From:
Smith, Elder & Co
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
9 Mar 1863
Source of text:
National Library of Scotland (MS.23181:6v)
Summary:
Cheque for books, stamps for CD’s son.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Lyell, 1st baronet
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
11 Mar 1863
Source of text:
K. M. Lyell ed. 1881, 2: 362–4
Summary:
Defends position he takes on species [in Antiquity of man]. CD overestimates CL’s capacity to influence public. Will not dogmatise on descent of man; prepared to accept it, but it "takes away much of the charm from my speculations on the past". Cannot go to Huxley’s length with regard to natural selection. Responds to CD’s comments on Antiquity of man.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
William Erasmus Darwin
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
12 Mar [1863]
Source of text:
Cornford Family Papers (DAR 275: 14)
Summary:
Discusses partnership in bank and whether Atherley would like to retire.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
William Darwin Fox
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
12 Mar [1863]
Source of text:
DAR 164: 178
Summary:
Discusses crossed varieties of sheep and ducks.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
[15 Mar 1863]
Source of text:
DAR 101: 117–20
Summary:
JDH battling with Lyell over treatment of species question in Antiquity of man. Distressed by Lyell’s raising false priority issue between JDH and CD. Falconer involved in a priority squabble.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Lyell, 1st baronet
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
15 Mar 1863
Source of text:
K. M. Lyell ed. 1881, 2: 364–6
Summary:
Lyell has received compliments for letting readers draw own inferences [on species question]. Now feels he earlier did Lamarck injustice. [CD’s] substitution of variety-making power for volition [as in Lamarck] in some respects only a change of names.
Thinks Huxley taking on too many responsibilities.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
James Paget, 1st baronet
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
16 Mar 1863
Source of text:
DAR 174: 5
Summary:
Sends two [unidentified] papers on inheritance of medical malformations. Suggests that besides the inheritance of specific variations, the tendency to show variations in the same organ system (stomach, nervous, etc.) may also be inherited.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Roland Trimen
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
16 Mar 1863
Source of text:
DAR 70: 180, DAR 178: 184
Summary:
RT has sent his observations on orchids to CD. Has found only one case of an insect with a pollinium adhering to it.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Thomas White Woodbury
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
17 Mar 1863
Source of text:
DAR 181: 150
Summary:
Bee species of different sizes build cells the same size.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Alfred Newton
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
21 Mar 1863
Source of text:
DAR 172: 39
Summary:
Sends tuber of Chilean wild potato, requested through Hooker and P. L. Sclater.
Plans to exhibit a bird’s foot with a large ball of clay attached. This phenomenon supports CD on seed dispersal.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
John Scott
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
21 Mar [1863]
Source of text:
DAR 177: 85
Summary:
Thanks for CD’s answers on Passiflora
and Asa Gray review.
Has observed gradation of sterility in Oncidium species.
Has observed rostellar germination and fertilisation in Laelia. The latter was prevented in Bletia by covering the stigma with plaster of Paris.
Gongora atropurpurea capsules are swelling.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Asa Gray
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
22–30 Mar 1863
Source of text:
DAR 165: 131
Summary:
Discusses the Duke of Argyll’s article on the supernatural [Edinburgh Rev. 116 (1862): 378–97].
Has heard that the Incas married their sisters; this may be worth investigating as a case of inbreeding.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
[24 Mar 1863]
Source of text:
DAR 100: 154, DAR 101: 123–5
Summary:
Has been looking at separation of sexes in poplars.
Interested in reversion.
Does not understand all CD said on inheritance.
JDH now remembers that Origin was "published" some time before it was "distributed" and therefore appeared prior to his own essay [see also 2478].
Impossible to say whether some Dipterocarpaceae survived a cold period or have developed since.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Jean Louis Armand (Armand de Quatrefages) Quatrefages de Bréau
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
25 Mar 1863
Source of text:
DAR 175: 2
Summary:
Charles Martins of Montpellier will collect the varieties of silkworm for CD.
QdeB is battling with the polygenists in the Société d’Anthropologie.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Daniel Oliver
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
[26 Mar 1863]
Source of text:
DAR 173: 18
Summary:
Discusses the female parts of the Primula flower; the true character of the free placenta is not completely understood.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Edward Blyth
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
27 Mar 1863
Source of text:
DAR 160: 203
Summary:
Wants to know when he may visit CD.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Daniel Oliver
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
[27 Mar 1863]
Source of text:
DAR 173: 23
Summary:
Sends some specimens for CD.
Is busy with W. African Amomum, whose floral structure he discusses.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Jean Louis Armand (Armand de Quatrefages) Quatrefages de Bréau
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
[28 Mar] – 11 Apr 1863
Source of text:
DAR 175: 3
Summary:
Continues to support, in debates at the Société d’Anthropologie, the view that variability of animals and anatomical modifications are produced by environment. Wishes to use CD’s niata cattle example from Journal of researches [2d ed., pp. 145–6].
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
[28 Mar 1863]
Source of text:
DAR 101: 121–2
Summary:
Evidence of tropical floras continuous since Tertiary cannot fit CD’s position on intermittent cold periods.
Agrees with CD on reversion and latency.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
[31 Mar 1863]
Source of text:
DAR 101: 126–7
Summary:
Owen is the author of the Athenæum article [28 Mar 1863, pp. 417–19]. JDH dismisses it as vulgar rubbish. W. B. Carpenter intends to write a reply.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
