 39: 11 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-533 |
From Alexander von Humboldt 18 September 1839
Summary
Praises CD’s Journal of researches and comments on some of CD’s observations and conclusions. Considers volcanic activity and its effect on past climate and changes in climate over time. Discusses glacial phenomena. Believes the climate of the coast of Peru is modified by cold sea-currents.
Author: | Friedrich Wilhelm Heinrich Alexander (Alexander) von Humboldt |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 18 Sept 1839 |
Classmark: | DAR 204: 180 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-534 |
From J. G. Malcolmson 7 October 1839
Summary
Sends notes on soundings made on coral banks in the China Sea.
His recent geological observations.
Finds a difficulty with CD’s erratic block theory.
Author: | John Grant Malcolmson |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 7 Oct 1839 |
Classmark: | DAR 39: 12–14 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-535 |
To A. Y. Spearman 14 October 1839
Summary
Presents the Smith, Elder & Co. account for the fourth number now published of the second part of the Zoology.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Alexander Young Spearman, 1st baronet |
Date: | 14 Oct 1839 |
Classmark: | The National Archives (TNA) (T1/4524 paper 25824) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-538A |
To W. D. Fox 24 October [1839]
Summary
Hopes to publish volume on coral formations in a few months.
He and Emma live quietly, having given up parties.
Asks WDF if he remembers the Darwin family motto. He means to have a "seal solemnly engraved".
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | William Darwin Fox |
Date: | 24 Oct [1839] |
Classmark: | Christ’s College Library, Cambridge (MS 53 Fox 58) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-541 |
To J. S. Henslow [10 November 1839]
Summary
Urges JSH to describe Galapagos species in a paper on the flora of the islands.
Has been interested in geographical distribution and would be interested to have a paper by JSH on the general character of flora of Tierra del Fuego and Patagonia.
"I keep on steadily collecting every sort of fact which may throw light on the origin & variation of species."
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Stevens Henslow |
Date: | [10 Nov 1839] |
Classmark: | The Morgan Library and Museum, New York (Heineman Collection MA 7127) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-543 |
To Alexander von Humboldt 1 November 1839
Summary
Gratified by AvH’s letter.
Sends data on temperature of the sea in the Galapagos, South Pacific, and the Abrolhos Islands.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Friedrich Wilhelm Heinrich Alexander (Alexander) von Humboldt |
Date: | 1 Nov 1839 |
Classmark: | Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin – Preußischer Kulturbesitz (Nachl. Alexander von Humboldt, gr. Kasten 4, Nr. 22, Bl. 1–2) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-545 |
To W. H. Miller 22 [November 1839]
Summary
Asks if WHM would be interested in the meteorological observations of the Falkland Islands made by B. J. Sulivan on a recent survey. Such observations are rare and appear to CD to have many points of interest.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | William Hallowes Miller |
Date: | 22 [Nov 1839] |
Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-546 |
To A. Y. Spearman 27 November 1839
Summary
Encloses the Smith, Elder & Co. account for the fourth number now published of the third part of the Zoology.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Alexander Young Spearman, 1st baronet |
Date: | 27 Nov 1839 |
Classmark: | The National Archives (TNA) (T1/4524 paper 25824) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-546A |
To T. C. Eyton [30 November 1839]
Summary
Sends bird specimens for examination by TCE [for Birds].
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Thomas Campbell Eyton |
Date: | [30 Nov 1839] |
Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.17) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-547 |
From J. G. Malcolmson 30 November 1839
Summary
Sends specimens of coralline with vermiform holes.
J. Allan’s observations of Aldabra and the Cormoros [see Coral reefs, p. 186] and news of his experiments on the growth of coral.
Author: | John Grant Malcolmson |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 30 Nov 1839 |
Classmark: | DAR 39: 15–17 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-548 |
From J. G. Malcolmson [after 7 October 1839]
Author: | John Grant Malcolmson |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | [after 7 Oct 1839] |
Classmark: | DAR 50: C24–5 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-559 |
From Emma Darwin [c. February 1839]
Summary
Discusses CD’s religious doubts. Fears his work may lead him to discount what cannot be proved, and advises that there are some things which, "if true are likely to be above our comprehension" and "that there is a danger in giving up revelation".
