Has had some misgivings about the memorial but now thinks his fears were vain and cowardly. Regrets R. I. Murchison was not told in advance. His low opinion of the Government and B. Disraeli.
Showing 61–80 of 172 items
The Charles Darwin Collection
The Darwin Correspondence Project is publishing letters written by and to the naturalist Charles Darwin (1809–1882). Complete transcripts of letters are being made available through the Project’s website (www.darwinproject.ac.uk) after publication in the ongoing print edition of The Correspondence of Charles Darwin (Cambridge University Press 1985–). Metadata and summaries of all known letters (c. 15,000) appear in Ɛpsilon, and the full texts of available letters can also be searched, with links to the full texts.
Has had some misgivings about the memorial but now thinks his fears were vain and cowardly. Regrets R. I. Murchison was not told in advance. His low opinion of the Government and B. Disraeli.
Sends THH questions about "serial homologies" and "vegetative repetition" in Mollusca and Radiata.
Abstract volume [Origin] nearly completed.
Thanks for THH’s examples of serially modified and homologous parts in Radiata. Cannot understand how he forgot such cases.
Agassiz’s Essay on classification [1859] utterly impracticable rubbish.
THH should understand that CD’s hypothesis [natural selection] has as many flaws and holes as sound parts. The question is whether CD’s rag of a hypothesis is worth anything. A poor rag is better than nothing to carry one’s fruit to market.
Extended discussion of their respective difficulties with the definition and status of species and with the extent to which the theory of transmutation may be applied.
Has rediscovered S. S. Haldeman’s 1844 paper defending the transmutation theory with great skill.
Asks for reference to Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire’s first enunciation of the progressive development and transmutation theory.
Origin is finished.
Asks for names of foreign speculative naturalists.
Hopes THH will think he is on right road despite errors.
THH’s letter about the Origin makes CD feel like a Catholic who has received extreme unction. Can now sing nunc dimittis. Had determined to abide by judgment of Lyell, Hooker, and THH.
Problem of how variations arise at all troubles him also.
Rejoices over THH’s lecture ["On species and races, and their origin", 10 Feb 1860, Not. Proc. R. Inst. G. B. 3 (1858–62): 195–200] to be given at Royal Institution. Offers pigeon illustrations.
Adam Sedgwick has sent a "slashing" letter [2548] about Origin.
Sends references for materials useful for THH’s lecture.
Breeding and crossing. Pigeon fanciers.
Responses to Origin: A. C. Ramsay, Charles Kingsley, Quatrefages de Bréau.
Thanks for THH’s review of Origin in Macmillan’s Magazine ["Time and life: Mr Darwin’s Origin of Species", 1 (1859–60): 142–8]. Reception of natural selection will depend on whether it explains the recognised laws in the several fields of natural history.
Domestic variation.
Sends anecdotes and drawings of pigeons for Royal Institution lecture. Offers parts on hybridisation and pigeons from his MS (if THH has patience to read them).
Has heard George Busk is converted.
Will bring materials for Royal Institution lecture [when he comes to London].
Plans to bring out separate detailed volumes [on his theory], starting with domestic variation.
Henry Holland and others have attacked his reasoning from analogy to one primordial created form – by which CD means only that we know nothing of how life originated. The reasoning seems probable to him, so he has kept it in.
Delighted with Times review [26 Dec 1859]. Puzzled by author, suspects THH, but publication in Times makes it unlikely. Sorry for Owen.
Will keep THH’s secret [of authorship of Times review of Origin]. It has made deep impression.
J. D. Dana’s illness.
Daily News accuses him of plagiarising Vestiges.
Sends ticket to pigeon show.
A quotation from Erasmus Darwin’s Zoonomia [1794, 1796] shows that he anticipated Lamarck.
G. Grote impressed by Times review [26 Dec 1859, p. 8].
On the problem of want of sterility in crosses of domestic varieties. Refers to discussion in Origin, pp. 267–72 ["Fertility of varieties when crossed"]. We do not know precise cause of sterility in species.
Andrew Murray has attacked Origin [see 2647].
H. C. Watson objects to natural selection on grounds of limitless diversification of species.
THH’s efforts to obtain Copley Medal for CD fail. Thanks THH for kind words of sympathy.
Has arranged with Baily the poulterer for pigeons for THH to exhibit at Royal Institution lecture.
E. A. Darwin will subscribe to H. Spencer’s book [First principles: a system of philosophy (1862)].
H. G. Bronn offers to superintend a German translation of Origin.
Bronn has reviewed Origin [Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie (1860), p. 112].