From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Alfred Russel Wallace
Date:
23 Sept [1868]
Source of text:
The British Library (Add MS 46434: 153–6)
Summary:
On their differences concerning sexual selection and protection.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Alfred Russel Wallace
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
4 Oct 1868
Source of text:
DAR 106: B68–69
Summary:
Sexual differences in coloration. Sexual selection versus natural selection as explanations. ARW continues to argue against sexual selection, saying that natural selection, in keeping the female dull for protection, would account for differences in sexual colouring more effectively than inheritance and partial transmission of sexually selected male colours. Colours of female birds of paradise. Protective coloration. Disagrees with CD on coincidence of hidden nests and bright colours of females.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Alfred Russel Wallace
Date:
6 Oct [1868]
Source of text:
The British Library (Add MS 46434: 162–3)
Summary:
Sexual selection, protection.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Alfred Russel Wallace
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
20 Jan 1869
Source of text:
DAR 106: B73–4
Summary:
Dedication of Malay Archipelago to CD.
Comments on scientific papers.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Alfred Russel Wallace
Date:
22 Jan [1869]
Source of text:
The British Library (Add MS 46434: 165–6)
Summary:
Response to letter about dedication of Malay Archipelago and several scientific papers.
Changes in 5th ed. of Origin.
Now feels individual differences of paramount importance. Fleeming Jenkin has convinced him about "single variations".
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Alfred Russel Wallace
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
30 Jan 1869
Source of text:
DAR 106: B75–6
Summary:
Argues that [general variability] of species, not single variations or sports, is basis for modification and adaptation to new conditions.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Alfred Russel Wallace
Date:
2 Feb [1869]
Source of text:
The British Library (Add MS 46434: 168–9)
Summary:
CD expressed himself badly. F. Jenkin’s argument was against single variations ever being perpetuated.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Alfred Russel Wallace
Date:
5 Mar [1869]
Source of text:
The British Library (Add MS 46434)
Summary:
Reception of ARW’s book, Malay Archipelago.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Alfred Russel Wallace
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
10 Mar 1869
Source of text:
DAR 106: B77–8
Summary:
Weir’s paper on relation of protection to colour of caterpillars [Trans. R. Entomol. Soc. Lond. (1869): 21–6; (1870): 337–9] confirms ARW’s hypothesis.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Alfred Russel Wallace
Date:
22 Mar [1869]
Source of text:
The British Library (Add MS 46434)
Summary:
Comments on Wallace’s Malay Archipelago.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Alfred Russel Wallace
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
24 Mar 1869
Source of text:
DAR 84.1: 112–15
Summary:
Comments on Fritz Müller’s book [Facts and arguments for Darwin].
Responds to CD’s corrections of his work [Malay Archipelago].
Plumage of birds of paradise.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Alfred Russel Wallace
Date:
27 Mar [1869]
Source of text:
The British Library (Add MS 46434)
Summary:
Hopes ARW has not "murdered too completely your own and my child" [natural selection] in his Quarterly Review article ["Sir Charles Lyell on geological climates and the Origin", 126 (1869): 359–94] on Lyell’s Principles [10th ed.].
CD is attributing more significance to useless variability in new [5th] edition of Origin.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Alfred Russel Wallace
Date:
14 Apr 1869
Source of text:
The British Library (Add MS 46434: 181–3)
Summary:
ARW’s review of 10th ed. of Lyell’s Principles [see 6684] is admirable.
But he differs "grievously" with ARW on man. CD sees no necessity for an additional and proximate cause.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Alfred Russel Wallace
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
18 Apr [1869]
Source of text:
DAR 106: B79–80
Summary:
Expands upon their differences in regard to man and the question of the existence of forces not yet recognised by science.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Alfred Russel Wallace
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
23 June [1869]
Source of text:
DAR 106: B81–2
Summary:
Asks whether sexual selection could produce the changing plumules or "battledore" scales on the wings of certain butterflies.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Alfred Russel Wallace
Date:
25 June [1869]
Source of text:
The British Library (Add MS 46434: 186–7); Natural History Museum (Entomology Manuscripts MSS WAL A 1:1 (127-128))
Summary:
On butterfly scales: there are many secondary characters which baffle conjecture.
Was forced to make additions to Origin as short as possible.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Alfred Russel Wallace
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
20 Oct 1869
Source of text:
DAR 106: B86–7
Summary:
Looks forward to Descent, though he expects to find more to differ with than in any other of CD’s books.
Problems of usefulness of incipient organs and of the independent origin of similar complex organs are real difficulties.
Plans a little book on "Distribution of animals".
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Alfred Russel Wallace
Date:
21 Oct 1869
Source of text:
The British Library (Add MS 46434: 189–90); Linnean Society of London (Quentin Keynes Collection)
Summary:
Anticipates that all their differences are fated to find expression in projected book on man.
Offers his early MS with useful references related to the distribution of animals. Hopes ARW’s book will not be "little".
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Alfred Russel Wallace
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
4 Dec [1869]
Source of text:
DAR 106: B88–9
Summary:
Inquires about arrangements for the German translation and publication of their original Linnean Society papers [Collected papers 2: 3–19].
ARW thinks he has hit upon a solution to problem of geological time.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Alfred Russel Wallace
Date:
5 Dec [1869]
Source of text:
The British Library (Add MS 46434: 194–5)
Summary:
Further comments on arrangements for German translation of their joint paper.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project