Author: | Emma Wedgwood; Emma Darwin |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | [c. Feb 1839] |
Classmark: | DAR 210.8: 14 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-471 |
To J. Shillinglaw, Secretary, Royal Geographical Society [1839 – May 1842]
Summary
Asks for volumes of F. W. Beechey’s work [Narrative of a voyage to the Pacific and Bering Strait (1831)] and Nautical magazine and an order on [John] Arrowsmith for atlas of Dumont d’Urville’s Voyage in the "Astrolabe".
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Shillinglaw; Royal Geographical Society |
Date: | [1839 – May 1842] |
Classmark: | Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge (GEN/D/DARWIN (C)/4) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-477 |
To Emma Wedgwood 2 [–3 January 1839]
Summary
His dinner with the Carlyles. "He is the best worth listening to of any man" – but CD cannot get up much admiration for Mrs C, partly because of her Scots accent, which makes her difficult to understand.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Emma Wedgwood; Emma Darwin |
Date: | 2 [–3 Jan 1839] |
Classmark: | DAR 210.8: 10 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-481 |
From Emma Wedgwood [3 January 1839]
Summary
Emma is surprised how quickly CD has moved into the new house and understands his feeling of triumph. Wants him and Fanny [Mrs Hensleigh] Wedgwood to settle on hiring a cook.
Is reading Mansfield Park [Jane Austen (1814)], which she finds "very suitable".
Author: | Emma Wedgwood; Emma Darwin |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | [3 Jan 1839] |
Classmark: | DAR 204: 158 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-482 |
To Emma Wedgwood [6–7 January 1839]
Summary
Has been with the Lyells doing geology.
Is reading a biography of Sir W. Scott [J. G. Lockhart, Memoirs of the life of Sir Walter Scott (1837–8)]; also Mungo Park’s book [Travels (1799)].
Has hired a cook at fourteen guineas a year with tea and sugar.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Emma Wedgwood; Emma Darwin |
Date: | [6–7 Jan 1839] |
Classmark: | DAR 210.8: 11 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-484 |
From Emma Wedgwood [7 January 1839]
Summary
Still rejoices in having found the house they like.
Thinks he might enjoy Jenny [Jane Welsh] Carlyle’s company more away from Carlyle "as she must have her full swing in talking".
Says the wedding must be fixed for the 29th instead of the 24th.
Hopes he will look better than on his last visit.
Author: | Emma Wedgwood; Emma Darwin |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | [7 Jan 1839] |
Classmark: | DAR 204: 159 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-485 |
From Emma Wedgwood [9 January 1839]
Summary
Glad to have his letter; supposes she will receive only two or three more from him in her life.
Thinks he should leave the curtains for her.
Discusses Mungo Park and Sir Walter Scott’s Life.
Author: | Emma Wedgwood; Emma Darwin |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | [9 Jan 1839] |
Classmark: | DAR 204: 160 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-486 |
To Emma Wedgwood [20 January 1839]
Summary
Comments on recent visit to Maer. Explains that his notion of happiness as quietness and solitude derives from Beagle experience. Hopes Emma will humanise him. Comments on marriage planned for Tuesday.
Describes recent visit by Lyell and his wife. Talked geology for half an hour "with poor Mrs Lyell sitting by". "I want practice in ill-treating the female sex."
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Emma Wedgwood; Emma Darwin |
Date: | [20 Jan 1839] |
Classmark: | DAR 210.8: 12 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-489 |
letter | (95) |
Darwin, C. R. | (57) |
Darwin, Emma | (7) |
Wedgwood, Emma | (7) |
Malcolmson, J. G. | (5) |
FitzRoy, Robert | (3) |
Darwin, C. R. | (38) |
Royal Geographical Society | (5) |
Spearman, A. Y. | (5) |
Babbage, Charles | (4) |
Blomefield, Leonard | (4) |
Darwin, C. R. | (95) |
Darwin, Emma | (11) |
Wedgwood, Emma | (11) |
Malcolmson, J. G. | (5) |
Royal Geographical Society | (5) |