From:
Alexander J. B. Hope
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[1 April 1859]
Source of text:
RS:HS 9.465
Summary:
Would be grateful if JH would allow his name to be added to AH's Committee.
Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
Maury
To:
Mary Somerville
Date:
1 Apr 1859
Source of text:
MSM 3 / 195, Dep. c. 371, Bod, MS
Summary:
No summary available.
Contributor:
Brigitte Stenhouse
From:
John Murray
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
1 Apr 1859
Source of text:
National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms. 41913 p.32)
Summary:
On the strength of CD’s details about his work on species and his knowledge of CD’s former publications, JM offers to publish [Origin] without seeing the MS.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
Date:
2 Apr [1859]
Source of text:
DAR 115: 9
Summary:
Thanks for letter of caution about Murray. He has offered to publish without seeing MS. CD thinks book will be popular to a certain extent. Lyell’s inducing Murray to publish Origin grates CD’s pride.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
John William Lubbock, 3d baronet
Date:
2 Apr [1859]
Source of text:
The Royal Society (LUB: D25)
Summary:
Comments on water rising in their wells.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
John Murray
Date:
2 Apr [1859]
Source of text:
National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42153 ff.18–19)
Summary:
Accepts JM’s terms for publication of Origin. If, on reading the MS, JM thinks it will not sell, CD frees him from the offer. Will send chapters soon so he can judge. Though some parts are dry and abstruse, CD thinks it will be interesting to "those who care for the curious problem of the origin of all animate forms".
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
John Tyndall
To:
Thomas Archer Hirst
Date:
2rd April 1859
Source of text:
MS JT/1/T/649, RI
Summary:
No summary available.
Contributor:
Tyndall Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
John Murray
Date:
5 Apr [1859]
Source of text:
National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42152 ff.35–35A)
Summary:
Sends title and first three chapters [of Origin]. Thinks first chapter will interest the public and is sure views are original. If JM thinks otherwise, he should freely reject the work. Chapter 2 is dull and abstruse, chapter 3 is plain and interesting.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Robert Main
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[6 April 1859]
Source of text:
RS:HS 12.277
Summary:
Is a candidate for the position of Radcliffe Observer and would be pleased if JH would send a testimonial to the Radcliffe Trustees.
Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Alfred Russel Wallace
Date:
6 Apr 1859
Source of text:
The British Library (Add MS 46434)
Summary:
First part of Origin MS is with Murray;
CD hopes he has noticed ARW’s work fairly.
ARW is right in thinking that CD was led to believe that selection was the principle of change from studying domesticated productions and that after reading Malthus he "saw at once how to apply this principle". Geographical distribution and geological relations of extinct and recent inhabitants of S. America first led him to the subject, "Especially case of Galapagos Islds". Hooker and Lubbock are full converts and Huxley now believes in species mutation. "We shall live to see all the younger men converts."
Praises ARW’s work and spirit.
CD had actually written a letter to ARW stating he would not publish before him but was persuaded by Lyell and Hooker to allow them to act "as they thought fair & honourably".
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
Date:
7 Apr [1859]
Source of text:
DAR 115: 10
Summary:
Has read first sheets of JDH’s Flora Tasmaniae [introductory] essay [published separately as On the flora of Australia (1859)]. Criticises lack of evidence supporting views that best marked varieties occur at edges of range of species and that species remain under cultivation for many generations and suddenly begin to vary.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
[8–11 Apr 1859]
Source of text:
DAR 100: 127
Summary:
Lyell has been strongly urging John Murray to publish CD’s book [Origin]. JDH feels Lyell overestimates the public interest in such works.
Gives examples of plants showing most marked varieties on the edge of their range.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Edward William Brayley
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[8 April 1859]
Source of text:
RS:HS 4.220
Summary:
Would like JH's support for his application for a position of examiner at East India Company's College. Cannot find out what he has done with Karl Kreil's book. Will send him a copy of his lecture.
Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
William Bernhard Tegetmeier
Date:
9 Apr [1859]
Source of text:
Natural History Museum, Library and Archives (tipped into W. B. Tegetmeier’s presentation copy of Origin (DC BD 309); General Special Collections DC AL 1/6)
Summary:
Thanks WBT for his help with poultry
and informs him about his forthcoming work [Origin].
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
William Darwin Fox
Date:
10 Apr [1859]
Source of text:
Christ’s College Library, Cambridge (MS 53 Fox 121)
Summary:
Sympathises with family on death of WDF’s mother [Anne Fox née Darwin].
Sends details of fees at Moor Park hydropathic establishment.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Thomas Webster
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[10 April 1859]
Source of text:
RS:HS 18.131
Summary:
Not at home today when JH's son called. Conveys Mr. Allan's gratitude for JH's promise to inaugurate literary society.
Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
Date:
11 Apr [1859]
Source of text:
DAR 115: 11
Summary:
Murray has read first three chapters of Origin and abides by his offer to publish.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
Date:
12 [Apr 1859]
Source of text:
DAR 115: 12
Summary:
CD agrees cultivated plants may begin to vary after some time and then may vary suddenly, but cautions JDH on lack of evidence. His explanation is that small variations are ignored until they accumulate.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Heinrich Wilhelm Dove
To:
John Tyndall
Date:
Undated
Source of text:
MS JT/1/D/138, RI
Summary:
No summary available.
Contributor:
Tyndall Project
From:
Robert Arthington Jr.
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[16 April 1859]
Source of text:
RS:HS 1.414
Summary:
Saw him at the B.A.A.S. meeting at Leeds. Raises query regarding the sun and Thomas Paine's views on deism.
Contributor:
John Herschel Project