From:
Henry Walter Bates
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
[17 Apr 1862]
Source of text:
DAR 160.1: 66
Summary:
Accepts CD’s invitation.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Henry Walter Bates
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
30 Apr 1862
Source of text:
DAR 47: 175, DAR 160.1: 67–8
Summary:
Discusses insects of south temperate S. America and New Zealand, especially with respect to the distribution and origin of Chilean Carabi, and has sent for a German monograph to learn about the eleven species he has found.
He refers to Chilean poverty in butterflies; scanty New Zealand insect fauna.
An analysis of south temperate insects is desirable, but the small English collections make him afraid to undertake it.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Henry Walter Bates
Date:
4 May [1862]
Source of text:
Cleveland Health Sciences Library (Robert M. Stecher collection)
Summary:
Thanks for letter and "valuable" extracts.
If S. American Carabi differ more from other species than do those from other distant locations (e.g., Siberia, Europe, etc.), CD agrees that difference would be too great to have occurred in the recent glacial age; CD also rejects independent origin. Plants seem to migrate more readily than animals. HWB should not underrate length of glacial period; CD also believes they will be driven to an older glacial period.
Sorry about news of British Museum – hopeless to contend against anyone supported by Owen.
CD dearly wishes HWB could find a situation in which he could give time to science.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Henry Walter Bates
Date:
9 May [1862]
Source of text:
Cleveland Health Sciences Library (Robert M. Stecher collection)
Summary:
Referring to conversation with Lyell, CD is certain that there was a Miocene glacial period.
Compliments HWB on the mimetic display at the British Museum. Those at the Museum readily accepted HWB’s "doctrine".
Was shown genital organs of closely allied Chrysomelidae.
Albert Günther is candidate for position at Museum.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Henry Walter Bates
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
19 May 1862
Source of text:
DAR 160.1: 69
Summary:
Miocene glacial period a remarkable discovery; if it is true, enlargement of Tertiary period necessary.
Received German monograph on Chilean Carabi that does not answer where isolated species came from.
HWB finds genital modifications of Chrysomela strong support for the theory.
Thanks for copy of Orchids.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Henry Walter Bates
Date:
11 June [1862]
Source of text:
American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.284)
Summary:
Encloses a question [missing] concerning language [from Hensleigh Wedgwood].
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Henry Walter Bates
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
14 June 1862
Source of text:
DAR 160.1: 70
Summary:
Sends answer to Wedgwood’s query
and is sorry to hear CD is again unwell.
His book is progressing very slowly.
Asks that CD not make use of any of the facts about generative organs in beetles for he finds "such a chaos of statements" that facts are not to be depended upon.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Henry Walter Bates
Date:
15 Oct [1862]
Source of text:
Cleveland Health Sciences Library (Robert M. Stecher collection)
Summary:
Asks for news of HWB and his book.
There has been sickness in CD’s family; one of the boys [and Emma] had scarlet fever.
Has had a letter from Edwin Brown of Burton who is working on classification of Carabi.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Henry Walter Bates
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
17 Oct 1862
Source of text:
DAR 160.1: 71
Summary:
Still working on book and has completed 620 out of 700 pages.
Rewrote memoir [on mimicry in Amazon Lepidoptera] for Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. [23 (1862): 495–566].
Edwin Brown, HWB’s earliest naturalist friend, will have a hard time classifying Carabi as he is unable to travel.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Henry Walter Bates
Date:
18 Oct [1862]
Source of text:
Cleveland Health Sciences Library (Robert M. Stecher collection)
Summary:
Thanks for last note. Assures HWB that all writers have problems similar to his.
Plans to inquire at Linnean Society for HWB’s paper.
His family, including Mrs Darwin and Leonard, are now well.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Henry Walter Bates
Date:
20 Nov [1862]
Source of text:
Cleveland Health Sciences Library (Robert M. Stecher collection)
Summary:
Just finished HWB’s paper ["Contributions to an insect fauna of the Amazon valley", Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 23 (1862): 495–566], one of the most remarkable he has ever read. Found mimetic cases and connection of facts marvellous. Finds equally important the facts on variation and segregation of complete and semi-complete species. Questions whether insect mimicry is not due to small size and defencelessness. Criticises title of paper. Mentions that Wallace will appreciate it.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Henry Walter Bates
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
24 Nov 1862
Source of text:
DAR 160.1: 72
Summary:
Gratified by CD’s approval of paper which was also praised by Hooker and Wallace. Only cares for one other opinion, that of C. Felder of Vienna. He finds ordinary entomologists are not scientific men. Asks for more criticisms; desires to publish paper in a widely circulating journal to advertise his book.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Henry Walter Bates
Date:
25 Nov [1862]
Source of text:
Cleveland Health Sciences Library (Robert M. Stecher collection)
Summary:
[Apparently in reply to question in missing portion of 3825.] A written agreement is unnecessary, but a letter stating terms would prevent misundertanding. He will attempt to have a review of HWB’s paper published.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Henry Walter Bates
Date:
15 Dec [1862]
Source of text:
Cleveland Health Sciences Library (Robert M. Stecher collection)
Summary:
Thanks for paper and references on variations [missing].
Regrets HWB’s trouble about artists, etc., saying such trouble is a law of nature.
Asks whether HWB has heard of starving Indians who are forced to cook in different ways, and eat new things.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Henry Walter Bates
Date:
12 Jan [1863]
Source of text:
Cleveland Health Sciences Library (Robert M. Stecher collection)
Summary:
Asa Gray will try to get HWB’s paper reviewed.
Also mentions that he (CD) wrote a short review of it for Natural History Review [Collected papers 2: 87–92].
Asks whether bees or Lepidoptera visit flowers of Melastomataceae.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Henry Walter Bates
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
17 Jan [1863]
Source of text:
DAR 205.8: 67 (Letters)
Summary:
Has sent copy of his paper to Asa Gray.
Melastomad flowers are strikingly neglected by pollinators.
Murray has ordered many illustrations for HWB’s Naturalist on the river Amazons.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Henry Walter Bates
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
24 Jan 1863
Source of text:
DAR 160: 73
Summary:
Wallace noticed that melastomads in Malay archipelago were visited by small Hymenoptera.
Darwinism discussed at the last meeting of the Zoological Society. The Darwinians had the best of it.
HWB has committed the "folly" of marriage [to Sarah Ann Mason, 15 Jan 1863].
Printing of vol. 1 [of Naturalist on the river Amazons] is nearly finished.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Henry Walter Bates
Date:
26 Jan [1863]
Source of text:
Cleveland Health Sciences Library (Robert M. Stecher collection)
Summary:
Congratulations on marriage, which CD considers the best and only chance for happiness in this world.
Glad HWB is near completion of book.
Begs him to thank Wallace for Melastoma information; CD "cannot endure being beaten by a beggarly flower".
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Henry Walter Bates
Date:
4 Mar [1863]
Source of text:
Cleveland Health Sciences Library (Robert M. Stecher collection)
Summary:
CD relates Asa Gray’s pleasure over HWB’s paper and Gray’s plans to write abstract [Am. J. Sci. 2d ser. 36 (1863): 285–90].
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Henry Walter Bates
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
8 Apr 1863
Source of text:
DAR 160: 74
Summary:
Preparations under way to move to London account for delay in thanking CD for his review [Collected papers 2: 87–92].
His book is finished, and he is sending a copy to CD; owing to the great expense few copies will be sent to reviewers.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
