Showing 21–40 of 41 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.
Responds to CP’s sermon. Corrects CP’s confusion of what CD said about eyes of the Articulata with human eye,
and questions applicability of CP’s mathematical arguments about length of geological time needed for evolution.
Agrees he was foolish about the Wealden, now struck from later editions [Origin, pp. 285–7].
Requests information about the feet of otter-hounds. Is the membrane between the toes more largely developed than in other hounds? To which part or joint of the toes does the skin extend? Is it hollowed out? [There is a hand-written copy of this letter in Invercargill City Libraries and Archives (Alex Robertson Collection, vol. 1: A0444 S12450001). The handwriting is not CD’s: it may be a copy made for the printer, or maybe by a reader of the magazine.]
Greatly interested in case of purple nuts but, after seeing TR’s specimens, dares not trust his case. Wishes he lived near TR or were strong enough to visit.
Sends CD a letter from Mr Claydon responding to TR’s doubts and confirming the truth of a report that a farmer had "transmuted" oats into barley.
The blocks [for Variation] have been forwarded to Murray.
WBT has been corresponding with Prof. Newton.
Hopes to begin printing Variation at the beginning of next year.
Arrangements for woodcuts [in Variation]. Hopes to be ready to print early in 1867.
Encloses letter from Asa Gray [5160] about Appleton’s refusal to alter their plates for a new edition of Origin.
CD asks JM to consider Gray’s plan to have the English edition compete with the American.
JM states he will publish [Variation] on same basis as Origin, i.e., paying CD two-thirds of the profits.
In response to Asa Gray’s suggestion, he could supply Ticknor & Fields with 250 copies [of Origin, 4th ed.] at half-price.
Lyell has sent chapters [of 10th ed. of Principles] to JDH, who objects to CL’s ignoring the part vapour plays in affecting temperature of the globe.
Parliament will be asked to buy W. J. Hooker’s collection.
Will visit CD on Sunday, 21 October.
Will spend winter in research on Madeira and Tenerife.
CD will soon receive copy of Generelle Morphologie.
Mary Somerville may use diagrams from Orchids [in her Molecular and microscopic science (1869)], but permission should be obtained from John Murray.
Lists some alterations which must be made to the drawings [for Variation].
Anxious to make acquaintance of Ernst Haeckel [who was staying with CD].
A letter from Asa Gray informs CD that Ticknor & Fields will not publish a new edition of Origin to compete with Appleton’s unrevised edition. They recommend sending copies of the English edition for the American market.
Explains dichogamy in Aristolochia. C. K. Sprengel was wrong.
Under circumstances [reluctance of Ticknor & Fields to compete with Appleton], best course is to offer Appleton the 250 copies [of 4th English edition of Origin].
Plans to have J. V. Carus handle translation of new edition of Origin. Describes Carus’ views on the edition.
Introduces Ernst Haeckel.
Lyell sent same chapters to CD, who thinks them very good but is not convinced that changes of land and water will do all he thinks.
Proposes O. F. Peschel as a German translator of Variation, which his firm would like to publish.
Thanks CD for permission to use illustrations from Orchids in her work [On molecular and microscopic science (1869)].