Discusses blushing. CD believes confusion of mind alone can account for it. Sends MS for JC-B’s comments and corrections.
Showing 41–60 of 103 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.
Discusses blushing. CD believes confusion of mind alone can account for it. Sends MS for JC-B’s comments and corrections.
Reports further observations on contraction of platysma. Has been assisted by J. Wood. [See Expression, pp. 302, 303.]
Has no idea who wrote the Times review [of Descent]. Writer has no knowledge of science and "seems a windbag full of metaphysics & classics".
Corroborates and offers explanation of fact that male ghost-moths (Hepialis humuli) closely resemble females. [See Descent 1: 402.]
Reports safe arrival of rabbits.
Is reading Descent.
Encloses some answers to CD’s queries about expressions of Laura Bridgman.
Cannot provide comment on GF’s paper for publication. Hopes GF will publish in Nature. Will consider his remarks when revising book [Descent].
Thanks for FPC’s book (presumablyAlone to the alone: prayers for theists (Cobbe ed. 1871)).
CD much interested in article ‘Darwinism in morals’ in the Theological Review (Cobbe 1871).
CDs and FPC’s views on moral sense in hive bees, and an article in the Pall Mal Gazette ([Morley] 1871b).
Comments on JM’s review of Descent, vol. 2 [Pall Mall Gaz. 13 (1871): 1358–9].
Mistake CD made "in speaking of greatest happiness as the foundation of morals" is unintelligible to CD. Discusses J. S. Mill’s view of moral feelings as natural. Discusses basis of conscience.
Glad to read remarks on hive-bees.
Sends German edition of Descent, vol. 1. Expects good sale. Hopes CD will offer him additional books to publish.
Objects to the negative reviews of Descent, notably in the Athenæum and the Times.
The exceptions are the Academy, Nature, and his own, in the Field [37 (1871): 210].
Thanks for the report of CLB’s lecture about Descent to the New York Liberal Club on 3 March 1871.
Sends four photographs of himself for the sculptor J. W. A. MacDonald.
Answers to questions about expression.
Is sending notes on blushing. Offers information on physiology and pathology of blushing.
Has sent photograph of seven imbeciles in one family.
Thanks for the information about the passages in Xenophon and Horace.
Encloses two questions he hopes MF can answer: the mechanism of transmission by nerves; and the mechanism by which contemplating part of our body, we become conscious of its existence
Raises two points on CD’s view, in Descent [2: 229], on how aquatic birds acquire white plumage.
Also remarks on effect of will in certain human modifications,
on colour-blindness in his children,
and on ability to move his ears.
Gratified that CD approves his analysis of CD’s views of moral sense. Does not think there is a fundamental difference between J. S. Mill (Utilitarianism [1863], p. 45) and CD.
His view of those who object to CD’s "new doctrine of the moral sense".
Man’s spiritual life separates him from other animals.
Why are moths attracted, often fatally, to lights?
Thanks for copy of Descent.
Has had Hinrich Nitsche’s pointed ear photographed. Nitsche also has photographed the ear of a foetal orang. [See Descent 1: 21–3.]