To Nature [before 3 April 1873]
Summary
Comments on article ["Perception and instinct in lower animals", Nature 7 (1871): 377–8].
Explains his contention that "many of the most wonderful instincts have been acquired, independently of habit, through the preservation of useful variations of pre-existing instincts". Cites examples: sterile workers of several species of social insects have acquired different instincts; movements of tumbler pigeons. Speculates that "many instincts have originated from modification or variations in the brain".
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Nature |
Date: | [before 3 Apr 1873] |
Classmark: | Nature, 3 April 1873, pp. 417–18 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8838 |
To Nature [before 3 April 1873]
Summary
"The following fact with respect to the habits of ants, which I believe to be quite new, has been sent to me by a distinguished geologist, Mr J. D. Hague [see 8788]; and it appears well worth publishing."
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Nature |
Date: | [before 3 Apr 1873] |
Classmark: | Nature, 10 April 1873, pp. 443–4 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8853 |
To ? 28 April 1873
Summary
"I was born in the town of Shrewsbury Feb. 12, 1809."
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Unidentified |
Date: | 28 Apr 1873 |
Classmark: | Swann Auction Galleries (dealers) (26 April 1984) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8888A |
To E. R. Lankester 15 April [1873]
Summary
Discusses error in CD’s calculation of natural increase of elephants.
Includes extract from Origin.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Edwin Ray Lankester |
Date: | 15 Apr [1873] |
Classmark: | DAR 146: 31 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8287 |
To H. C. F. Jenkin 30 April [1873]
Summary
HCFJ’s review of the Origin was the wittiest and in some respects the best written.
Thanks him for his Electricity and magnetism [1873].
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Henry Charles Fleeming Jenkin |
Date: | 30 Apr [1873] |
Classmark: | DAR 185: 27 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8304 |
To Charles Lyell [9 April 1873]
Summary
Hopes that Charles Lyell has enjoyed his excursion.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Charles Lyell, 1st baronet |
Date: | [9 Apr 1873] |
Classmark: | DAR 146: 327 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8552F |
To Samuel Butler 1 April [1873]
Summary
Comments on SB’s book [The fair haven (1873)]. CD is struck by SB’s dramatic power – thinks he could write "a really good novel". Surprised at strength of case SB makes that Jesus did not die on the cross. SB’s identity will soon be universally known: Leslie Stephen knows he is the author.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Samuel Butler |
Date: | 1 Apr [1873] |
Classmark: | The British Library (Add MS 34486 D: 60–1) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8835 |
To N. D. Doedes 2 April 1873
Summary
The impossibility of conceiving that the universe arose through chance is the chief argument for the existence of God, but CD has never been able to decide whether this is an argument of real value. Safest to believe that the subject is beyond man’s intellect, "but man can do his duty".
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Nicolaas Dirk Doedes |
Date: | 2 Apr 1873 |
Classmark: | DAR 139.12: 11 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8837 |
To G. H. Darwin [3 April 1873]
Summary
Anxious to have GHD come home because of his poor health. Recommends Huxley’s physician (Andrew Clark) – an advocate of milk diet.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | George Howard Darwin |
Date: | [3 Apr 1873] |
Classmark: | DAR 210.1: 10 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8839 |
To J. D. Hague 3 April [1873]
Summary
Has sent JDH’s letter to Nature ["Perception in ants", Nature 7 (1873): 443–4].
Sons recall kindness received from JDH and others in America.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | James Duncan Hague |
Date: | 3 Apr [1873] |
Classmark: | DAR 144: 394 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8840 |
To J. D. Hooker [6 April 1873]
Summary
Wants to discuss raising a testimonial fund for Huxley and whether Huxley would stand this.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
Date: | [6 Apr 1873] |
Classmark: | DAR 94: 261–2 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8843 |
To Thomas Davidson 7 April 1873
Summary
Thanks TD for catalogue of his Cretacean fossils.
Regrets he cannot visit Brighton.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Thomas Davidson |
Date: | 7 Apr 1873 |
Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.426) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8845 |
To Francis Darwin [before 15 April 1873]
Summary
Sends to Pantlludw [North Wales] bottle of formic acid. FD and Amy [Darwin] can search for spawn. If found, keep in two basins and add 6 drops of acid to one and look for differences.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Francis Darwin |
Date: | [before 15 Apr 1873] |
Classmark: | DAR 271.4: 6 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8848A |
To John Tyndall 8 April [1873]
Summary
CD will write to William Spottiswoode about the fund for Huxley. CD is raising his subscription to £300. "We have done a good day’s work … [it] gives me a higher opinion of human nature than I had before, though I am not one of those who think lowly of mankind."
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Tyndall |
Date: | 8 Apr [1873] |
Classmark: | DAR 261.8: 13 (EH 88205951) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8850 |
To William Spottiswoode [8 April 1873]
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | William Spottiswoode |
Date: | [8 Apr 1873] |
Classmark: | DAR 96: 169–70 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8851 |
To John Tyndall 11 April 1873
Summary
Sends JT the list and amounts subscribed for Huxley. It will probably amount to £1800. He will write to Huxley and use every argument he can to make him accept.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Tyndall |
Date: | 11 Apr 1873 |
Classmark: | DAR 261.8: 14 (EH 88205952) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8856 |
To Albert Günther 12 April [1873]
Summary
CD did not bring any tortoises back from the Galapagos. There may be specimens at the Military Institution in Whitehall.
Sorry AG was unable to lunch with the Darwins during their stay in London.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Albrecht Carl Ludwig Gotthilf (Albert) Günther |
Date: | 12 Apr [1873] |
Classmark: | Shrewsbury School, Taylor Library (40) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8858 |
To A. W. Merriam 13 April 1873
Summary
Thanks AWM for "Comus" and an abusive New Orleans Mardi Gras newspaper editorial; he cannot tell from the "wonderful mistakes" whether the writer is "witty, ignorant, or blunders for the sake of fun".
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Arthur Walter Merriam |
Date: | 13 Apr 1873 |
Classmark: | Tinker 1953, p. 331 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8858F |
To Francis Darwin 16 April [1873]
Summary
"Try only 1 or 2 drops of Formic A[cid]."
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Francis Darwin |
Date: | 16 Apr [1873] |
Classmark: | DAR 271.3: 6 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8862 |
To Adolph Reuter 17 April 1873
Summary
Thanks for letter and curious photographs. Urges AR not to send anything valuable unless he publishes it elsewhere because CD is growing old and may not have strength and time to continue his former researches.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Adolf Reuter |
Date: | 17 Apr 1873 |
Classmark: | Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin – Preußischer Kulturbesitz (Slg. Darmstaedter Lc 1859: Darwin, Charles, Bl. 226–227) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8864 |
letter | (37) |
Tyndall, John | (6) |
Darwin, Francis | (3) |
Huxley, T. H. | (3) |
Hague, J. D. | (2) |
Lyell, Charles | (2) |
Darwin, C. R. | (37) |
Tyndall, John | (6) |
Darwin, Francis | (3) |
Huxley, T. H. | (3) |
Hague, J. D. | (2) |