From:
Charles Henry Brett
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
1 May 1871
Source of text:
DAR 90: 74
Summary:
Corrects Descent: snipes do breed in Ireland.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles William Peach
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
1 May 1871
Source of text:
DAR 89: 177–8
Summary:
Sends specimens of gulf-weed and cirripedes for CD to identify.
Various observations on Descent,
inherited deafness,
recognition of musical notes by dog, etc.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Francis Galton
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
2 May 1871
Source of text:
DAR 105: 30
Summary:
Is sending his reply to Nature, justifying his misunderstanding as well as he can [see 7717].
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Herbert Spencer
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
2 May 1871
Source of text:
DAR 177: 229
Summary:
Intends to answer Sir A. Grant’s article if CD does not. [A. Grant, "Philosophy and Mr Darwin", Contemp. Rev. 17 (1871): 274–81; H. Spencer, "Mental evolution", Contemp. Rev. 17 (1871): 461–2.]
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Langstaff
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
3 May 1871
Source of text:
DAR 195.2 (letters): 37
Summary:
Contraction of platysma occurs during surgery under chloroform from touch of knife, independently of fear.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Henry Lonsdale
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
3 May 1871
Source of text:
DAR 87: 47–8
Summary:
Credit for observation on supra-condyloid foramen in man is really due to Robert Knox, not John Struthers, as in Descent.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Maxwell Tylden Masters
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
6 May 1871
Source of text:
DAR 171: 82
Summary:
After reading Descent, MTM sends report of a dog that woke its master at 7 a.m. on work days and 8 a.m. on Sunday.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Luigi Pomba
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
6 May 1871
Source of text:
DAR 174: 57
Summary:
Arrangements for Italian translation of Descent [1871].
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
William Thierry (William) Preyer
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
8 May 1871
Source of text:
DAR 87: 49–51
Summary:
Delighted that CD does not hesitate to follow his theory to its last consequences. "This is far more difficult in England than in Germany."
Wilhelm Müller in his new book [Beiträge zur pathologischen Anatomie und Physiologie des menschlichen Rückenmarks (1871)], adduces many facts in favour of CD’s theory.
Various observations on the human ear. [See Descent, 2d ed., p. 14 n.]
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Vladimir Onufrievich Kovalevsky (Владимир Онуфриевич Ковалевский)
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
10 May 1871
Source of text:
DAR 169: 89
Summary:
Paris is in the hands of "brigands and socialists", but one grows accustomed to sporadic bombardment,
and VOK is peacefully studying invertebrate palaeontology collections.
Reports on Paul Gervais’ successful cross between a Triton and an axolotl.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
John Murray
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
10 May 1871
Source of text:
DAR 171: 398
Summary:
Offers CD same payment for the 3d issue of Descent as for 2d.
Has bespoke four better drawings of birds in case a 4th issue is needed.
Vanity Fair wants CD’s portrait by Carlo Pellegrini ["Ape"].
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Johann Wilhelm Spengel
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
10 May 1871
Source of text:
DAR 177: 235
Summary:
Thanks CD for his letter referring to JWS’s bibliographical paper ["Darwinian bibliography", Z. Ethnol. 3 (1871): 56–67]. Will be glad to inform CD of any additions to the list and would be grateful for information on future publications.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Francis Ellingwood Abbot
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
11 May 1871
Source of text:
DAR 159: 1
Summary:
Wishes to inform CD that, contrary to CD’s impression, natural selection is widely accepted in U. S. by educated men; encloses copies of his lectures, papers, and the Index.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Francis Galton
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
12 May 1871
Source of text:
DAR 105: 31–2
Summary:
Writes that he does not share at all in Lionel Beale’s letter in Nature [4 (1871): 25–6];
his new experiments are not hopeful.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
George Howard Darwin
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
[14 May 1871]
Source of text:
DAR 210.2: 18
Summary:
Has arranged a trip to the U. S. with Cambridge friends; believes it would be much jollier if Frank could go too.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Alfred Russel Wallace
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
14 May 1871
Source of text:
DAR 106: B100–1
Summary:
Recommends [W. M. Williams] The fuel of the sun [1870] as remarkably illuminating about physical astronomy. Williams solves the problem of duration of sun’s heat in "a most satisfactory manner".
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
Text Online
From:
Alfred Russel Wallace
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
14 May 1871
Source of text:
- Cambridge University Library: DAR 106: B100-101
- British Library, The: BL Add. 46434 f. 223
- Wallace Family Collection (private collection)
- Marchant, J. (Ed.). (1916). In: Alfred Russel Wallace; Letters and Reminiscences. Vol. 1. London & New York: Cassell & Co. [pp. 263-264]
Summary:
No summary available.
Contributor:
Alfred Russel Wallace Correspondence Project
From:
Andrew Smith
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
16 May 1871
Source of text:
DAR 89: 179–80
Summary:
Disagrees with CD and especially with Lubbock and McLennan about communal marriage. [See Descent 2: 361–3.]
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Francis Darwin
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
[after 16 May 1871]
Source of text:
DAR 274.1: 17
Summary:
He is waiting to hear about the requirements for the MB examination before considering the possible trip to north America.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
John William Strutt, 3d Baron Rayleigh
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
[after 20 May 1871?]
Source of text:
DAR 176: 26
Summary:
Criticises a book [W. M. Williams, The fuel of the sun (1870)] whose author does not understand thermodynamics, spectrum analysis, and W. Thomson’s papers.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project