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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.
On fossils ([Megatherium], etc.), plants, shells sent and new ones found; geological observations. Asks for help in understanding cleavage and planes of deposition.
A new species of ostrich. Cites differences in size, colour, nidification, and geographical distribution.
CD asks the time of shipment and vessel in which the [Megatherium] bones were conveyed.
Patagonia swarms with guanaco, but few other creatures.
Hopes to be able to draw up a tolerable sketch of the geology of the east side of S. America.
Saw Jemmy Button, who is married and will stay in Tierra del Fuego. Mentions Falkland uprising.
Describes Patagonia and its inhabitants.
Writes of his pleasure in geology.
Predicts that Falklands will become an "important halting place". Outlines Beagle’s future itinerary.
In the past six months he has done much geology and natural history. His geological pursuits are a source of high pleasure. Has lately determined to work chiefly on corals.
Spent three weeks going up the Santa Cruz with a party; they ran out of provisions 20 miles from the Cordilleras. Winter at present prevents his doing much natural history.
Would welcome hearing Cambridge news. Impossible not to regret friends and pleasures in England, but
has much solid enjoyment and never-failing interest in geology. Tells of his first sight of a savage.
CD is excited by JSH’s high opinion of his collections.
Discusses his notes and some new discoveries. Summary of events since leaving Falklands.
Geology of Patagonia.
Corallines at Tierra del Fuego convince him of artificiality of arrangement of their families by Lamarck and Cuvier.
Geological expedition in Andes, ending with serious illness. Specimens being sent.
Thanks for her letter of March, which gave him his first explanation of the interest in the [Megatherium] head he had sent.
Wants E. A. Darwin to tell William Clift not to remove numbers or markers on any specimens. The British Museum has first claim on any of his specimens; CD cannot at present say where any should go.
Recounts his trip [from Valparaiso] to Santiago. His meeting with Claude Gay, Thomas Sutcliffe, and others. Geology of tour uninteresting.
CD is unwell.
FitzRoy has dispatched two casks of bones and stones, a box with "very valuable specimens", and a large jar.
Became ill two weeks before on his return from Santiago after an interesting trip and some geology – though snow kept him out of the Andes. FitzRoy has had to sell the schooner; he was discouraged by the Admiralty, and the expense was too much for him to bear personally.
CD has recovered from his illness.
Fatigue and depression had almost decided Captain FitzRoy to turn over his command, but he was dissuaded.
Beagle will now go no further south than Cape Tres Montes and will finish survey in five months.
CD experiences his first earthquake.
Sends two boxes of specimens and part of his "hum-drum letter-like" journal.
They learn from a garbled report in the Times that CD’s specimens have arrived in Cambridge.
William Clift, at Royal College of Surgeons, delighted by CD’s letter about the bones that were sent to Plymouth.
Strange coincidence that Royal College of Surgeons has the front portion and CD has sent home the remainder of a skull, of which a drawing can now be completed.
Other news of family and friends.
News of family and friends.
Word that William Clift thinks CD’s latest fossils are of much value.
Has sent all of CD’s directions to William Clift.
Erasmus has been very ill, but is now quite safe and well again. Caroline and Susan are with him.
They have heard FitzRoy is promoted and the Beagle is coming home.
News of family and friends: W. D. Fox will marry in the spring; private theatricals at Eaton house-party.
Family and local news. Tom Eyton will marry. Tells of the great fire of the Houses of Parliament.
Writes on CD’s 25th birthday.
Points out "errors in orthography" in his journal.
News of family and friends, visits, and other social events.
News of family and friends.
The Langtons will go to Madeira for the winter. E. A. Darwin and the Hensleigh Wedgwoods enjoyed a stay in Cambridge, where they saw Professors Whewell and Sedgwick. Colonel Leighton has died. The King has dismissed the Whig Ministry; Wellington is Premier, and the country is in a strange state.