Returns MS [of biography for Dictionary of contemporary biography (1861)]. Part was inaccurate, and there was an important omission so CD has had a new copy made.
Showing 1–20 of 90 items
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.
Returns MS [of biography for Dictionary of contemporary biography (1861)]. Part was inaccurate, and there was an important omission so CD has had a new copy made.
Declines the honour of acting as Steward at the Annual Dinner of the Royal Literary Fund.
Much obliged for note from Alexander von Keyserling. Geologist going one inch with CD more important than naturalist going two or three.
Pleasure in ARW’s approbation of the Origin. Other supporters among scientists. ARW’s generosity.
Attacks by Owen, Sedgwick, and others.
Anticipation of natural selection by Matthew in 1830.
Gives directions to Down. Would be happy to see SPW but regrets they "have no attractions".
Agrees about colonisation of Arctic region.
CD thought that his St Helena land shells had quite recently become embedded; his specimens are at the Geological Society.
Can SPW ask A. Günther for any references to Silurus escaping from the Danube?
CD is not surprised at CC’s entire rejection of his views. Agrees that there is no direct proof of unlimited variation. Says natural selection should be viewed as comparable to wave theory of light: it is probable because it groups and explains a host of facts in several fields of science.
Agrees Louis Agassiz’s review [Am. J. Sci. 2d ser. 30 (1860): 142–55] is not unfair, but Agassiz misunderstands CD. His "categories of thought" are to CD merely empty words.
Declines the honour of acting as Steward at the Annual Dinner of the Royal Literary Fund.
Quarterly Review piece written by Bishop Wilberforce with aid of Owen.
Other reviews mentioned.
Health.
Family illnesses.
On disposition of wild honeycomb gift.
Discounts the difficulty presented by ostrich wings.
Baffling problems with Melastoma. Appreciates ARW’s help with it and the "gorze case".
Has read report of ARW’s paper [to Newcastle BAAS meeting, "On the geographical distribution of animal life"] in the Reader [2 (1863): 352–3].
[No informatiion about content.]
Asa Gray’s high opinion of ARW as a reviewer [reference to S. Haughton’s paper on bees’ cells, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. 3d ser. 11 (1863): 415–29, reviewed by ARW in "Remarks on the Rev. S. Haughton’s paper", Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. 3d ser. 12 (1863): 303–9].
Response to ARW’s papers on Papilionidae ["On the phenomena of variation and geographical distribution", Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 25 (1866): 1–71; abstract in Reader 3 (1864): 491–3],
and man ["The origin of human races", J. Anthropol. Soc. Lond. 2 (1864): clviii–clxxxvi].
The former is "really admirable" and will be influential.
The idea of the man paper is striking and new. Minor points of difference. Conjectures regarding racial differences; the possible correlation between complexion and constitution. His Query to Army surgeons to determine this point. Offers ARW his notes on man, which CD doubts he will be able to use.
On sexual selection in "our aristocracy"; primogeniture is a scheme for destroying natural selection.
[Letter incorrectly dated March by CD.]
Short reply to ARW’s long letter. Reaffirms belief in sexual selection.
Postscript on M.-J.-P. Flourens’ "little dull book against me" [Examen du livre de M. Darwin (1864)].
Commends ARW’s papers on parrots
and on the theory of geographical distribution [see 4750].
Wild pigs in Aru Islands must have been introduced and later ran wild. Does ARW have an opinion on the subject?
Exchange of photographs.
Aru pigs present perplexing case, whether wild or domesticated.
Has read and admires FM’s work on species.
Observations on Crustacea are good and original; asks FM to dissect and check some of CD’s observations on cirripedes.
Has sent "Climbing plants" paper [J. Proc. Linn. Soc. Lond. 9 (1865): 1–118] and would like to send Orchids.
Thanks for interesting letter on climbing plants.
FM’s view on Anelasma seems probable.
Difficulty quoted by FM from A. Agassiz on embryology of Echinodermata is quite beyond CD.
Crests as inherited variations; domesticated birds.
Belief in value of travel journals.
Current reading.
Thanks SB for his Evidence [for the resurrection of Jesus Christ (1865)], the main argument of which is new to CD. He particularly agrees with the preface.
Has been confined to his bedroom for the last five months.