Discusses insects collected by CD on St Paul’s Island and the Galapagos.
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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.
Discusses insects collected by CD on St Paul’s Island and the Galapagos.
A son [George Howard Darwin] was born on Wednesday.
Sends queries on Galapagos flora.
Discusses JDH’s comments on [Journal of researches].
CD feels that with his views on descent "really Nat. Hist. becomes a sublimely grand result-giving subject".
"How differently people view the same subject, for I look at insular Floras … as leading to an opposite view to yours."
Arranges a time for visiting HF.
Describes stratification of cliffs on south shore of Rio Gallegos; fossils found at base of cliffs. Speculates about geological past of the area. Discusses climate of southern Patagonia; navigation problems at the mouth of Rio Gallegos.
Gives results of soundings taken between Falkland Islands and South American mainland. Describes geology of Falklands, especially the dikes found on many islands. Comments on climate of Falklands. Discusses horses and cattle, health of his children in the Falklands. Mentions volutes found in the Falklands.
Passes on report of FitzRoy’s policies as governor of New Zealand.
Notes on Galapagos Coleoptera.
Sends names of species found in banks of marine shells near Buenos Aires. Shells identified by G. B. Sowerby (elder). [See South America, pp. 2–3.]
Sends information on Gryphaea orientalis. [See South America, p. 212.]
Says tuff collected by CD in Pampas and Chile contains organic remains. Wants to examine specimens further and hopes for Government support in doing so.
Sends specimens of a Tertiary sandstone from Tierra del Fuego in which there are leaves; CD thought they were beech. What is JDH’s opinion?
Asks whether JDH can make sense of a note on silicified wood.
Has read Vestiges [of creation (1844)]; "his geology strikes me as bad, & his zoology far worse".
Would like to see lists [of plants] from Society and Sandwich Islands.
Doubts JDH’s information regarding imagination of mother affecting offspring.
Reports on an ancient town on Ascension, which is now at sea-level and approachable only by boat.
Would like copy of "Galapagos flora" when published ["Plants of the Galapagos Archipelago", Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 20 (1851): 163–233].
Will keep JDH’s Pacific island notes till his return.
Sends comparison of the floras of Society and Sandwich Islands.
CD sends queries on chemical composition of various Beagle mineral specimens.
Sends results of chemical tests on specimens [of salt, see South America, pp. 73–5].
Encloses abstract from Justus Liebig on composition of bones and their ability to withstand decay.
Congratulates JDH and condoles with him on possible position at Edinburgh. Although CD will miss him bitterly, he encourages JDH to view it as a good opportunity.
Sorry to hear that Humboldt is failing.
Agrees that CD’s fossil shells do not differ from those ADd’O saw in South America. Apparent differences due to errors by G. B. Sowerby. Collection magnificent; recommends special publication. Enabled ADd’O to correct error in dating of sandstone of Concepción. Lists geological periods represented in collection from Jurassic to Diluvian. Collection includes unusual group of crepidules.
Identifications of CD’s fossil shells. New species marked; many described previously by ADd’O.
Encloses analysis of salt from Patagonia. Cannot account for its inferiority.
Previous letter [missing] on Edinburgh position was ill-tempered. Friends assure him that he ought to be thankful for opportunity to try for professorship.
Reports meeting with Humboldt in Paris.
Comments on G. B. Sowerby’s identifications of South American fossil shells [812]. [Notes from more than one original memorandum].