From:
William Winwood Reade
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
21 Feb 1871
Source of text:
DAR 89: 172–4
Summary:
Various comments on Descent;
on suicide on Gold Coast;
on mulattoes’ not being prolific.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
George Rolleston
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
22 Feb 1871
Source of text:
DAR 87: 15–16
Summary:
Applauds CD’s expression of dissent from J. S. Mill’s view of differences of mental powers of men and women [Descent 2: 326–9]. Sends some corrections.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
George Rolleston
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
[after 22 Feb 1871]
Source of text:
DAR 176: 210
Summary:
Suggests alteration in Descent [1st ed. 7th thousand] in citing pagination of George Busk’s paper "The caves of Gibraltar" [Trans. Int. Congr. Prehist. Archaeol. 3 (1868): 106–67].
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
William Boyd Dawkins
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
23 Feb 1871
Source of text:
DAR 162: 126
Summary:
Thanks for the present of CD’s long-expected book [Descent].
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
John Murray
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
23 Feb [1871]
Source of text:
DAR 171: 389
Summary:
Descent publication costs, "including a heavy item of £126 for corrections" have been received. JM can now offer CD 600 guineas for the edition of 2500 copies.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
John Tyndall
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
23 Feb [1871]
Source of text:
DAR 106: C5–6
Summary:
Has devised a respirator for firemen by moistening cotton wool with glycerine and adding charcoal. JT suggests the nose with its hairs and mucus is a respirator that would give protection against diseases caused by floating particles. The presence of hair and mucus is thus explained by CD’s theory.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Ernst Philipp August (Ernst) Haeckel
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
24 Feb 1871
Source of text:
DAR 166: 55
Summary:
Received copy of Descent.
Discusses CD’s comments on EH’s work.
Speculates about reception by press and scientists.
Remarks on sexual selection;
on human relationship to catarrhine apes.
Has rejected offer of chair at Vienna.
Compares Jena to Down.
Describes growth of his salary.
Mentions birth of Emma Haeckel.
A. M. Norman’s collection of calcareous sponges is very valuable.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
St George Jackson Mivart
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
24 Feb [1871]
Source of text:
DAR 171: 182
Summary:
Would be pleased if CD called.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Julius Sachs
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
24 Feb 1871
Source of text:
DAR 177: 3
Summary:
Thanks for copy of Descent.
Admires natural selection.
Climbing plants has attracted attention in Germany, but most botanists are interested in cell development and similar questions.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
James Anderson
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
[after 24 Feb 1871?]
Source of text:
DAR 159: 72
Summary:
Sends two books detailing a new medical method that will produce "a state of health & vigour on every occasion & in every instance" and is applicable to "the entire circle of animated nature" [William Hibbert, Important discovery. Hibbert’s new theory and practice of medicine (1870) and The new theory and practice of medicine (1870)]. The volumes apply to animals and man. Subsequent books will detail the method for insects and plants.
[Letter erroneously addressed to E. A. Darwin, and forwarded by EAD to CD.]
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Ellen Frances Hordern; Ellen Frances Lubbock
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
[after 24 Feb 1871]
Source of text:
DAR 170: 7
Summary:
Verses on the Origin and Descent.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Unidentified
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
[after 24 Feb 1871?]
Source of text:
DAR 201: 1
Summary:
Urges CD to repent and seek salvation through Christ.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Louis Bernays
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
25 Feb 1871
Source of text:
DAR 90: 18–19
Summary:
Older settlers in U. S. are taller and thinner than recent immigrants.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
William Ogle
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
25 Feb [1871]
Source of text:
DAR 173: 6
Summary:
Thanks for Descent.
He believes he has observed a predominance of the right side over the left in monkeys and man. If so, this is another support of their relatedness.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Andrew Smith
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
26 Feb 1871
Source of text:
DAR 177: 185
Summary:
Admires CD’s ability to work so hard under adverse circumstances; finds his health makes all work an effort.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
John Murray
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
27 Feb [1871]
Source of text:
DAR 171: 390
Summary:
First edition [issue] of Descent is exhausted. Asks CD to send corrections at once for a new printing of at least 1000 copies.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Felix Anton (Anton) Dohrn
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
28 Feb 1871
Source of text:
DAR 162: 206
Summary:
Thanks CD for Variation.
From his work on insect embryology he sees a great parallelism between insect and vertebrate embryology.
The zoological station is slowly advancing.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
John James Aubertin
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
1 Mar 1871
Source of text:
DAR 159: 125
Summary:
Was reminded of CD by his new book [Descent] in a shop;
reports having come on train as far as Bromley in previous summer, but found no means of travelling the seven miles to Down. Might try again.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Thomas Henry Farrer, 1st baronet and 1st Baron Farrer
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
1 Mar 1871
Source of text:
DAR 164: 68
Summary:
Parallel between CD’s account of morality [in Descent], of social instinct preceding selfishness, and Henry Maine’s account of notions of property of a community preceding individual property [in Ancient law (1861)].
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
John Tyndall
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
1 Mar [1871]
Source of text:
DAR 106: C7
Summary:
JT suggests that Ogle call upon him so that they can arrange experiments suitable for his purpose.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
