From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
John Edward Gray
Date:
19 Jan [1856]
Source of text:
British Museum (Department of the Middle East, correspondence 1826–67: 1491)
Summary:
Is obliged for JEG’s assistance.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
John Stevens Henslow
Date:
22 Jan [1856]
Source of text:
DAR 93: A108–A109
Summary:
Alphonse de Candolle’s Géographie botanique [raisonnée (1855)] strikes him as a wonderful, admirable work.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Walter Elliot
Date:
23 Jan 1856
Source of text:
American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.123)
Summary:
Requests WE’s measurements of tigers.
Asks about a work on domestic pigeons in an Eastern language. Will consult [Ayeen Akbery or, the institutes of the Emperor Akber, trans. from Persian by Francis Gladwin, 2 vols. (1777, 1800)].
Asks for specimen skins of domestic pigeons and poultry. [See Variation 1: 205.]
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Katharine Murray Horner; Katharine Murray Lyell
Date:
26 Jan [1856]
Source of text:
American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.124)
Summary:
Suggests that J. E. Gray and/or G. R. Waterhouse might be willing to set her butterfly collection. Recommends that her children should collect their own butterflies.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
John Phillips
Date:
28 Jan [1856]
Source of text:
Oxford University Museum of Natural History Archive Collections (John Phillips collection))
Summary:
Thanks JP for beautiful book [? The rivers, mountains and sea-coast of Yorkshire, 2d ed. (1855)].
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
William Yarrell
Date:
6 [Feb 1856]
Source of text:
Cleveland Health Sciences Library (Robert M. Stecher collection)
Summary:
"The Pigeons are all quite well".
Sends thanks to Mrs Cotton.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Samuel Birch
Date:
6 Feb [1856]
Source of text:
British Museum (Department of the Middle East, correspondence 1826–67: 1492)
Summary:
Is grateful for SB’s note and assistance. Will call upon him in London in a fortnight.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Miles Joseph Berkeley
Date:
29 Feb [1856]
Source of text:
Shropshire Archives (SA 6001/134/45)
Summary:
Preparing paper on seed-soaking for Linnean Society ["Action of sea-water on seeds", Collected papers 1: 264–73]. Wants to use MJB’s results. Lost ardour when he found seeds would not float.
Has grown MJB’s purest pea seeds and got a few variants. Gärtner’s experiments suggest direct action of pollen, but CD thinks it is "mere variation".
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
George Henry Kendrick Thwaites
Date:
8 Mar 1856
Source of text:
American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.125)
Summary:
Hopes GHKT will publish on variations in plant species at different elevations. Asks about variations among plants on heights of Ceylon.
Promises to publish on the species question.
Asks for pigeons’ skins from India or Ceylon, and for ducks’ skeletons. Mentions help promised by E. F. Kelaart.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Syms Covington
Date:
9 Mar 1856
Source of text:
Sydney Mail , 9 August 1884, p. 255
Summary:
Thanks SC for his interesting account of the state of the colony. SC was wise to settle there where his sons have much better prospects.
Has finished his book on barnacles [1854]. Royal Medal awarded him chiefly for this work.
Asks SC whether he has observed any odd imported breeds of poultry, for his work on variation of species.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Herbert Spencer
Date:
11 Mar [1856]
Source of text:
DAR 147: 484a
Summary:
Thanks for copy of HS’s Principles of psychology [1855].
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Samuel Birch
Date:
[12 Mar 1856]
Source of text:
British Museum (Department of the Middle East, correspondence 1826–67: 1489)
Summary:
Arranges an appointment.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
William Bernhard Tegetmeier
Date:
15 Mar [1856]
Source of text:
Archives of the New York Botanical Garden (Charles Finney Cox Collection)
Summary:
Asks WBT to try to purchase some specific pigeons.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
William Darwin Fox
Date:
15 Mar [1856]
Source of text:
Christ’s College Library, Cambridge (MS 53 Fox 97)
Summary:
Believes WDF’s case of mongrel Scotch deerhound is very valuable for him.
Mentions his work on pigeons and chickens.
Fears sometimes he will break down: "My subject gets bigger and bigger".
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Miles Joseph Berkeley
Date:
18 Mar [1856]
Source of text:
Joseph R. Sakmyster, ADS Autographs (dealer) (no date)
Summary:
Thanks MJB for information which he is including in his article for the Linnean Society.
Refers to the peas "which produce the black or intensely purple pods". [See 1834 and 1836.]
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
William Bernhard Tegetmeier
Date:
20 Mar [1856]
Source of text:
Archives of the New York Botanical Garden (Charles Finney Cox Collection)
Summary:
Discusses various pigeons and would welcome receiving any odd breed. Some pigeons have died from overeating bag salt.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Charles John (Carl Johann) Andersson
Date:
25 Mar [1856]
Source of text:
National Library of South Africa, Cape Town
Summary:
Thanks for proof sheets of Lake Ngami: or, exploration and discoveries during four years’ wanderings in the wilds of South Western Africa (Andersson 1856).
Is very grateful for the information CJA has provided about cattle in South Africa, and wishes to ask further questions about native breeds.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Thomas Henry Huxley
Date:
2 Apr [1856]
Source of text:
Imperial College of Science, Technology, and Medicine Archives (Huxley 5: 46)
Summary:
Invitation to THH and wife to come to Down to meet H. C. Watson, T. V. Wollaston, and the Hookers.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Walter Baldock Durrant Mantell
Date:
3 Apr [1856]
Source of text:
Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand (Mantell papers, MS-Papers-0083-268)
Summary:
Reminds WBDM of his promise of information about the quartz boulders and an iceberg with fragment of rock seen in southern ocean.
Sends other questions [on separate sheet (missing)] which WBDM will think ridiculous, but all bear on plants and animals under domestication.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
Date:
8 Apr [1856]
Source of text:
DAR 114: 160
Summary:
Mustering support at Royal Society Council for John Lindley’s Copley Medal. CD thinks Albany Hancock deserves a Royal Medal.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
