From:
Edmund Saul (Eugene Sebastian Delamer) Dixon
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
[Apr–June 1849]
Source of text:
DAR 84.1: 146
Summary:
On domestication of pigeons and hybrid geese.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
[A. J. F.] Yvon Villarceau
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[1 April 1849]
Source of text:
RS:HS 17.418
Summary:
Asks for JH's comments on YV's specific double star observations. YV presents the mathematical method he uses to calculate double star orbits, which he had presented to the Paris Académie in 1847, but it was not published.
Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
Sir John Herschel
To:
Augustus De Morgan
Date:
1849-4
Source of text:
RS:HS 23.66
Summary:
Needs to revise Outlines Astr., and will include Ernesto Capocchi's announcement of the discovery of another planet; some further corrections of JH's double star paper.
Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
George Bentham
Date:
1 April 1849
Source of text:
JDH/2/3/2 f.39-40, The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Summary:
No summary available.
Contributor:
Hooker Project
From:
Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
George Bentham
Date:
1 April 1849
Source of text:
JDH/1/10 f.148-150, The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Summary:
JDH thanks George Bentham for taking over from [Jules Émile] 'Citoyen' Planchon on Niger Flora. At Darjeeling JDH enjoys assistance from Brian Houghton Hodgson[BHH] & Müller; the latter is a Calcutta [Kolkata] Mint accountant. Pending approval from the Rajah JDH will travel more. JDH describes his daily routine whilst travelling & collecting with his Lepcha assistants, also describes his camp, challenges of difficult terrain, the scenery & his curiosity about the old roads. You cannot stray from the road as in the Alps & Andes. Bhutan & Upper Assam are closed to travellers & the low areas are unhealthy. JDH describes an unknown Sonneratia tree & mentions new Michelia & Cucurbitacea. JDH has published papers for the Asiatic Society. He wants to study the geography & natural history of eastern Himalaya as it has been ignored except by BHH. Botanically it can be divided into tropical, temperate & arctic areas. He describes the vegetation in Sikkim province: the area bounded by Kinchin [Kanchenjunga] & Teesta River, & compares it to that of Bhutan & Nepal. The description discusses: tropical jungle, conifers, Taxus, Pinus longifoli, P.deodara, P.pindrow, P.excelsa, P.smithiana, wild Cupressus, Brunonia, larch, palms, Cycas, Pandanus, Cruciferae, Ranunculus, Saxifraga, Primula, Oak, Magnolia, Lauri, Abies brunoniana, A. webbiana, Rhododendron, dwarf Juniper, tropical genera at unusual heights, pepper, Ficus, Calamus, Licualia, Wallichia, India-rubber fig, lack of open sward & European genera, pine forests, lack of legumes except Parochetus, Erythrina & different elevations at which characteristic vegetation appears. JDH discusses the climate of Sikkim & its influencing factors: the South East Monsoons & the Khasya & Behar Hills. Enmann’s Travels make JDH want to see Siberia & Chinese Tartary [Soongaria]. JDH also mentions: Edgeworth; Falconer going to Moulmein; Thompson, the deputy opium examiner at Patna; Crawford; Winterbotham in Tibet, Wallich & an Irish lady.
Contributor:
Hooker Project
From:
Henry Anthony Jeffreys
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[2 April 1849]
Source of text:
TxU:H/MW-0025.1; Reel 14
Summary:
Describes HJ's formal petition against Stuart Watley's bill for reform of marriage laws.
Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
[Elizabeth 'Bessy' Evans Lombe (nee Hooker)]
Date:
2-4-[1849]
Source of text:
JDH/1/10 f.151-152, The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Summary:
JDH writes about his Bhotea mastiffs. He describes their physical appearance & savagery before being tamed, which he calls as bad as Bruno. JDH also has a puppy: a cross between Thibet [Tibet] mastiff & Lepcha hunting dog. He carried the puppy up Kinchin [Kanchenjunga] & named him after the mountain. JDH had to clean Kinchin daily with mustard oil & wood ashes, he likes bones like Skye but not the cook or rice, he is clever & steals cheese & JDH’s dinner. JDH jokes that Kinchin learnt English & that he was teaching the dog to write. Kinchin is now six months old & collects plants for JDH. Illustrated.
Contributor:
Hooker Project
From:
Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Sir William Jackson Hooker
Date:
2 April 1849
Source of text:
JDH/1/10 f.153, The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Summary:
No summary available.
