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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.
Asa Gray on democracy of plants.
Requests plants for new hothouse. Transferring plants to Down in winter.
It is not carpal or tarsal bones that are increased [in six-fingered men] but generally only the digits and metacarpals.
Pectoral fins of fish and sharks.
Asks THH to check P. M. Roget’s statement that there is a rudiment of a sixth digit in frogs.
[P.S. missing from original.]
Further discusses RT’s observations on Cape [of Good Hope] orchids and asks whether it would be possible for him to send some specimens to Kew.
British attitude towards America: not hate as Asa Gray thinks, but contempt.
Thanks HBD for his lectures On the germs and vestiges of disease [1861].
Thinks his reasoning that the V. M. F. ("force exhibited in the operations of life") is not a "given quantity" is satisfactory.
How far the conditions of life affect the forms of organic life puzzles CD more than any other part of his subject. Thinks he may have underrated its importance in Origin.
Asks for source of the quotation on regeneration in HBD’s work.
Tells JS Acropera capsule should be left to grow.
JS was correct on "bud-variation" in fern frond.
Does not believe Primula structure necessarily related to dioecism, but the difference in fertility of the two forms forced him to admit the possibility.
Thanks for letter and pamphlet.
His approbation of Origin is extremely gratifying, especially since Origin produced no effect whatever in France.
Sends belated thanks for the useful facts which he plans to quote. [See 3963.]
A note reminding THH to examine the rudiment of the 6th toe on the hind foot of a Batrachian.
Criticises Dana’s classification of man and his use of fore-limbs as a basis for systematic classification.
Discusses his reading and understanding of Origin.
Replies to CD’s letter: dimorphism common in Ceylon Rubiaceae. [See Forms of flowers, p. 286.]
Hoped to meet CD at the Linnean Society to discuss pigeon and poultry breeding experiments.
Thanks for "monkey book" [Evidence as to man’s place in nature (1863)].
Must wait till he has finished Lyell [Antiquity of man (1863)].
Sends Acropera capsule for CD to dissect.
Will try to raise Acropera from seed (never done before in Britain) to examine its sexual forms.
Studying primroses, parthenogenesis, and reproduction of some cryptogams.
Received maize varieties from CD.
Discusses experiments that WBT will undertake to investigate whether particular pigeon and poultry crosses produce sterile hybrids.
Discusses the structure and particular uniformities of the Shropshire coal-seams and surrounding strata; speculates on their origins.
Received JDD’s book [Manual of geology (1862)]
and pamphlet on man ["On the higher subdivisions in the classification of mammals", Am. J. Sci. 2d ser. 35 (1863): 65–71].
Fully admits JDD’s objections are valid. But is convinced of the general truth of his own views (with much incidental error), because they embrace so many phenomena and explain them.
Discusses some mistakes Owen has made;
Falconer’s disagreement with Owen ["On the mammalian genus Plagiaulax", Q. J. Geol. Soc. Lond. 18 (1862): 348–69].
Has not answered CD’s former letters. Has been ill. Will look up fish business as soon as he is square again.
Dining arrangements.