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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.
Acknowledges Mrs H’s disappointing answer to his quest for a house in the country. Five miles from a railway station is "the length of my tether".
Is "stomachy and be-blue-devilled" because of costs of publishing [Zoology and Coral reefs]. Wonders how the remainder [of the Zoology and Geology of "Beagle"] can be published without taking £200 or £300 out of their personal funds.
Is sending fish skins and bottles off to Cambridge Philosophical Society.
Fish numbers [of Zoology], now finished, give CD satisfaction when he doubts whether he ought to have applied for Government money.
Wishes Thomas Bell would finish his part [Reptiles].
CD has just corrected last page of index of Coral reefs.
Gives instructions for sending out copies of Coral reefs to various journals. Discusses the complimentary copies which have already been sent out.
Comments on HES’s Report ["Report of a committee … (on) nomenclature of zoology", Rep. BAAS 12 (1842): 105–21]. Suggests limit be put to changing names that are only partially erroneous to prevent those who detect the error from coining new names and attaching their own. HES’s rule for "authority for a species" is difficult, though on the whole best. Suggests stating it boldly to prevent appropriation of species names by "tacker[s] of two old names together".
[Excerpt copied from a letter CD wrote to WHF.]
CD’s gratefulness to William Buckland for his guidance on the glaciated terrain of N. Wales. "I am also convinced that the valleys of Glen Roy … have been occupied by arms of the Sea, & very likely, (for on that point I cannot of course doubt Agassiz & Buckland) by glaciers also."
Has made an offer for house at Down, renting having been refused. Discusses price, risks involved, and Edward Cresy’s advice.
Discusses elevations along Holyhead Road [Anglesey].
Location of village of Bethesda [NW Wales].
Describes the village of Down and the house they are thinking of buying.
The Smith, Elder & Co. account for the first number of part five of the Zoology, now published, is presented.
Gives the height of Shrewsbury above sea-level.
Congratulates HES on producing an authoritative document [BAAS committee report on zoological nomenclature].
Has been to N. Wales looking at glacier traces described by W. Buckland, which are most interesting and clear. Has written an article on what he saw ["Ancient glaciers of Caernarvonshire" (1842), Collected papers 1: 163–71].
Discusses toad [mentioned in Journal of researches, p. 115].
Describes house at Down.
Discusses relationship of subsidence to the formation of coral reefs.
Francis Beaufort has instructed ABB to order three copies of Coral Reefs.
Thanks GRW for collection [of insects] he has made up for CD’s nephew.
Leaves decision to GRW as to which institutions should receive CD’s Beagle insects.
CD is too dull and languid to see Mr Bicheno but will be glad to answer his questions if he writes.
Asks WY to ask J. Sebright "whether the cross with white bantam brought back any of the ""secondary male characters"" to the hen–cock breed".
Emma and Doddy [W. E. Darwin] like Down. CD has met, and plans to employ, the local surgeon. "I feel sure I shall become deeply attached to Down, with a few improvements".
CD gives JSH Fuegian paints and spears and a Pacific dolphin hook for his museum.
