Showing 21–40 of 80 items
Orchids taking up all his time.
He longs to be at work again on poultry and rabbits.
On effect of external conditions: CD thinks all variability due to changes in conditions of life because there is more variability under unnatural domestic conditions than under nature, and changed conditions affect the reproductive organs. But why one seedling out of thousands presents some new character transcends the wildest powers of conjecture.
Not shaken by "saltus" – he had examined all cases of normal structure resembling monstrosities which appear per saltum. Has fought his tendency to attribute too much to natural selection; perhaps he has too much conquered it.
Lighthearted thoughts on "the development of an Aristocracy" after a visit to Walcot Hall, Shropshire.
On CD’s point about the effect of changed conditions on the reproductive organs, JDH does not see why this is not "itself a variation, not necessarily induced by domestication, but accompanying some variety artificially selected".
Asks JDH to correct names of two species of Calanthe.
Note from Asa Gray ends "Yours cordially", so CD hopes he is forgiven.
His Catasetum paper will be read 3 Apr [Collected papers 2: 63–70].
Plants and seeds sent will be of great use, especially Lythrum, which according to J. P. E. Vaucher seems grand case of trimorphism. Asks what sort of man Vaucher is.
Identifies Calanthe masuca.
Asa Gray would not quarrel with them – "snubbing from us may have done him more good than our sympathy".
If CD means the old Vaucher, he was considered a very accurate, acute, able observer.
Writes with an important fact about the parallel roads of Glen Roy. The watershed at Makoul corresponds with the lowermost of the Glen Roy lines. Over a stretch of 20 miles from east to west the lowermost of the Glen Roy lines is near parallel with the present sea level.
Both JDH’s and Bates’s letters are excellent. JDH has said all that can be said against direct effect of conditions, but CD still sticks to his own and Bates’s side. CD should have done what JDH suggests (since naturally he is pleased to attribute little to conditions) – viz., started on the fundamental principle that variation is innate and stated that afterwards, perhaps, this principle would be made explicable. Variation will show that "use and disuse" have some effect. Does not believe in perfect reversion. Demurs at JDH’s "centrifugal variation"; the doctrine of the good of diversification amply accounts for variation being centrifugal.
The wonderful mechanism of Mormodes ignea.
Gives CD advice on the illness of one of his sons [presumably Horace].
Variations are centrifugal because the chances are a million to one that identity of form once lost will return.
In the human race, we find no reversion "that would lead us to confound a man with his ancestors".
CD can add revisions since he cannot begin work on 2d German ed. of Origin until May.
Schweizerbart wants to publish translation of Orchids. Asks for woodcuts for illustrations.
Will forward TFJ’s letter to Charles Lyell.
Gives up the marine theory [of the parallel roads of Glen Roy] for ‘ever & ever’, but ‘with a groan’.
Will try to come to Linnean Society to read his paper, but has been "extra headachy". Fears his paper ["Sexual forms of Catasetum", Collected papers 2: 63–70] will not be worth Lindley’s attendance.
Has been reading J. D. Morell’s new book on psychology [An introduction to mental philosophy, on the inductive method (1862)].
Progress of the Civil War.
[List of plants in CD’s hand, with notes by JDH identifying them.]
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About the solution of algebraic equations and JH's previous work on this topic.
Is grateful to JH for calling attention to his paper on analysis. Has forwarded his letter to George Boole. Hopes he can quote it in his paper for the Manchester Philosophical Society. Sends a copy of his memoir from the R.S.P.T.
Encloses slips to show how he has incorporated the Julian dates. Agrees with the American lunar tables. The nebula in Taurus is invisible to William Lassell.