Contributor:
Hooker Project
From:
Henry Anthony Jeffreys
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
3] April [1849
Source of text:
TxU:H/MW-0025.2; Reel 14
Summary:
Thanks for JH's corrections to HJ's formal petition [against marriage reform bill].
Contributor:
John Herschel Project
Text Online
From:
Michael Faraday
To:
Arthur Watson
Date:
3 April 1849
Source of text:
GL MS 30108/1/49
Summary:
No summary available.
Contributor:
Faraday Project
Text Online
From:
Michael Faraday
To:
William Barchard
Date:
3 April 1849
Source of text:
GL MS 30108/1/49
Summary:
No summary available.
Contributor:
Faraday Project
From:
Urbain J. J. Leverrier
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[3 April 1849]
Source of text:
RS:HS 11.205
Summary:
Read part of JH's letter to the Institute and Yvon Villarceau also presented his own method. Will see the letter printed in the Comptes rendus.
Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
George Biddell Airy
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[4 April 1849]
Source of text:
RGO 6.231.395
Summary:
Glad to hear that Margaret Louisa [JH's daughter] is coming to visit GA's family; could JH send along the key to the R.A.S. strong box?
Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
Francis Charles Knowles
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[5 April 1849]
Source of text:
RS:HS 11.64
Summary:
Looks forward to the new edition of JH's Treatise Astr. Comments on the atmosphere and gases on the surface of the moon. What does JH think of these comments?
Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
Sir John Herschel
To:
George Biddell Airy
Date:
[5] April 1849
Source of text:
RGO 6.231.396
Summary:
Responds to GA's 1849-4-4, and sends the key.
Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Lady Maria Hooker (nee Turner)
Date:
6 April 1849
Source of text:
JDH/1/10 f.154-155, The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Summary:
JDH is at Calcutta [Kolkata] with [Hugh] Falconer. He has failed regarding Nepal so will travel towards Sylhet & Khassya [Khasi]. Uncomfortable terms with Commander in Chief Sir Charles Napier, mean Lord Dalhousie has refused permission for [Thomas] Thomson to spend a year with JDH on duty so he will take it as furlough. JDH discusses Calcutta Society & his friends & acquaintances there, who include: the Colviles; Colonel Thornsby, the British Resident at the Court of Nepal; the Taylers, including Miss T who will do JDH’s portrait better than her father; Jung Bahadur; Gurney’s friend Reverend Street; & the old Bishop of Calcutta. He describes the Nepalese Princes currently in Calcutta, they will visit RBG Kew having paid penance for crossing the water at the temple of Juggernauth. Mr Tayler gave JDH a picture of Kinchin-Junga [Kanchenjunga] as seen from [Brian Houghton] Hodgson’s window JDH will have [Walter Hood] Fitch copy & return the painting & ask Reeves to publish the copy in lithograph with sales profits going to the Linnean Society. JDH is sending sandalwood boxes for his mother & the RBG Kew museum. It is not worth sending unauthentic, overpriced gold jewellery & trinkets. JDH describes his time at Government House with Lord Dalhousie, Metcalfe & Bowie, the latter was prisoner to Shere Singh with the Lawrences during the battles of Chillianwallah, Ramnagar & Goojaret [Gujerat]. He mentions that Courtenay sings at the grand parties & that horses in Calcutta are expensive. JDH will leave for Darjeeling on 9 Apr. He mentions Isabella’s gossip concerning Dr [Archibald] Campbell, Willy, Glasgow College, a Dr C. of Largs & Dr McGilvray.
Contributor:
Hooker Project
From:
George Biddell Airy
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[7 April 1849]
Source of text:
RGO 6.371.106
Summary:
Some responses to the question of copyright and of revision of articles prepared for the Encyclopaedia Metropolitana.
Contributor:
John Herschel Project
Text Online
From:
Ferdinand Mertens
To:
Ferdinand von Mueller
Date:
9 April 1849
Source of text:
RB MSS M99.6, Library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne
Summary:
No summary available.
Contributor:
Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
Date:
9 Apr 1849
Source of text:
DAR 114: 114
Summary:
Does not recommend that JDH publish extracts of his letters from India in the Athenæum.
CD criticises JDH’s observations on glacial deposits in Himalayas as insufficiently clear and detailed.
CD will live to finish barnacles and make a fool of himself over species.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Sir John Herschel
To:
George Biddell Airy
Date:
[9 April 1849]
Source of text:
RGO 6.231.176
Summary:
Is making a case for JH's priority claims with regard to the means of determining double star orbits, in conflict with Yvon Villarceau.
Contributor:
John Herschel Project