Appreciative response to ARW’s "grand review" of Descent in the Academy [2 (1871–2): 177–82]. Comments in detail on ARW’s criticisms.
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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.
Appreciative response to ARW’s "grand review" of Descent in the Academy [2 (1871–2): 177–82]. Comments in detail on ARW’s criticisms.
On the flourishing sales of their respective books. Mentions reviews of Descent in Pall Mall Gazette [21 Mar 1871] and in the Spectator [11 Mar 1871, pp. 288–9; 18 Mar 1871, pp. 319–20].
Thanks EBT for present of Primitive culture [1871]. Feels certain he will regret not having read it before writing Descent.
Sends a small apparatus from Sarawak for getting fire.
Explains why he has declined writing a review for Messrs Appleton.
Requests advice about Chauncey Wright’s article on Mivart’s Genesis of species [North Am. Rev. 113 (1871): 64–103]. CD thinks of publishing it as a pamphlet to counter impact of Mivart’s criticism of natural selection.
CD is allowing his family to decide whether Chauncey Wright’s paper on Mivart is dull.
Health and despondency.
Doubts his ability to answer Mivart successfully [in 6th ed. of Origin].
On a "remarkable" letter from Fritz Müller [see 7820] about mimicry, protection, and sexual selection.
Opinions on Descent.
Sexual selection and mimicry in Lepidoptera; sexual selection as an aid to protective imitation.
An affectionate letter to HL on her honeymoon. Urges her to keep her mother as an example.
CD most interested by Primitive culture [1871]. Impressed by EBT’s account of development of religious beliefs and of the survival of old customs. Hopes EBT will treat morals.
CD advises publishing a short version of Primitive culture [1871] for the general reader.
Would like to see EBT, but his health has been bad and conversation is extremely tiring.
Sends a copy of Orchids for his wife, T. M. Story-Maskelyne, and a few other items she may wish to have.
Climbing Plants may be purchased at Williams and Norgate; he has no clean copies.
Sends MS of section on voice as a means of expression [Expression, pp. 86–93]. CD is dissatisfied with it – wishes he could avoid the subject.
Queries about the pitch of children’s crying.
On ARW’s "crushing" review [Nature 6 (1872): 237–9] of C. R. Bree’s An exposition of fallacies in the hypothesis of Mr Darwin.
Comments on other reviews and exchanges.
Detailed response to reading of Bastian’s Beginnings of life [1872]. On the whole, it seems probable to CD that spontaneous generation is true.
Huxley’s report of Bastian’s having watched the development of the scale of Sphagnum. The importance of studies of possible causes of heterogenesis.
Remarks about an enclosed specimen,
and extract of letter from W. A. L. Marshall [8560].
ARW’s good review of J. C. Houzeau de Lehaie [Études sur les facultés mentales des animaux, in Nature 6 (1872): 469–71].
Requests the address of F. F. Geach so that he may send him his book [Expression].