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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.
Asks about Fuegian specimens stored at the Geological Society. CD needs them soon.
Arranges a time for visiting HF.
Sends names of species found in banks of marine shells near Buenos Aires. Shells identified by G. B. Sowerby (elder). [See South America, pp. 2–3.]
Complain about the postal service to Down and urgently request improvement.
Arranges to call on correspondent and bring some shells.
Says tuff collected by CD in Pampas and Chile contains organic remains. Wants to examine specimens further and hopes for Government support in doing so.
Sends specimens of a Tertiary sandstone from Tierra del Fuego in which there are leaves; CD thought they were beech. What is JDH’s opinion?
Asks whether JDH can make sense of a note on silicified wood.
Has read Vestiges [of creation (1844)]; "his geology strikes me as bad, & his zoology far worse".
Would like to see lists [of plants] from Society and Sandwich Islands.
Doubts JDH’s information regarding imagination of mother affecting offspring.
Describes stratification of cliffs on south shore of Rio Gallegos; fossils found at base of cliffs. Speculates about geological past of the area. Discusses climate of southern Patagonia; navigation problems at the mouth of Rio Gallegos.
Gives results of soundings taken between Falkland Islands and South American mainland. Describes geology of Falklands, especially the dikes found on many islands. Comments on climate of Falklands. Discusses horses and cattle, health of his children in the Falklands. Mentions volutes found in the Falklands.
Passes on report of FitzRoy’s policies as governor of New Zealand.
Has read CHS’s paper, "Original population of America" [Edinburgh New Philos. J. 38 (1844–5): 1–20], and is eager to know reference for the account of a "ruined city in the Caroline Group", indicating that the land has subsided. Refers to his own subsidence hypothesis in his work [Coral reefs].
Sends comparison of the floras of Society and Sandwich Islands.
Would like copy of "Galapagos flora" when published ["Plants of the Galapagos Archipelago", Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 20 (1851): 163–233].
Will keep JDH’s Pacific island notes till his return.
Reports on an ancient town on Ascension, which is now at sea-level and approachable only by boat.
Would like sketch returned [see 775].
Would be particularly thankful for result of CGE’s observations on earth of Pampas.
Asks that Ernst Dieffenbach return copperplate and woodcuts.
Discusses extract sent by CHS dealing with island of Pouynipéte. Agrees account of island by Lloghtsky [Johann Lhotsky] is suspect.
Comments on view that former migration of animals, plants, and man was by continental extensions now submerged.
Previous letter [missing] on Edinburgh position was ill-tempered. Friends assure him that he ought to be thankful for opportunity to try for professorship.
Reports meeting with Humboldt in Paris.
News of the children and books he is reading.
Mainly news of the three children.
Discusses EWB’s application for a position and his qualifications.
CD sends queries on chemical composition of various Beagle mineral specimens.
Remarks on fossils described in A. D. d’Orbigny’s Voyage dans l’Amérique méridionale.
Asks CL whether he has talked with John Murray concerning 2d ed. [of Journal of researches].
Mentions conversation with Hugh Cuming about South American shells. Has had G. B. Sowerby (elder) look at some specimens.