To ? 2 May [1869 or later]
Summary
"When a man has laboured hard in science & has proved that he is capable of original research, he may [some]times indulge in speculation [&] the public will indulge him. But even in this case it is a common error to speculate too largely, for speculation is far easier than observation or experiments . . ."
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Unidentified |
Date: | 2 May [1869-82] |
Classmark: | Sotheby’s (dealers) (28 March 1983) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13866A |
To William Bowman 16 May [1869–81]
Summary
"I shall not be in London on Monday, but I have written to my Brother to ask him to aid you"
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | William Bowman, 1st baronet |
Date: | 16 May [1869-81] |
Classmark: | George Houle Autographs (dealer) (Catalogue 61, March 1992) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13781 |
From Francis Darwin [before 8 May 1869]
Summary
Reports what he must pay for university courses. Forgets what CD wants to know about vermiform appendage.
Author: | Francis Darwin |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | [before 8 May 1869] |
Classmark: | DAR 274.1: 12 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6519F |
To Linnean Society, President and Council [10 May 1869]
Summary
Referee report on paper by Richard Spruce on sacs in Melastoma [see 6690]. CD says RS’s suggestions that sacs are inherited is not supported and should be deleted.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | William Hellier Baily |
Date: | [10 May 1869] |
Classmark: | Linnean Society of London |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6722 |
From J. J. Weir [1–13] May 1869
Summary
South Down sheep: variability in colouring and patterning of lambs compared with constancy of adult coat.
Author: | John Jenner Weir |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | [1–13] May 1869 |
Classmark: | DAR 181: 79 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6723 |
From A. W. Bennett 3 May 1869
Summary
Sends CD some notes [missing] on the mode of fertilisation of winter-flowering plants, and outlines his conclusions regarding the different types of winter-flowerers and the means by which they are fertilised.
Author: | Alfred William Bennett |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 3 May 1869 |
Classmark: | DAR 76: B176–7 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6724 |
To Charles Lyell 4 May [1869]
Summary
Asks for a photograph of CL to be used by a society [in Serbia].
Comments on article by Wallace ["Sir Charles Lyell on geological climates and the Origin", Q. Rev. 126 (1869): 359–94].
Has finished new edition of Origin [5th (1869)]
and is back at work on sexual selection [Descent].
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Charles Lyell, 1st baronet |
Date: | 4 May [1869] |
Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.369) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6725 |
To J. V. Carus 4 May 1869
Summary
Discusses changes in 5th edition of Origin owing to new evidence. CD now places more value on action of external conditions; thinks lapse of time [required for development of species] not so great as some geologists have thought, and single variations [saltations] of even less importance compared with individual differences.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Julius Victor Carus |
Date: | 4 May 1869 |
Classmark: | Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin – Preußischer Kulturbesitz (Slg. Darmstaedter Lc 1859: Darwin, Charles, Bl. 41–42) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6726 |
From Charles Lyell 5 May 1869
Summary
Recalls Cuvier’s reaction to Principles of geology.
Comments on Wallace’s article in the Quarterly Review [see 6684].
Not opposed to ARW’s idea that Supreme Will might direct variation.
Quotes passage in letter from ARW arguing for causes other than selection in determining human abilities.
Discusses excavation of lakes by glaciers.
J. P. Lesley does not believe ice-sheets involved in eroding Appalachians.
Author: | Charles Lyell, 1st baronet |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 5 May 1869 |
Classmark: | Lyell 1881, 2: 441; DAR 85: A100–1 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6728 |
From J. D. Caton 5 May 1869
Summary
Females have no preference for particular males in deer and elk. Observations on sexual behaviour and characteristics of elk, deer, bison, and other animals.
Author: | John Dean Caton |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 5 May 1869 |
Classmark: | DAR 83: 170–1 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6729 |
To J. D. Hooker [before 7 May 1869]
Summary
Asks whether in Slavonic races the hair of the beard and head are different colours.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
Date: | [before 7 May 1869] |
Classmark: | DAR 94: 133 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6731 |
From T. H. Huxley 7 May 1869
Summary
H. M. S. Nassau, surveying Magellan Straits, has found fossils at Gallegos River. They have been sent to THH by R. O. Cunningham [naturalist of H. M. S. Nassau]. Skull of entirely new ungulate mammal.
Author: | Thomas Henry Huxley |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 7 May 1869 |
Classmark: | DAR 166: 319 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6732 |
From Harrison William Weir 7 May 1869
Summary
Daisies.
A tame rabbit with a litter of 18.
Author: | Harrison William Weir |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 7 May 1869 |
Classmark: | DAR 181: 71 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6733 |
From George Bentham 7 May 1869
Summary
The Linnean Society Council wants CD to review two papers, with reference to their value for publication.
Author: | George Bentham |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 7 May 1869 |
Classmark: | DAR 160: 162 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6734 |
To T. H. Huxley 8 May [1869]
Summary
Thanks for [D. D. Cunningham’s] letter. Had hoped for a better haul but delighted to hear of the curious fossil.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Thomas Henry Huxley |
Date: | 8 May [1869] |
Classmark: | Imperial College of Science, Technology, and Medicine Archives (Huxley 5: 268) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6735 |
To Spiridion Brusina 8 May [1869]
Summary
Sends photograph of Sir C. Lyell and Professor Owen, generally considered our most distinguished [British] naturalists. Includes the requested photograph of himself [see 6720].
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Spiridion Brusina |
Date: | 8 May [1869] |
Classmark: | Archives of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts (XV-48/AI 340) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6736A |
From Asa Gray 9 May [1869]
Summary
Encloses Mrs Gray’s notes on expression among Arabs.
Author: | Asa Gray |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 9 May [1869] |
Classmark: | DAR 165: 168 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6737 |
To Gardeners’ Chronicle 9 May [1869]
Summary
In response to a query from a Mr D. T. Fish, CD reaffirms his view of the efficiency of worms in bringing up in their intestines fine soil from below the surface. Reports on observations, during the past 25 years, which confirm his views.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Gardeners’ Chronicle |
Date: | 9 May [1869] |
Classmark: | Gardeners’ Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette (1869): 530 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6738 |
To Linnean Society, President and Council 10 May 1869
Summary
Recommends publication of Mrs Barber’s paper on a rare case of fertilisation of a plant by one kind of insect alone, with access of others prevented by a mechanical obstacle [Mary Elizabeth Barber, "On the fertilisation and dissemination of Duvernoia adhatodoides", J. Linn. Soc. Lond. (Bot.) 11 (1869): 469–72].
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | William Hellier Baily |
Date: | 10 May 1869 |
Classmark: | Linnean Society of London (SP.57) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6740 |
From Louis Rérolle 10 May 1869
Summary
French translation of Orchids will be published by Reinwald. Asks for CD’s new footnotes to be sent.
Author: | Louis Rérolle |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 10 May 1869 |
Classmark: | DAR 176: 130 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6741 |
letter | (42) |
Darwin, C. R. | (21) |
Weir, J. J. | (3) |
Baily, W. H. | (2) |
Lyell, Charles | (2) |
Bentham, George | (1) |
Darwin, C. R. | (42) |
Weir, J. J. | (5) |
Bentham, George | (3) |
Farrer, T. H. | (3) |
Lyell, Charles | (3) |