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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.
Has procured a Passiflora flower at last. Structure suited for humming-birds rather than bees.
Returning CD’s books.
Sympathises with women’s lot in life.
Forgot to send books.
Saw Miss [Henrietta] Darwin; chastised her for being out when book [Descent] has not yet appeared.
Parallel between CD’s account of morality [in Descent], of social instinct preceding selfishness, and Henry Maine’s account of notions of property of a community preceding individual property [in Ancient law (1861)].
On private property, with regard to tools and arms; comments on Maine’s book and the history of law regarding property.
Observations on orchids. Ophrys apifera; confirms CD’s observation on pollinia. The nesting of ducks in trees is an example of change of instinct and habit.
Sorry he will be away when CD comes down.
Congratulations on Henrietta Darwin’s engagement.
Asks CD for seeds of some plants.
Suggests possible experiments with Pisum and Lathyrus.
Has read the article CD spoke of; the doctrine of inherited mental and corporeal qualities is most fertile.
Observations on Coronilla.
Hopes affairs will enable him to get back to flowers.
Huxley’s letter [about the fund raised for him] was noble. Would like to have seen CD’s to him.
Observations on effect of water on leaves.
Coronilla.
Further observations concerning the fertilisation of Coronilla by bees.
Reflections concerning the influence of cultivation (i.e., ploughing) upon variation.
Payne will send vine cuttings.
Thomas Belt has been visiting; they are to meet Huxley.
He is moved by denudation of the Weald.
Describes difficulty of conditions for the experiment with Drosera suggested by THF.
Thanks THF for information from Colonial Office on population statistics showing the inhabitants of some areas are far from becoming sterile.
THF is seeking advice regarding the selection of an entomologist to carry out some duties [apparently pest destruction].
CD is delighted with report from THF about activity of worms in Roman-British ruins at Abinger.
Thanks THF for the diary of worm activity at Abinger site.
THF would do a good deal if he gets Agricultural Society to rear cross-fertilised seeds. Society excellent channel for distribution of fungus-proof variety [of potato]. If James Torbitt will carry on work another year, CD will offer him £100.