More on W. Graham’s book, The creed of science. Chance and design. Happiness.
E. A. Darwin’s death [26 Aug 1881].
More on W. Graham’s book, The creed of science. Chance and design. Happiness.
E. A. Darwin’s death [26 Aug 1881].
Thanks CTW for his letter [125]. "I do not think I ever received a more kind letter than yours or one that gave me so much pleasure.— You ought to have in your mind, the prospect of leaving England for 3 or 4 years before you can understand how to enjoy such a letter from such a person as yourself—". Regarding the voyage, "all is finally settled, & I have sealed away about half a chance of life.— If one lived merely to see how long one could spin out life,—I should repent my choice.— As it is I do not.—"
Thanks CTW for four fungi which have arrived.
Asks to borrow an old pair of GN’s dissecting scissors so that Weiss & Co. can use it as a model.
Health has been poor.
Has finished MS on pedunculated cirripedes for Ray Society [Living Cirripedia, vol. 1 (1851)].
Returns scissors with thanks.
Young John Lubbock who has a strong taste for dissecting insects would benefit greatly from conversation with GN.
Sends cheque for subscription [£20].
Expresses his strong opinion that Huxley’s paper ["Agamic reproduction and morphology of Aphis", Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 22 (1858): 193–220, 221–36] should be published.
Thanks JDH and Lyell for the actions they have taken with respect to ARW’s and CD’s papers. Considers himself fortunate to have been given any merit for his work. Is pleased that his correspondence has led to the earlier publication of CD’s work. It would have caused him "much pain & regret" if CD had made ARW’s paper public unaccompanied by his own views.
CD is pleased by BP’s appreciative opinion of Origin. He never intended to claim that he originated the doctrine that species have not been independently created. The only novelty in his work is the attempt to explain how species became modified and how the theory of descent explains large classes of facts. If he has taken anything from BP, he has done so unconsciously. Gives names of those he would have mentioned in any account of authors who maintained that species have not been separately created.
CD greatly admires BP’s Philosophy of creation.
To avoid possible misundertanding of his letter [2654] of that morning, CD wishes to make clear that he did not wish to imply that BP’s essay and the Vestiges of creation were in the same class. The more he thinks of it the more difficult he feels it would be to give a fair account of the authors who have maintained the modification of species. CD finds that he referred to BP’s views in the preface to his larger work [Natural selection], which was replaced by the Origin.
Will be glad to have SPW’s criticisms of Origin.
Discusses his use of terms, "typical" and "specialisation".
Emphasises large body of facts explained by his theory of species.
Gives observations on the habits of the "agricultural ant" of Texas.
Reports on the habits of the cutting ant of Texas, particularly its habit of planting shade trees to protect its mound from sun.
Sends two letters from G. Lincecum about ants ("perhaps the most marvellous instinct ever recorded") for possible publication. [See Gideon Lincecum, "The habits of the ""agricultural ants"" of Texas", J. Proc. Linn. Soc. Lond. (Zool.) 6 (1862): 29–31.]
"You are most perfectly welcome to Fragmenta [F. J. H. von Mueller Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae (1858–64)], & I shall be delighted if they are of the slightest use to you."
Sends paper to be read ["Sexual forms of Catasetum", Collected papers 2: 63–70].
Asks that referee of his [Catasetum] paper be informed that if it is ordered to be printed he will borrow woodcuts. But if referee thinks fit, he will withdraw it, for almost all will be published in Orchids. He is not willing to spare time to condense it.
Requests all parts of Transactions due him.
Asks [Secretary] to list the proper titles of foreign societies of which he is an honorary member; he has mislaid diplomas.
F. Hildebrand, in his recent article [Bot. Ztg. 10 (1866): 73–8], describes what GH showed CD about Indigofera’s irritability.
Introduces Syms Covington and recommends him for employment in Australia.