From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
William Erasmus Darwin
Date:
[5 May 1859]
Source of text:
DAR 210.6: 43
Summary:
Discusses WED’s plans for the summer.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
Date:
3 May [1859]
Source of text:
DAR 115: 13
Summary:
CD favours occurrence of reversions, although lack of experiments forces one to vague opinions. Reversions oppose only the inheritance not the occurrence of variation. Discusses relation of reversion, direct influence of conditions, and selection.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Whitwell Elwin
To:
John Murray
Date:
3 May 1859
Source of text:
National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms. 42197)
Summary:
Charles Lyell has asked WE to pass his opinions on the MS of Origin to CD via Murray. WE is convinced of the value of CD’s researches but "to put forth the theory without the evidence", as in the MS, "would do grievous injustice to his views". The omission of these facts reduces both the philosophical and popular value of the work, by virtue of its dryness.
Supports Charles Lyell’s suggestion that CD should first publish his observations on pigeons with a theoretical outline, for "[e]very body is interested in pigeons". Such a work would generate wider interest and be better understood. A subsequent, larger book would then be approached with impartiality "not to say favour" by a wider public.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
Date:
6 May [1859]
Source of text:
DAR 115: 14
Summary:
JDH’s comments on style of Origin MS leave CD confused.
CD advises on how to get Acacia to set seed.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
John Murray
Date:
6 May [1859]
Source of text:
National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42152 ff.57–57A)
Summary:
CD is convinced that the suggestions [for the Origin?] of both Lyell and Whitwell Elwyn are impracticable.
Will send first six chapters of MS next week. Has taken such pains with it that he hopes corrections will not be heavy.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
John Murray
Date:
10 May [1859]
Source of text:
National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42153 ff.56–57)
Summary:
Sends first six chapters [of Origin] for the press. Asks JM to urge printer to keep well ahead of CD so as not to waste time. This is important for his health’s sake.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
Date:
11 May [1859]
Source of text:
DAR 115: 15
Summary:
JDH finds style of CD’s MS obscure.
CD wary of JDH’s starting point on variability: it is not inherent, it does not lead necessarily to divergence, and it must be distinguished from inheritance.
Asa Gray has misread CD’s views on pre-glacial migrations and botched the subject.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
John Murray
Date:
14 May [1859]
Source of text:
National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42152 ff.40–40A)
Summary:
Approves specimen sheet [of Origin]. Sorry book will be so long. Has now written half of last chapter; it is as long as his estimate of the entire chapter. Now thinks it will run to 6000 or 7000 words. Will do his utmost to improve his style. Anxious to publish soon; he knows of two men already writing on the subject, starting from his Linnean Society paper ["On the tendency of species to form varieties", Collected papers 2: 3–19]. Will send a diagram for the book.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
Date:
18 [May 1859]
Source of text:
DAR 115: 16
Summary:
Too ill to examine proofs of JDH’s Flora Tasmaniae [The botany of the Antarctic voyage, pt III].
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
John Murray
Date:
18 May [1859]
Source of text:
John Wilson (dealer) (no date)
Summary:
His health has suddenly failed. He is leaving home for one week’s rest.
Has informed William Clowes that he will begin correcting on the 27th.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
Date:
[26 May 1859]
Source of text:
DAR 115: 17
Summary:
Returning from Moor Park. CD will take up proofs of JDH’s Flora Tasmaniae.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
John Murray
Date:
31 May [1859]
Source of text:
National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42152 ff.41–42)
Summary:
CD’s diagram [for chapter on "Divergence of character", Origin] is indispensable.
Finds he will have to make many corrections, his text is so obscure.
A week of hydropathy at Moor Park has done him a world of good.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Grand Duke Leopold of Tuscany
To:
Mary Somerville
Date:
31 May 1859
Source of text:
MSL 3 / 106, Dep. c. 371, Bod, MS
Summary:
No summary available.
Contributor:
Brigitte Stenhouse
From:
George [Hamilton]-Gordon
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[17 May 1859]
Source of text:
RS:HS 9.104
Summary:
The B.A.A.S. meeting is to be held at Aberdeen and would be pleased to accommodate JH should he be attending the meeting. Will not be going himself.
Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
Matwei Matwejewitsch Gussew
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[10 May 1859]
Source of text:
RS:HS 9.151
Summary:
Had a card to visit Greenwich Observatory the same day as he received JH's letter so was unable to visit him.
Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
Thomas Nelson, Jr.
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[12 May 1859]
Source of text:
RS:HS 13.148
Summary:
Sending a section of their new atlas of the world, which includes some new features. Would like JH's comments. Will send the complete work when published if JH would like to see it.
Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
Sir John Herschel
To:
Thomas Nelson, Jr.
Date:
[19 May 1859]
Source of text:
RS:HS 13.149
Summary:
Is much obliged for the gift of the new atlas. Has never seen an atlas so clearly and beautifully executed. Comments on various points. Wishes that the usual parallels of latitude and longitude had been included.
Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
Sir John Herschel
To:
George Gabriel Stokes
Date:
[13 May 1859]
Source of text:
Cambridge University Library 7656/H696
Summary:
On some changes to the report on paper by William Pole [see JH's 1859-4-24]. Describes some experiments carried out with colored 'prismatic' light.
Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
Sir John Herschel
To:
George Gabriel Stokes
Date:
[21 May 1859]
Source of text:
Cambridge University Library 7656/H697
Summary:
Additional comments on William Pole's paper [see JH's 1859-5-13]; adds comments lost from JH's paper on sound.
Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
George Gabriel Stokes
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[23 May 1859]
Source of text:
RS:HS 17.37
Summary:
Comments on the effect of intensity of illumination on the distinctness of the spectrum.
Contributor:
John Herschel Project