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The Correspondence of John Stevens Henslow
John Stevens Henslow (1796–1861) spent his adult life attached to the University of Cambridge. He graduated in mathematics in 1818, then acted as a demonstrator for the Professor of Chemistry, carried out and published papers on field geology, and was a founder of the Cambridge Philosophical Society in 1821. He held two University Chairs: Mineralogy from 1823–27, and Botany from 1825 until his death in 1861.
Henslow was closely involved in University affairs and the introduction of science into the Cambridge Tripos. He was a gifted teacher and pedagogic innovator. His best-known student was Charles Darwin, with whom he maintained a life-long friendship and correspondence. Henslow also acted as the (unofficial) agent for Lord Palmerston, one of the University’s two MPs, in the election of 1826.
In 1823 Henslow was ordained and became curate of Little St Mary’s. He was awarded the living of Cholsey in 1835, and became Rector of Hitcham, near Stowmarket in Suffolk, in 1837. Henslow moved to Hitcham, but continued giving his botany course at Cambridge in May every year until his death. During this time, he attempted to introduce science into agriculture nationally and locally, whilst also taking steps to improve the lives of agricultural labourers. Universal education was a constant concern for him, through the University of London, the Department of Science and Art, regional museums, and his parish school.
Henslow had a network of correspondents across all levels of society, nearly 300 in these surviving letters. The letters he retained until his death are mostly held in the Cambridge University Library, but others have been dispersed around the world. Letters between Henslow and Darwin were published in 1967 (by Nora Barlow) and also in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin (from 1985 onwards).
The Henslow letters have been collected and transcribed by M. E. Edmunds, K. H. Joice, A. L. Jones, D. Kohn, J. G. Murrell and J. S. Parker.
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Discusses inability to vote for the University as he and his brother have taken their names off the Boards; he has votes for Palmerston only.
Discusses appointment of new trustees for JSH’s chantry lands. List of current trustees enclosed with known deaths noted.
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Asks JSH to make contact with Joseph Jukes, ahead of his 1842 expedition to New Guinea, the Torres Straits and Australia, in order to increase his understanding of botany.
Asks whether JSH can send specimens of some of the rarer plants found in the Cambridge region. Invites him to Edinburgh and offers access to duplicates.
Discusses JSH’s description of the leaves of Malaxis paludosa and states that he made the same description at an earlier date but did not publish it. Casts doubt on the observation that they are parasitic.
Requests British specimens of Malaxis paludosa and offers JSH a Swiss specimen.
Discusses planned trip to the Scottish Highlands with William Jackson Hooker and his hopes to explore in Breadalbane area.
Responds to JSH’s Salix request list, together with other plant requests, and asks for specimens. Discusses observations of Salix fragilis and Russelliana in the Edinburgh region.
Responds to JSH’s offer of plant specimens. Provides a list of species, stating that it only covers Cambridgeshire deficiencies in his British specimen collection.
Acknowledges receipt of package of plant specimens from JSH and explains that he has not had time to add them to the Herbarium.
Has been working on a botany paper for new edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica. After this, working with William Jackson Hooker on The Botany of Captain Beechey's Voyage.
Making plans to move to property in Kinrossshire, which is being extended to contain library and plants. Plans to provide JSH with dried willow specimens with names from Botanic Garden Edinburgh.
Explains serious illness as reason for lack of scientific activity. Asks JSH for a list of required plants and plans to find specimens from Yorkshire. Requests rare orchid specimens from Cambridge region.
Has just returned to England from America and been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society. Acknowledges receipt of money in return for works delivered to JSH.
Has completed 50 drawings in America as improvements on The Birds of America and asks JSH for help with increasing subscriptions. Comments on animal specimens.
Sends JSH copy of his Ornithological Biographies and asks about sending copies to Cambridge for sale. Comments on the binding of The Birds of America. Mentions forthcoming trip to America.
Sends JSH a copy of second volume of Ornithological Biographies; discusses progress on third vols of that work and The Birds of America.
Asks if a museum in Cambridge might be interested in purchasing North American mounted birds from an associate in Nova Scotia. Asks if JSH knows anyone with a collection of bird eggs for species comparison.
Sends JSH a copy of third volume of Ornithological Biographies. Asks why G. N. Granville has discontinued patronage of The Birds of America as it is nearing completion.
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Encloses specimens and invites JSH to view the herbarium at Soughton Hall created by his great-grandfather, John Wynne.
Baxter sends a copy of part two of Stirpes Cryptogamae Oxoniensis and also sends a prospectus for forthcoming work by Gerard Edwards Smith on the botany of southern Kent.