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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.
Says tuff collected by CD in Pampas and Chile contains organic remains. Wants to examine specimens further and hopes for Government support in doing so.
Discusses the microscopic structure of rock samples from Chile and the Pampas. Describes organic remains found in the samples.
Discusses names and distributions of Pacific shells. [Lists by CD and Edward Forbes record names and ranges of shells collected by HC in the Galapagos.]
Asks about Fuegian specimens stored at the Geological Society. CD needs them soon.
Arranges a time for visiting HF.
Arranges to call on correspondent and bring some shells.
Sends specimens of a Tertiary sandstone from Tierra del Fuego in which there are leaves; CD thought they were beech. What is JDH’s opinion?
Asks whether JDH can make sense of a note on silicified wood.
Has read Vestiges [of creation (1844)]; "his geology strikes me as bad, & his zoology far worse".
Would like to see lists [of plants] from Society and Sandwich Islands.
Doubts JDH’s information regarding imagination of mother affecting offspring.
Has read CHS’s paper, "Original population of America" [Edinburgh New Philos. J. 38 (1844–5): 1–20], and is eager to know reference for the account of a "ruined city in the Caroline Group", indicating that the land has subsided. Refers to his own subsidence hypothesis in his work [Coral reefs].
Would like copy of "Galapagos flora" when published ["Plants of the Galapagos Archipelago", Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 20 (1851): 163–233].
Will keep JDH’s Pacific island notes till his return.
Would like sketch returned [see 775].
Would be particularly thankful for result of CGE’s observations on earth of Pampas.
Asks that Ernst Dieffenbach return copperplate and woodcuts.
Discusses extract sent by CHS dealing with island of Pouynipéte. Agrees account of island by Lloghtsky [Johann Lhotsky] is suspect.
Comments on view that former migration of animals, plants, and man was by continental extensions now submerged.
News of the children and books he is reading.
Mainly news of the three children.
Discusses EWB’s application for a position and his qualifications.
CD sends queries on chemical composition of various Beagle mineral specimens.
Remarks on fossils described in A. D. d’Orbigny’s Voyage dans l’Amérique méridionale.
Asks CL whether he has talked with John Murray concerning 2d ed. [of Journal of researches].
Mentions conversation with Hugh Cuming about South American shells. Has had G. B. Sowerby (elder) look at some specimens.
Congratulates JDH and condoles with him on possible position at Edinburgh. Although CD will miss him bitterly, he encourages JDH to view it as a good opportunity.
Sorry to hear that Humboldt is failing.
News of his family and his own health. He is able to work three hours a day on the geology of South America.
Harriet Martineau is greatly excited by mesmerism.
Tells of Sydney Smith’s dream.
Asks for some [S. American] potatoes to test "sporting".
Discusses checks on growth of species population; use of term "mutation" in his species theory. His belief in species mutability.
Has written down what he gathered from HF on Tibetan dogs. Would welcome a few more details at any time, as he knows of nothing parallel to it.