From:
Edward James Collings
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
21 May 1879
Source of text:
DAR 201: 8
Summary:
Wants information on the use of reason by animals.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
William Mackmurdo Hacon
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
22 May 1879
Source of text:
DAR 166: 20
Summary:
Has searched to no avail for 17th- and 18th-century wills to learn how Elston Hall was acquired by Robert Darwin rather than by William Darwin, even though Robert was the younger son.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Ernst Ludwig (Ernst) Krause
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
23 May 1879
Source of text:
DAR 92: B28
Summary:
Samuel Butler seems not even to have read works of Erasmus Darwin. Quotes only passages quoted by other authors. Thorough account now more necessary than ever.
CD’s preliminary notice should be incorporated in German edition completely unchanged, though some annotation is needed to explain matters unfamiliar to German readers.
Would like to have article by CD for Kosmos.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Edward James Collings
Date:
25 May [1879]
Source of text:
Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge (GEN/D/DARWIN (C)/10)
Summary:
Refers EJC to papers by G. J. Romanes ["Animal intelligence", Nineteenth Century 4 (1878): 653–72] and William James ["Brute and human intellect", J. Speculative Philos. 12 (1878): 236–76] on the mind of animals.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Charles Grant Blairfindie (Grant) Allen
Date:
26 May [1879]
Source of text:
Cleveland Health Sciences Library (Robert M. Stecher collection)
Summary:
Has GA seen an article on GA’s Colour-sense by a great man, J. R. L. Delboeuf, in Revue Scientifique 24 May 1879? It has pleased CD greatly.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Albin Gaertner
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
27 May 1879
Source of text:
DAR 165: 1
Summary:
CD’s works have opened a new world for him.
Sends a case of inheritance: a fingernail biting habit has persisted for four generations in a Viennese lawyer’s family.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Ernst Ludwig (Ernst) Krause
Date:
27 May 1879
Source of text:
The Huntington Library (HM 36185)
Summary:
CD’s preface [for Erasmus Darwin] is delayed by his sitting for a portrait.
Explains to EK why he feels unable to contribute articles to Kosmos.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Violetta Harriot Darwin
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
28 May [1879]
Source of text:
DAR 99: 169–70
Summary:
Will attempt to copy the drawing of Elston Hall [Erasmus Darwin, p. 3]. Does not remember the highway robber story [ibid., pp. 64–5].
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
George Gabriel Stokes, 1st baronet
Date:
28 May 1879
Source of text:
The Royal Society (RR8: 183)
Summary:
Reports on Joseph Prestwich’s paper, "On the origin of the parallel roads of Lochaber" [read 1 May 1879]. Strongly recommends that the paper be published in Philosophical Transactions [Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. 170 (1880): 663–726].
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Francis Darwin
Date:
[before 29 May 1879]
Source of text:
DAR 271.4: 13
Summary:
Try to find and read [a German] account of the fir-trees affected by some fungus which produces upright shoots. CD wants to know whether the case is same as what he has observed in the silver fir. Includes diagram.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Grant Blairfindie (Grant) Allen
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
29 May 1879
Source of text:
DAR 159: 45
Summary:
Thanks for postcard informing him of Delboeuf’s review of his book; he had already seen review.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Francis Darwin
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
29 May 1879
Source of text:
DAR 274.1: 54
Summary:
Fungus is an Aecidium. Porliera, Anthuriums and Aroids will hopefully sprout if weather gets hot. Sachs has changed his ideas about the cause of heliotropism. Describes men he is sharing a lab with.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Reginald Darwin
Date:
29 May [1879]
Source of text:
Kōbunzo (dealers) (1977); DAR 153: 101
Summary:
Encloses a family document [another letter from F. S. Darwin to R. W. Darwin?].
Asks whether RD has ever heard a story about their grandfather and a highway robber.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Edward Frankland
Date:
29 May [1879]
Source of text:
The John Rylands Library, The University of Manchester
Summary:
Hearty thanks for the two bottles of pure water.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Benjamin Ward Richardson
Date:
[before 30 May 1879]
Source of text:
B. W. Richardson [1882] , p. 144
Summary:
Convinced from the experience of his father and grandfather that no cause has led to so much suffering and inherited ill-health as the consumption of alcohol.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Violetta Harriot Darwin
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
30 [May 1879]
Source of text:
DAR 210.14: 27
Summary:
Will be glad to draw Elston Hall for CD.
Gives some details of Sir Brook Boothby.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Anthony Rich
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
30 May 1879
Source of text:
DAR 210.12: 10
Summary:
Speaks of the delight of having met CD.
Hopes William Darwin may be able to visit Worthing.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
George Howard Darwin
Date:
31 May [1879]
Source of text:
DAR 210.1: 83
Summary:
Sends a letter [missing] on the chance that GHD might give the writer information about tides.
Rejoices at GHD’s friendship with Sir W. Thomson and grand vein of research he has struck on.
First draft of life of Dr [Erasmus] D[arwin] is nearly finished.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Reginald Darwin
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
31 May 1879
Source of text:
DAR 99: 156–7
Summary:
Thanks CD for another letter [of his father’s].
Cannot call to mind the story about the robber [see Erasmus Darwin, pp. 64–5].
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
George Sketchley Ffinden
Date:
31 May 1879
Source of text:
Bromley Historic Collections, Bromley Central Library (P/123/3/4)
Summary:
CD’s sister-in-law, S. E. Wedgwood, is willing to refund £10 of the money paid for her land if the Ecclesiastical Commissioners will write saying she ought to do so, or if a qualified surveyor proves that the first measurement was wrong.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project