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.
Showing 1–20 of 324 items
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.
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.
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.
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.
Discusses package of seaweed specimens sent by JSH but has not had time to examine them properly, as he is examining cryptogamic specimens from Madeira for Thomas Lowe. Mentions travel plans, including stay in Cambridge.
Discusses his forthcoming curacy at Wisbech and hopes to help JSH and Leonard Jenyns with Cambridgeshire flora and fauna. Has 3 bat specimens for Jenyns. Encloses specimens of Potentilla and Chenopodium hybridum.
Makes arrangements to donate herbarium to the Cambridge Philosophical Society. The herbarium was purchased from Andrew Mathews, a gardener for the Horticultural Society of London, prior to him being sent to South America to collect plants.
No summary available.
Sends JSH a list of flora from the Charnwood Forest and the area of Glenfield and Grooby Pool in north-west Leicestershire, together with a geological description. He offers to send specimens of these plants if required and asks JSH for Cambridgeshire specimens.
Requests committee for re-election of Palmerston as University MP to let him know whether to not vote at all or give a plumper vote for Palmerston only.
Asks JSH to get a chemist to analyse two different specimens of chalk being used in agriculture with different results.
Letter of introduction for the Prince de Cimitil, and Prince de Casiati, who are spending a few days in Cambridge.
Asks JSH to put him down for a plumper vote for the election of Lord Palmerston as University MP and comments on the intentions of other voters.
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.