From:
George Chichester Oxenden
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
13 May 1863
Source of text:
DAR 173: 61
Summary:
Going abroad; will miss the English orchid season.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
[13 May 1863]
Source of text:
DAR 101: 137–40
Summary:
Lyell is "half-hearted but whole-headed" for CD’s theory. George Bentham wholly converted.
Bates’s book delightful but has a Darwinistic bias.
Cameroon plants.
JDH defends Bates against J. E. Gray’s slanders.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Société des sciences naturelles de Neuchâtel
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
14 May 1863
Source of text:
DAR 230
Summary:
CD named corresponding member of the Society.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Isaac Anderson; Isaac Anderson Henry
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
16 May 1863
Source of text:
DAR 110: 24
Summary:
Sends sprig of Linum luteum corymbiflorum [?]. CD is right about its being dimorphic.
Will try some odd strawberry crosses this summer.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
William Erasmus Darwin
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
17 and 20 May 1863
Source of text:
Cornford Family Papers (DAR 275: 16)
Summary:
Alarmed that CD did not see what WED saw in Corydalis lutea. Has found buckbean in the New Forest. Will get seeds of Corydalis claviculata.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
[24 May 1863]
Source of text:
DAR 101: 143–6
Summary:
Flora of Cameroons shakes JDH’s faith in ability to explain past or present migrations. Sees need for a major novel explanation such as natural selection, glacial cold, or continental connections.
Lyell in a bad way about feud with Falconer.
JDH’s opinion of Wallace, Bates, J. E. Gray, Owen, Asa Gray, Lubbock, and Bentham.
Bentham’s Linnean Society address [see 4118].
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Lydia Ernestine Becker
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
18 May 1863
Source of text:
DAR 160: 108
Summary:
Sends flowers of a variety of Lychnis dioica which has bisexual flowers.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Jean Louis Armand (Armand de Quatrefages) Quatrefages de Bréau
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
19 May [1863]
Source of text:
DAR 175: 1
Summary:
Spoke on Moulin-Quignon Jaw before Académie des Sciences.
Thanks CD for photograph [of Niata skull].
Controversy on species fixity [at Société d’Anthropologie].
Sends photographs of Mouin-Quignon Jaw.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
George Bentham
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
21 May 1863
Source of text:
DAR 160: 157
Summary:
Returns CD’s pamphlets.
Wishes CD would work out further what keeps certain species immutable for great periods.
Feels himself a convert, but cannot go all lengths with CD.
Feels some reviewers distort CD’s argument.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Lydia Ernestine Becker
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
21 May [1863]
Source of text:
DAR 160: 106
Summary:
Has forwarded a box of Lychnis plants to CD; gives her observations on the variations in stamen length.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
John Scott
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
21 May [1863]
Source of text:
DAR 108: 181, DAR 177: 88
Summary:
Supports, in his orchid paper, CD’s view that sterility occurs at random [Trans. Bot. Soc. Edinburgh 7 (1863): 543–50].
Cannot get his Drosera paper published [abstract in Edinburgh New Philos. J. 2d ser. 17 (1863): 317–18].
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
John Scott
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
22 May 1863
Source of text:
DAR 177: 90
Summary:
J. H. Balfour has arranged a position for him at a Cinchona nursery. Reluctant to take this position in part because of his experiments for CD.
Asks CD’s advice and solicits his aid in finding a better colonial position. James McNab mistreats him.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
William Darwin Fox
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
[16–22 May 1863]
Source of text:
DAR 164: 175
Summary:
A "quiz" on CD has appeared in the Illustrated Times [2 May 1863, p. 317].
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Lydia Ernestine Becker
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
23–4 May [1863]
Source of text:
DAR 160: 107
Summary:
Gives the results of her observations on Lychnis; lists four different types of flower present and their occurrence.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Asa Gray
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
26 May 1863
Source of text:
DAR 165: 135
Summary:
Discusses recent correspondence in the Athenæum: the disagreement between Lyell and Hugh Falconer and Owen’s remarks on heterogeny [see 4110].
Briefly discusses orchids and some problems in phyllotaxy.
Mentions the political situation and the quarrelsome behaviour of the English.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
John Scott
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
26 May [1863]
Source of text:
DAR 177: 91
Summary:
Discusses Darjeeling position. Thanks CD for advice.
Will send orchid paper [see 4087].
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
John Thomas Austen
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
27 May 1863
Source of text:
DAR 159: 149
Summary:
Has written to G. Dennen to ask him for an explanation regarding his behaviour in a financial transaction involving the savings bank of which JTA and CD are trustees.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Lydia Ernestine Becker
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
28 May [1863]
Source of text:
DAR 160: 109
Summary:
Thanks for CD’s paper [not named].
Inquires whether Lychnis, as an hermaphrodite, is more susceptible to fungus, disease, other weaknesses.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
John Scott
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
28 May [1863]
Source of text:
DAR 177: 92
Summary:
Sends abstract from Edinburgh Courant of his orchid sterility paper [see 4087]. Balfour altered title to obscure its theoretical nature.
Sends specimens showing curious variation.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
John Thomas Austen
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
29 May 1863
Source of text:
DAR 159: 150
Summary:
Has not yet received any reply from Dennen.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
