Showing 41–52 of 52 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.
Discusses corrections for second edition [of Origin]. Will leave out the reference to whale and bear. Discusses pheasant crosses. Success of the book.
THH’s letter about the Origin makes CD feel like a Catholic who has received extreme unction. Can now sing nunc dimittis. Had determined to abide by judgment of Lyell, Hooker, and THH.
Problem of how variations arise at all troubles him also.
Rejoices over THH’s lecture ["On species and races, and their origin", 10 Feb 1860, Not. Proc. R. Inst. G. B. 3 (1858–62): 195–200] to be given at Royal Institution. Offers pigeon illustrations.
Adam Sedgwick has sent a "slashing" letter [2548] about Origin.
CD expected AS’s "strong disapprobation" of his book [Origin] but is grieved "to have shocked a man whom I sincerely honour". Has worked "like a slave" on the subject for over 20 years and is not conscious that bad motives have influenced the conclusions at which he has arrived. CD does not think the book will be mischievous and "if I be wrong I shall soon be annihilated". CD may have written too confidently from feeling confident that no "false theory would explain so many classes of facts".
Though many facts of palaeontology may be against his theory, CD begs JP to consider whether a theory wholly false could explain several classes of facts – which CD enumerates.
Sends some bees CD requested
and discusses the differences among several animal species on islands of the West Indies.
Sends references for materials useful for THH’s lecture.
Breeding and crossing. Pigeon fanciers.
Responses to Origin: A. C. Ramsay, Charles Kingsley, Quatrefages de Bréau.
Asks how many kinds of supposed birds’ footprints were found in North American sandstone.
Making progress on second edition of Origin.
Encloses letter from Adam Sedgwick [2548].
Mentions conversion of A. C. Ramsay.
Apologises for not having had time to read Phillips’ books.
Thanks CK for allowing him to insert his "admirable sentence" [in Origin, 2d ed., p. 481].
Sends a correction for Origin reprint.