Gladstone’s private secretary [West] has written that the Government plans to alter JDH’s position with regard to the First Commissioner of Works [Ayrton].
Huxley is not better after his Brighton trip.
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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.
Gladstone’s private secretary [West] has written that the Government plans to alter JDH’s position with regard to the First Commissioner of Works [Ayrton].
Huxley is not better after his Brighton trip.
William [Hooker] is in first division of matriculation list of London University.
Other family news.
No news on Ayrton affair. Ayrton has taken staff appointments out of JDH’s hands.
Asks whether CD knows about Zizania aquatica – can hardly believe it is an annual.
Sends a communication [missing] from Gov. J. H. Lefroy of Bermuda.
The die is cast on Ayrton affair. Lord Derby has called for all of the correspondence, as a result of pressure by men of science on JDH’s behalf.
Has just had a Greenland collection, which supports his views altogether; "I am ready to do fight for these with you."
More on Ayrton affair. Conduct of Gladstone and the Ministry despicable. They have owned him to be in right but will not raise a finger until exposure in Parliament is imminent.
Expects the memorial to make Gladstone frantic. Government regrets granting Lord Derby the correspondence and Lubbock has been advised to postpone calling for it in Lower House. This looks fishy. Is exhausted by the affair.
Kew’s Drosera capensis is at CD’s service.
Miscellaneous personal matters.
What does CD think of Robert Mallet’s earthquake theory? Would it not account for strata dipping at base of range of mountains?
Has initiated inquiries about Dionaea.
Sends George King’s address.
Sends Mrs Barber’s address.
Gratified that CD hates Owen. Hopes Owen will not answer Nature letter and draw JDH into controversy. Owen’s letter was not intended for Ayrton to use. Its appearance must have horrified him.
State of Huxley’s health makes JDH uneasy.
Willy is in a stockbroker’s office in London and likes it.
Has been asked to take shares in the Artizans’ Dwellings Co., in which CD is a shareholder. If it is really a project for public good, he would be glad to be associated.
Owen has answered his letter in Nature [7 (1872): 5–7].
A letter from Tyndall [from America] was read at the X Club.
Writes, as a P.S. to his previous letter, stating his friends have advised him not to answer Owen’s attack.
Is reading W. R. Greg’s Enigmas of life [1872]: "One of the most eloquent books I ever read".
Owen’s communications are doing incalculable mischief to science in the eyes of Government officials. "This ignorant, careless, unobservant government."
The Nature editors, J. N. Lockyer and Bennett, blame each other for printing Owen’s letter.
Huxley looks wretched.
Encloses letter and cheque [from John Scott].
Again in thick of Ayrton matter. Tyndall and Huxley have shown themselves equal to the occasion in grasp of subject, tenacity of purpose, independence, and good-will.
Heartily glad about the news of the Ayrton affair development.
Huxley looks very unwell from too much miscellaneous work; CD wishes he could be made a Director General for transference of British Museum and for other scientific work, as JDH suggests.
Heartily glad about Willy.
Has never had Zizania.
Still has Leersia. He cannot make the beast produce.
What slow coaches the Ministers are about the Ayrton affair.
Is sorry JDH cannot come to Down.
Hopes the House of Lords "pitch into the accursed fellow" [Ayrton].
Has signed the memorial by men of science with real pleasure. Fears it may be too severe. He told Lady Derby about JDH’s troubles. She said she would tell Lord Derby what he had said.
Overjoyed at the way the newspapers have taken up JDH’s case. The memorial has done great good this way, whatever the wretched Government does. It is enough to make one a Tory. JDH has done a service to all men of science by showing governments that they cannot be trampled on.
CD hopes the Times abstract of minutes of Lords of the Treasury will make JDH’s position more comfortable.
The "wretched Lords" make CD indignant, but "nothing equals Owen’s conduct. – I used to be ashamed of hating him so much, but now I will carefully cherish my hatred & contempt to the last day of my life."