Thanks HBD for his note. The analogy of surnames had not occurred to CD – only that of language generally, as shown so well by Lyell. Fears HBD’s argument about progression would not have much weight.
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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.
Thanks HBD for his note. The analogy of surnames had not occurred to CD – only that of language generally, as shown so well by Lyell. Fears HBD’s argument about progression would not have much weight.
Returns CD’s £5 as the school subscription has failed.
Encloses list of CD’s publications.
JDH pursues the coffee plantation job for Scott.
Wrote 14 letters today. JDH’s work load.
Asks for names of plants mentioned in an article in Natural History Review ["South European Floras", n.s. 4 (1864): 369–84] so he can get seeds.
Also would like specimens of the two forms of Aegiphila.
No book has made such a powerful impression on EH as the Origin. Most older German scholars opposed to it, but number of supporters growing among the young. Fortunately strength of religious dogmas now small among educated Germans. Situation in Jena especially favourable. Defended CD’s theory last year at Congress of German Scientists in Stettin.
Intends special study of jellyfish.
Plans general work on natural history.
Hard fate [death of Anna Sethe Haeckel] has made EH indifferent to criticism.
Colleagues August Schleicher and Carl Gegenbaur also convinced by CD’s theory.
Sends specimens of two species of Aegiphila [see Forms of flowers, p. 123]. Discusses similar forms in other plants.
Sends 2d ed. of his Physical geology [1864]; hopes that he will burn the 1st because of its errors.
ACR is convinced he is right about denudation of the Weald.
Discusses CD’s and Mrs Gray’s health.
Comments on some climbing plants.
Praises Wallace’s article applying natural selection to man ["The origin of human races", J. Anthropol. Soc. Lond. 2 (1864): clviii–clxxxvi].
Discusses the reported sterility of the flowers of Voandzeia and Amphicarpaea.
Feels the ending of slavery is worth the cost of the Civil War.
Thanks for his book [Physical geology and geography of Great Britain, 2d. ed. (1864)].
Pleased that ACR’s glacial lake theory is progressing. New Zealand lakes support the view. Suggests he write to Charles Gould in Tasmania, calling his attention to glacial action.
Ernst Haeckel writes that young German scientists are enthusiastic for natural selection.
Did JDH write the article in Natural History Review on trees not producing flowers ["Botanical lesson books", (1864): 355–69]?
Encourages Harvey to publish on his "disagreeable" monster plants.
Thanks GB for specimens [of Aegiphila] and his information.
Discusses dimorphism in flowers. Describes his experiments.
If CD understood Nepenthes, he would understand every class of climbers.
Will DO observe whether leaf [of Nepenthes] with pitcher ever wound round a stick? CD’s plant is improving.
Sends seeds of Trichonema and bulb and leaves of Romulea rollii, plus specimens showing two forms of Primula marginata.
Suggests man’s original mode of walking and running is similar to that of quadrupeds.
He also suggests CD answer critics who say no new species has ever been unequivocally traced to its origins, by pointing out that there is no unequivocal account of the origin of surnames.
Thanks for praise [of Origin].
Comments on EH’s Die Radiolarien.
Grieved EH has suffered calamity [death of Anna Sethe Haeckel].
CD recovering from long illness.
Doing easy botanical work.
Mentions variability.
Discusses reception of CD’s views in Germany.
Offers notes on Romulea rollii with sketch of a dissection.
Reports his limited observations on climbing of Nepenthes.