Would welcome hearing Cambridge news. Impossible not to regret friends and pleasures in England, but
has much solid enjoyment and never-failing interest in geology. Tells of his first sight of a savage.
Would welcome hearing Cambridge news. Impossible not to regret friends and pleasures in England, but
has much solid enjoyment and never-failing interest in geology. Tells of his first sight of a savage.
CD is excited by JSH’s high opinion of his collections.
Discusses his notes and some new discoveries. Summary of events since leaving Falklands.
Geology of Patagonia.
Corallines at Tierra del Fuego convince him of artificiality of arrangement of their families by Lamarck and Cuvier.
Geological expedition in Andes, ending with serious illness. Specimens being sent.
Thanks CD for letter of 5 April and specimens; did not know the Falklands and Patagonia were so interesting geologically.
Will answer CD’s queries about S. Brazil in another letter. Names Friedrich Sellow, A. Saint-Hilaire, and Andrew Mathews as naturalists who travelled there. Directs CD to Alexander Caldcleugh in Santiago.
Recounts his trip [from Valparaiso] to Santiago. His meeting with Claude Gay, Thomas Sutcliffe, and others. Geology of tour uninteresting.
Gives a map of part of Chile between Santiago and San Fernando. Suggests places and people that CD might profitably visit [en route].
Heights of various places in Chile.
CD is unwell.
FitzRoy has dispatched two casks of bones and stones, a box with "very valuable specimens", and a large jar.
WDF sends news of his activities and of his family.
Sends two boxes of specimens and part of his "hum-drum letter-like" journal.
The Langtons will go to Madeira for the winter. E. A. Darwin and the Hensleigh Wedgwoods enjoyed a stay in Cambridge, where they saw Professors Whewell and Sedgwick. Colonel Leighton has died. The King has dismissed the Whig Ministry; Wellington is Premier, and the country is in a strange state.
Replies to CD’s letter [250], giving news of himself and mutual friends.
Met Capt. Harding who said FitzRoy was promoted to Post-Captain.
News of family and friends. Forthcoming marriages of Robert Wedgwood and Tom Eyton.
Sends CD large beetles from Chiloé.
Describes an earthquake at Caucague.
Gives exact location and measurements of two blocks of granite; has seen and heard of others; will report if he surveys the Potrero on Chiloé.
Congratulates WDF on his marriage,
reminisces about Cambridge and early entomology. Now neglects entomology for geology.
Describes Concepción after earthquake.
Hopes to cross Cordilleras before they leave South America in September.
The termination of the voyage has been decided – September 1836.
The earthquake of Concepción.
His geological observations (since November). Can now prove both sides of the Andes have recently risen to considerable heights.
Zoological collection.
Plans to cross the Cordilleras.
Has just returned from crossing the Cordilleras. Geological observations of formations representing great epochs of violence which broke up the earth’s crust. Shells at over 12000 feet. Silicified trees in sandstone formations at great heights. Red snow and viviparous lizards. Botanical specimens.
His trip across the Andes and back was his most successful excursion: can clearly demonstate that the western part of the double line of mountains is much older, with fossil shells at 12000ft; the eastern line may be as modern as the Patagonian plains. If proved, this is an important fact in the theory of the formation of the world. Has found petrified trees.
Gives details of his observations which lend support to the view that Chile is rising with respect to the sea. Reports some observations and opinions with regard to earthquakes and volcanic action in the area.
Greatly enjoyed CD’s company; has worried about his health. Adds some European and English news.
Instructions for a journey to the sulphur deposits of the Valle de la Coipa.
Describes volcanic formations capping granite hills from Copiapò to Atacama [Chile]. [See South America, pp. 230–1.]