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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.
High praise and detailed comments on JDH’s introductory essay to Flora Tasmaniae, which CD has now finished reading.
Disagrees on power of transoceanic migration. Advocates glacial transport of plants.
CD’s response to reviews of Origin in Saturday Review [8 (1859): 775–6] and John Lindley’s in Gardeners’ Chronicle [but see 2651].
Opinions on the Origin: AG thinks it masterly; Agassiz considers it very poor.
CD has learned from Lyell that JDH reviewed Origin in Gardeners’ Chronicle writing in Lindley’s style.
Lyell is working on man.
Very pleased with Asa Gray’s letter to JDH [see 2638], which is "rich on Agassiz".
CD preparing historical sketch, which will go into second American edition of Origin.
Asks JDH to copy out Naudin’s line on finality.
Urges JDH to work his essays into a book.
CD’s historical sketch ends with JDH’s introductory essay to Flora Tasmaniae.
Huxley’s Royal Institution lecture on Origin [10 Feb 1860, Not. Proc. R. Inst. G. B. 3 (1858–62): 195–200] an "entire failure" as an exposition of CD’s doctrine.
R. I. Murchison very civil.
CD counts Lyell among the converted.
Comments on W. H. Harvey’s article on a monstrous Begonia [Gard. Chron. 18 Feb 1860].
Is astonished at being attacked for not allowing great and abrupt variations under nature. More evidence needed to make CD admit that forms have often changed "by saltum".
Too ill to go to club.
Applauds JDH’s reply [25 Feb 1860] to W. H. Harvey in Gardeners’ Chronicle.
Asks JDH for some Goodenia.
Suggests Daniel Oliver try to cross Mimosa, noted for sterility.
CD’s list of fifteen converts. His opinions on opponents and supporters.
Lyell and CD would urge JDH to make his essays into a book, but see he has embarked on a huge project with G. Bentham [Genera plantarum, 3 vols. (1862–83)].
JDH coming to Down. Huxley will be invited.
Sends a letter concerning priority [of Patrick Matthew] for JDH to read and post.
Angered at Owen’s review.
Huxley’s Royal Institution lecture ends well.
What a base dog Owen is for praising his own work in reviewing Origin [anonymously].
J. H. Balfour is narrow-minded.
CD cannot understand pollination of Goodenia.
CD’s observations on curved styles read well. JDH seeks morphological rationale of curvature in the position of nectaries.
He has avoided lecturing to Royal Family’s children at Buckingham Palace.
CD intrigued by the pollination mechanism of Leschenaultia formosa.
CD interested in Thomas Bell’s rumour that Owen avows his review.
Curved styles and their relation to pollination.
Sends list of plants with asymmetry in nectar-secreting surfaces and pistils bent in that direction. Shows insect agency so important that structure has changed. Asks for contrary or confirming examples and that request be passed on to Daniel Oliver.
Has examined Leschenaultia and concludes the external viscid surfaces have nothing to do with the stigmatic surface. Agrees with CD’s style and nectary conclusions; accounts for their form and position in irregular flowers by describing floral development.
[Enclosed are some queries by CD with answers by JDH. Gives information on seed setting by Mucuna
and an opinion on the abruptness of N. and S. limits of plant ranges.]
