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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.
"I am at work on the nervous mimicry of organic disease: I have some hope that, during my work, I may fall on some facts which may be of interest to you, and you may be sure that I shall send them to you."
Notes some corrections for 2d ed. of Descent.
Worm action at Stonehenge.
Gladstone’s private secretary [West] has written that the Government plans to alter JDH’s position with regard to the First Commissioner of Works [Ayrton].
Huxley is not better after his Brighton trip.
The difficulties of incorporating the reorganised chapters of the 6th English edition of Origin into JJM’s translation, which was made from the 5th edition.
Extract from the History of the rise and progress of the Killerby, Studley and Warlaby herds of shorthorns by William Carr (1867).
Queries about the pitch of children’s crying.
Heartily glad about the news of the Ayrton affair development.
Huxley looks very unwell from too much miscellaneous work; CD wishes he could be made a Director General for transference of British Museum and for other scientific work, as JDH suggests.
Thanks for letter [8137]. Finds observation at Stonehenge of depth of mould at different parts of slope "most valuable".
Further details and measurements of the stones in the courtyard pavement for CD’s investigation of earthworm action.
Sends comments on his diagram of Stonehenge. Will go to Beaulieu.
Sends his reply to Huxley’s criticisms [Contemp. Rev. 19 (1872): 168–97].
Was unaware that chapter headings [of Origin] had been printed off [in French edition (1873)]. Suggests that new part of chapter 7 be printed as appendix.
Feels that StGJM’s review of Descent [Q. Rev. 131 (1871): 47–90] greatly misrepresents CD’s opinions and conclusions. Feels their differences of opinion are so great that discussion of almost any subject would be a waste of both their time.
Praises MT’s observations and asks her to repeat experiments on the the relation of sexes of butterflies to the nutrition of the larvae.
Is glad she will publish her observations on Drosera.
Asks her to probe worm-holes on grassy slopes with a knitting needle to ascertain whether they come out at right angles to the slope or to the horizon.
Asks FD questions about his sketch [missing] of ridges and furrows. [FD’s answers are interlined.]
As a man of science, StGM has no choice but to pursue what he sees as the truth. Will happily admit he has misrepresented CD if CD will disclaim the position that StGM attacks.
CD is grateful for the eulogy in Index [no. 104]. Many would disagree. It is the fashion to say he is a good observer with "an utterly illogical mind".
Wishes their correspondence regarding their differences to be dropped, as CD feels that nothing he could say would have any influence on StGJM.