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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.
Has been reading Samuel Haughton on geological time ["Notes on physical geology, no. III", Proc. R. Soc. Lond. 26 (1877): 534–46]. It is utter rubbish. Asks whether CD thinks GHD should write a critical note on the subject [see Nature 17 (1878): 509–10].
CD at first thought GHD should not answer Haughton [see 10689], but Hooker thinks if no correction is made Haughton’s error will be quoted for 20 years. CD is now inclined to agree.
Recounts some figures relating deaf-mutism and consanguineous marriages.
GHD has failed to be elected to the Royal Society.
CD believes few or none have attributed deaf-mutism to consanguineous marriages.
No summary available.
Is frustrated to see, from a paragraph in Nature [18 (1878): 242], that Charles Lagrange has got hold of the same sort of ideas as he has.
Erasmus is unwell.
Asks for sketches of [Thalia] pistil, in which he is much interested.
Refers to Charles Lagrange, who is working on the same subject as GHD, but in a fundamentally different way.
Rejoices that "Lagrange’s case does not seem very bad".
CD is working hard at dissecting Thalia. Has recovered some handiness with microscope.
Sends drawings of specimens [of Thalia] CD requested.
Thanks GHD for his drawings [of Thalia]. Some parts need attention.
Writes to say that the point on which he thought GHD’s drawings were mistaken proves to be an error in his own observation.
He and Emma rejoice that GHD’s mathematical troubles are at an end. It is miraculous that he unconsciously followed the right course – like composing a sonata by a fluke.
Recounts the experiments on Fechner’s law he has found in Helmholz; they are on the smallest perceptible differences of illumination. Describes how to test whether plants’ responses to lights are in accordance with it.
Rejoices that he should have "staggered" William Thomson so quickly and that the latter should speak of GHD’s "discovery". The internal heat [of the earth] will please geologists and evolutionists.
Forwards pamphlet (Jules Carret 1878) to GHD.
Encloses William Thomson’s report on GHD’s paper. Some of it was written in Rayleigh’s hand.
Delighted with [William Thomson’s] report. "There can be no doubt now about the value of your work." CD has "not been so much pleased for a long time".
Asks CD if he would screw himself up to inviting A. Newton to Down.
