From Ernst Haeckel [before 6 February 1868]
Summary
Describes his lectures on CD’s theory.
Thanks CD for copy of Variation. Comments on book.
Describes work of two protégés in Jena: Nicolas von Miklucho[-Maclay] and Anton Dohrn.
His cousin, Wilhelm Bleek, is sending an article about the origin of language.
Asks to keep book a few months longer but will return it if CD needs it [Webb and Berthelot, Histoire naturelle des Îles Canaries, vol. 3, pt 1: Géographie botanique (1840)].
Describes research on Siphonophora.
Describes life in Jena. Mentions alpine accident during wedding trip.
Author: | Ernst Philipp August (Ernst) Haeckel |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | [before 6 Feb 1868] |
Classmark: | DAR 166: 46 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5840 |
To Ernst Haeckel 6 February [1868]
Summary
Delighted to hear of success of EH’s lectures.
Ernest Faivre [La variabilité des espèces (1868)] sees no reason to favour common descent of allied species.
Asks EH to pass German edition of Variation on to Gegenbaur.
Comments on work of Miklucho[-Maclay], Dohrn, and Bleek.
Has begun work on Descent.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Ernst Philipp August (Ernst) Haeckel |
Date: | 6 Feb [1868] |
Classmark: | Ernst-Haeckel-Haus (Bestand A-Abt. 1: 1–52/16) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5841 |
To W. D. Fox 6 February [1868]
Summary
There is so much detail in Variation that WDF will never be able to finish it. Some chapters, like that on reversion, are "curious".
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | William Darwin Fox |
Date: | 6 Feb [1868] |
Classmark: | Christ’s College Library, Cambridge (MS 53 Fox 148) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5842 |
From John Murray 6 February [1868]
Summary
Advance sale of Variation has exhausted the 1500 copies printed. Murray sends note for £300 author’s payment. Wants to print 1250 more immediately.
Author: | John Murray |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 6 Feb [1868] |
Classmark: | DAR 171: 354 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5844 |
From Edward Blyth 6 February 1868
Summary
Discusses the origin and characters of sheep breeds, particularly the merino.
Reports observations on reversion to wild type in canary mules
and lists some animals that show a unique development restricted to one side of their bodies.
Author: | Edward Blyth |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 6 Feb 1868 |
Classmark: | DAR 160: 212 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5845 |
From J. E. Gray 6 February 1868
Author: | John Edward Gray |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 6 Feb 1868 |
Classmark: | DAR 165: 214 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5846 |
From W. S. Dallas 6 February 1868
Summary
Forwards a letter from Secretary of Yorkshire Philosophical Society. Hopes CD will honour them by accepting.
Has heard nothing of Variation.
Author: | William Sweetland Dallas |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 6 Feb 1868 |
Classmark: | DAR 162: 11 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5847 |
From Alfred Russel Wallace 7 February 1868
Author: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 7 Feb 1868 |
Classmark: | DAR 106: B48 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5848 |
From William Baird 7 February 1868
Author: | William Baird |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 7 Feb 1868 |
Classmark: | DAR 82: 50 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5849 |
From Edward Cresy 7 February 1868
Summary
Thanks for loan of Variation. "The Saturday Sadducees" do not believe there are a hundred people who understand the argument. EC fancies he does.
Author: | Edward Cresy, Jr |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 7 Feb 1868 |
Classmark: | DAR 161: 251 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5850 |
From Herbert Spencer 8 February 1868
Summary
Thanks CD for copy of Variation.
Discusses Pangenesis and considers CD’s "gemmules" comparable to his own hypothetical "physiological units" ["On alleged ""spontaneous generation"", and on the hypothesis of physiological units", appendix in The principles of biology, vol. 1 (1864)].
Author: | Herbert Spencer |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 8 Feb 1868 |
Classmark: | DAR 177: 227 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5851 |
To Asa Gray 9 February [1868]
Summary
Asks that Gray forward a letter to J. T. Rothrock. Variation is selling well. Nearly all chapters were at least partially written before Origin was published.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Asa Gray |
Date: | 9 Feb [1868] |
Classmark: | William Patrick Watson (dealer) (catalogue 19, 2013) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5851F |
From Albany Hancock 8 February 1868
Author: | Albany Hancock |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 8 Feb 1868 |
Classmark: | DAR 82: A51–4 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5852 |
To John Murray 9 February [1868]
Summary
Heartily glad for JM’s sake at sale [of Variation]. Thinks JM right to publish a smaller second edition, for "the public will soon find out that it is dull" – though scientifically valuable. The index is excellent. CD is "always greedy" for presentation copies.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Murray |
Date: | 9 Feb [1868] |
Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42152 ff. 180–181) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5854 |
To J. D. Hooker 10 February [1868]
Summary
Has heard that Variation sold the whole edition of 1500 copies in a week [see 5844]. Has done him a world of good. Pall Mall Gazette has review which pleased him exceedingly [see 5874].
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
Date: | 10 Feb [1868] |
Classmark: | DAR 94: 50–1 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5856 |
From Roland Trimen 10 February 1868
Summary
Sends prospectus of forthcoming work by his brother [Henry Trimen] and W. T. Thiselton-Dyer [Flora of Middlesex (1869)]. Hopes CD will subscribe.
Author: | Roland Trimen |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 10 Feb 1868 |
Classmark: | DAR 178: 186, DAR 84.1: 135b |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5857 |
To Henry Walter Bates 11 February [1868]
Summary
Asks about proportions of male to female insects.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Henry Walter Bates |
Date: | 11 Feb [1868] |
Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5858 |
To W. B. Tegetmeier 11 February [1868]
Summary
Wants information on sex ratios in domestic animals. Can WBT help?
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | William Bernhard Tegetmeier |
Date: | 11 Feb [1868] |
Classmark: | Archives of the New York Botanical Garden (Charles Finney Cox Collection) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5859 |
To Fritz Müller 11 February 1868
Summary
Is working on sexual selection and is interested in any anomalous sex ratios in lower animals and any sex-related characters.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Johann Friedrich Theodor (Fritz) Müller |
Date: | 11 Feb 1868 |
Classmark: | The British Library (Loan MS 10 no 21) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5860 |
From Edward Blyth 11 February 1868
Summary
Corrects some facts and gives further information on some points for the 2d ed. of Variation.
Specific distinctions among animals.
Cercopithecus of Africa contrasted with the Cebus of South America.
Notes on domestic fowls and their ancestors.
Slow growth of wild animals compared with domestic varieties.
Author: | Edward Blyth |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 11 Feb 1868 |
Classmark: | DAR 80: B169a–c |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5861 |
letter | (791) |
Darwin, C. R. | (323) |
Hooker, J. D. | (26) |
Weir, J. J. | (22) |
Blyth, Edward | (20) |
Dallas, W. S. | (19) |
Darwin, C. R. | (468) |
Hooker, J. D. | (30) |
Weir, J. J. | (15) |
Wallace, A. R. | (14) |
Tegetmeier, W. B. | (11) |
Darwin, C. R. | (791) |
Hooker, J. D. | (56) |
Weir, J. J. | (37) |
Wallace, A. R. | (31) |
Blyth, Edward | (23) |