From:
Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
George Bentham
Date:
?-3-1846
Source of text:
JDH/2/3/2 f.24-25, The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Summary:
No summary available.
Contributor:
Hooker Project
From:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
2 [Mar] 1846
Source of text:
DAR 100: 63–8
Summary:
Thanks for Edward Forbes’s letter. Botanical evidence conflicts with parts of his theory but supports others. Is becoming more of a migrationist.
Bentham agrees with JDH on polymorphism.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Sir John Herschel
To:
Hugh Falconer
Date:
[2 March 1846]
Source of text:
RS:HS B27.71
Summary:
The committee dealing with applying to the government for aid should meet soon, and so JH wants some questions answered from one of the authors of Fauna Antiqua Sivalensis.
Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
Sir John Herschel
To:
Roderick Impey Murchison
Date:
[10 March 1846]
Source of text:
EUL:Gen523/4/31
Summary:
Has unsuccessfully tried to get in touch with [Hugh] Falconer and Falconer's publisher about obtaining further government aid for Falconer's research. Hopes RM, JH's fellow B.A.A.S. committee member, can help.
Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
Christian Gottfried Ehrenberg
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
11 Mar 1846
Source of text:
DAR 39: 62–3
Summary:
Describes Infusoria in Rio Gallegos samples.
"Fluthgebiete" means estuary deposit.
Discusses dust samples from Malta. Asks for further samples.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Roderick Impey Murchison
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[12 March 1846]
Source of text:
RS:HS 12.409
Summary:
Thanks for his congratulations. Gives a resume of the events leading up to the knighthood. Saw Hugh Falconer yesterday. Sister-in-law has just died.
Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
Date:
[13 Mar 1846]
Source of text:
DAR 114: 56
Summary:
Agrees with JDH about Forbes’s views.
Discusses A. Saint-Hilaire’s lectures and asks on what grounds botanists judge the relative "highness" of plants.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Hugh Falconer
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[13 March 1846]
Source of text:
RS:HS B27.72 & 73
Summary:
As HF is likely to be immediately ordered back to India, he is in no position to prepare himself to appear before the government seeking funds to publish Fauna Antiqua Sivalensis. Encloses a brief statement to the above effect to be read to the B.A.A.S. committee.
Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
John R. Hind
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[16 March 1846]
Source of text:
RS:HS 9.329
Summary:
Has not been able to secure any angles of Gamma Virginis due to poor weather. Perplexed over the difference between J. H. Mädler and W. R. Dawes. George Bishop will be pleased to send any measures he may require.
Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
Michael Faraday
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[17 March 1846]
Source of text:
RS:HS 7.188
Summary:
Has a sufficient quantity of heavy glass at his disposal and offers some to JH.
Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
Sir John Herschel
To:
Caroline Lucretia Herschel
Date:
1846-[3-18 or later]
Source of text:
TxU:H/L-0591.3; Reel 1058
Summary:
A collection of birthday greetings from JH, his wife, Margaret, and seven of their children, six of whom wrote their greetings in German. JH refers to Biela's Comet having thrown off a portion of itself, producing what JH calls a 'Double Comet.'
Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
Hans Christian Oersted
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[20 March 1846]
Source of text:
RS:HS 13.168
Summary:
Printed notice of thanks for memoir presented by JH.
Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
Heinrich Christian Schumacher
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[22 March 1846]
Source of text:
RS:HS 15.397
Summary:
Circular announcing that [Theodor] Brorsen in Kiel has discovered a new comet. HS adds note that F. W. Bessel has died.
Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
William Rutter Dawes
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[23 March 1846]
Source of text:
RS:HS 6.71
Summary:
Thanks for the Cometen Circular. Observations of comets he has recently carried out. Thanks for the book on the telescope of William Parsons (3rd Earl of Rosse).
Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
Christian F. Schönbein
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[24 March 1846]
Source of text:
RS:HS 15.358
Summary:
Discovered an agent that renders his paper tough and waterproof. Sends sample for JH's inspection. Treated paper is highly explosive and can discharge a gun.
Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
George Bishop
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[24 March 1846]
Source of text:
TxU:H/M-0105; Reel 1087
Summary:
Received JH's check for £300 for Harris family. Measurements of Gamma Virginis made by W. R. Dawes under GB's direction. Will send future observations to JH.
Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
Date:
[24 Mar 1846]
Source of text:
DAR 114: 57
Summary:
C. G. Ehrenberg wants specimen grasses from Ascension Island.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Christian Gottfried Ehrenberg
Date:
25[–31?] Mar [1846]
Source of text:
Museum für Naturkunde Berlin (MfN/HBSB, N005 NL Christian Gottfried Ehrenberg Nr. 43 Bl. 15–17)
Summary:
Sends copy [of "Fine dust in the Atlantic Ocean", Collected papers 1: 199–202]. Attempting to obtain further samples for CGE.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
[25 Mar 1846]
Source of text:
DAR 104: 188–91
Summary:
JDH recognises the existence of "altered states" of continental species in island floras. The botanists’ difficulty in determining a new species is no grounds for dismissing the important question of altered forms.
Will look for Ascension plants for Ehrenberg.
French Galapagos collections confirm JDH’s view that plants arrived from north.
Cannot agree with Forbes on North Atlantic flora.
Botanical definition of "highness" and "lowness" usually means complexity and simplicity.
Some plants, such as aquatic ones, are cleistogamous. Cannot see why they should not be.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Sir John Herschel
To:
Richard Sheepshanks
Date:
[26 March 1846]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.46 (C: RS:HS 25.9.22)
Summary:
Has received the prints of the portrait of Francis Baily. Finds them impressive.
Contributor:
John Herschel Project