From:
Frederic William Farrar
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
1 Feb [1866]
Source of text:
DAR 164: 36
Summary:
Is seeking election to the Royal Society.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Ernst Philipp August (Ernst) Haeckel
Date:
1 Feb 1866
Source of text:
Ernst-Haeckel-Haus (Bestand A-Abt. 1-52/9)
Summary:
Thanks for photographs [of German scientists].
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
John Tyndall
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[1866?]-2
Source of text:
RS:HS 17.399c
Summary:
Corrects misinformation about refraction and dispersion of mercury ethyl and mercury methyl.
Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Friedrich Rolle
Date:
1 Feb [1866]
Source of text:
Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum, Frankfurt (SNG-Archiv: Malakol.: Nachlass Rolle)
Summary:
Thanks for all five numbers of Der Mensch [1866].
Had not known that Rütimeyer had written on modification of species.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Isaac Todhunter
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[2 February 1866]
Source of text:
RS:HS 17.357
Summary:
Makes suggestions for the solution to the three point probability problem using integrals of infinity.
Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Jeffries Wyman
Date:
2 Feb 1866
Source of text:
Jeffries Wyman Jr (private collection)
Summary:
Obliged for JW’s information on variability of size of bees’ cells. Hexagonal cells not always work of several insects. W. H. Miller found great variability in thickness of cell walls.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles James Fox Bunbury, 8th baronet
To:
Charles Lyell, 1st baronet
Date:
3 Feb 1866
Source of text:
F. J. Bunbury ed. 1891–3, Later life 1: 134–6.
Summary:
Discusses Louis Agassiz’s theory of the glaciation of Brazil.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Frederic William Farrar
Date:
3 Feb [1866]
Source of text:
National Library of Australia (MS 5907)
Summary:
Will be pleased to sign FWF’s certificate for the Royal Society if he can send it to CD, who does not have the strength to go to London.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
4 Feb 1866
Source of text:
DAR 102: 57–8
Summary:
Asks CD whether he knows of a medicine to check vomiting – for a friend dying from starvation as a result.
Duke of Somerset is looking for two naturalists for survey ship to Korea and Strait of Magellan.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Alfred Russel Wallace
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
4 Feb 1866
Source of text:
DAR 106: B31–2
Summary:
Looks forward to reading Variation.
Explains how two or more female forms occur in one species through selection. The physiological problem remains of how each produces offspring like the other without intermediates. Is not CD’s case of varieties that will not blend the physiological test of a species needed for "complete proof of the origin of species"?
"Travels" postponed.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Frederic William Farrar
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
5 Feb 1866
Source of text:
DAR 164: 37
Summary:
Thanks CD for supporting his application to the Royal Society.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Sir John Herschel
To:
Julia Margaret Cameron
Date:
[5 February 1866]
Source of text:
RS:HS 5.163 & 24.140
Summary:
Cannot give advice on the artistic merits of her photographs as he is not qualified, but offers suggestions and praise on the mechanics of the art.
Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
James Shaw
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
[6–10 Feb 1866]
Source of text:
DAR 84.1: 14–17
Summary:
Memorandum of a meeting of the Natural History & Antiquarian Society held in Dumfries on Tuesday 6 February 1866.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Frederick Ransome
Date:
[6 Feb 1866]
Source of text:
DAR 96: 13
Summary:
Requests repayment of loan as FR promised last spring.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Alfred Russel Wallace
Date:
[6 Feb 1866]
Source of text:
The British Library (Add 46434, f. 64)
Summary:
ARW’s simple explanation of dimorphic forms is satisfactory.
On "non-blending" of certain varieties, CD thinks ARW has not understood him. He does not refer to fertility. He crossed two differently coloured varieties of peas and "got both varieties perfect, but none intermediate". Something like this must occur in ARW’s butterflies.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Charles Lyell, 1st baronet
Date:
7 Feb [1866]
Source of text:
American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.312)
Summary:
Discussion of Mrs Agassiz’s letter [to Mary Lyell, forwarded to CD] regarding S. American glacial action,
with comments on Bunbury’s letter on temperate plants.
Refers to opinions of Agassiz, David Forbes, Hooker, and CD on glacial period and glaciers.
Wishes he had published a long chapter on glacial period [Natural selection, pp. 535–66] written ten years ago.
Tells of death of his sister, Catherine, and other family matters.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Frederick Ransome
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
7 Feb 1866
Source of text:
DAR 99: 26–7
Summary:
Is compelled to ask for postponement of payment of principal. His invention is gaining ground. Will pay interest until payment is made.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Ernst F. W. Klinkerfues
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[8 February 1866]
Source of text:
RS:HS 11.56
Summary:
Sending a pamphlet on the quality of refracted light. Hopes JH will communicate it to the R.S.L.
Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
Lionel Smith Beale
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
9 Feb 1866
Source of text:
DAR 160: 101
Summary:
Sends the numbers [of periodicals?] CD wished to see, and a list of other journals in which his papers have appeared.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Gardeners’ Chronicle
Date:
[before 10 Feb 1866]
Source of text:
Gardeners’ Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette , 10 February 1866, p. 127
Summary:
Asks botanical readers to inform him "whether in those monoecious or dioecious plants, in which the flowers are widely different, it has ever been observed that half the flower, or only a segment of it, has been of one sex and the other half or segment of the opposite sex, in the same manner as so frequently occurs with insects?"
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project