From:
Erasmus Alvey Darwin
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
[June 1825]
Source of text:
DAR 204: 13
Summary:
Asks CD whether he is making any plans for Edinburgh.
Will be home in three weeks.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
Asks CD whether he is making any plans for Edinburgh.
Will be home in three weeks.
Of dreams, poetry, and JH's winning the Lalande Prize [letter completed 1825-6-6].
Comments negatively on an astronomical paper by Robert Woodhouse. [J. F. A.] Gambert in Marseille has reportedly discovered a comet. Details on the medal to be awarded by the Academy to JH and JS. If, as reported, Wilhelm Struve has come to England, invite him to visit JS in Paris.
Plants for lectures supplied by [Edward] Forster's garden and Loddige's [nursery]. Finished on Thursday to a "thunder of applause"; paid 100 guineas. Visited Horticultural Society gardens and spent pleasant time with [John] Lindley [(1799-1865), botanist], showing that their quarrel is "more than made up". Often breakfasts at the Menzies. [Samuel] Goodenough approves of next fasciculus of "Flora Graeca". Disappointed by Bullock's Mexican curiosities. Met Sir Astley Cooper at Saville Onley's, he continually reads his "Introduction to Botany". A party at the Blackwells; George Blackwell leaving the country for 2 years. His health generally better but his old complaint increased; Dr Davy prescribes Ipecacuanla with laudanum. Attempted and failed to get [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert to be accommodating regarding Linnean Society chair.
Returning to Cookham. Thanks for minerals. Describes shipment of new minerals from Baffin Bay. Expecting another from Rio de la Plata, courtesy of Woodbine Parish [consul-general to Buenos Aires].
No summary available.
Concerning recent works and discussions connected with longitude.
His travel arrangements for Bristol. Account of remainder of his time in London, including visits to Paddington to see [Thomas William] Coke and family; a ball at Mrs Bennett's, sister of [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert, where he met Sir Stamford Raffles [(1781-1826), founder of Singapore], they are now "sworn friends"; attended the King's [George IV (1762-1830)] drawing room; visited Lady Hervey and Miss Caton, Mrs Patterson unwell. Dr [Martin] Davy extravagantly applauded "English Flora".
A meeting with [Thomas] Platt [(d 1842), one of John Sibthorp's executors, supervised the publication of "Flora Graeca"], who is annoyed at the British Museum having claimed a copy of "Flora Graeca" and sued the bookseller according to the act which requires copies to be deposited with public bodies. All say he looks "remarkably well", though thinner; his night perspiration has returned. Lambert insists that they stay at Boyton, [Wiltshire], on return from Bristol as he can get them a sight of Fonthill [Abbey, Wiltshire, built by William Beckford (1760-1844), novelist]. Lady de Clifford [Sophia Southwell] said to be "breaking fast".
No summary available.
Invites Smith to dinner. Recalls visiting Smith at Norwich with her cousins, the Gurneys of Earlham, when she was still Miss Galton [married 1806].
Dined at [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert's with Captain [Phillip Barker] King [(1791-1856], the great New Holland navigator, how is about to publish his voyage, and has named in honour of him a group of islands on the southern coast of New Holland.
[Letter incomplete: fragment only]
No summary available.
Encloses R. Bonne's letter and gives further instructions regarding rockets for experiment.
Edward Sabine declares that R.S.L. is hostile to ES's interests. If ES makes future claim for compensation, JH wants TY's opinion in writing. Need to order four night glasses for Fairlight Station. Encloses letter from [Richard] Copeland.
Efforts to relocate Smith's missing trunk, hopes he has received it by now. Sorry to hear that Smith suffered a cold so bad on his way to Bristol that he had to be bled; hopes he will recover with use of James' Powders and usual precautions.
Clarifies that the six artillery men are at ES's disposal but under JH's command. Agrees to oversee arrival of the rockets. If expenses are to be paid by the Department of Ordinance, a request must be made by the Secretary of the Board of Longitude. Agrees to keep a record of expenses, not including his time spent, which he considers 'public service.'
Six artillery men have been placed under ES's command. Encloses letters from Charles Bonne. Asks ES to oversee the arrival of 180 rockets to be used at Wrotham and Fairlight. Proposes that ES test whether a light at Wrotham can be seen at Fairlight in which case gunpowder will be used instead of rockets. Sets date for ES to meet Bonne in Hornoy. Urges ES to record his expenses for the Board of Longitude.
JS has received the medals awarded JS and JH by the French Academy for their paper on double stars. Reports on his new work on double stars and his observations of [J. F. A.] Gambert's comet.
No summary available.
No summary available.