From:
unknown
To:
Gustav Plaar
Date:
25 March 1872
Source of text:
MM/21/13, Royal Society
Summary:
No summary available.
Contributor:
Royal Society
Text Online
From:
ARW's pilot in the Aru Islands
To:
Alfred Russel Wallace
Date:
3? May 1872
Source of text:
- British Library, The: BL Add. 46442 f. 93
- British Library, The: BL Add. 46442 f. 92
Summary:
No summary available.
Contributor:
Alfred Russel Wallace Correspondence Project
From:
Francis Ellingwood Abbot
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
18 July 1872
Source of text:
DAR 159: 4
Summary:
Thanks CD for five dollars and two-year subscription to Index, and for permission to quote CD’s compliments on Truths for the times.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Alexander Agassiz
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
4 Mar 1872
Source of text:
G. R. Agassiz ed. 1913, p. 119
Summary:
Thanks for new [6th] edition of Origin.
Is working on Echini.
The more material he gets the less easy it is to diagnose a genus or species. Has little doubt that "classification is nothing but the most arbitrary convenient tool, depending upon the material at our command at a special time".
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Alexander Agassiz
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
9 Dec 1872
Source of text:
G. R. Agassiz ed. 1913, pp. 120–1
Summary:
Thanks for Expression.
Has lost a year’s work in the fire that has devastated Boston.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Hubert Airy
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
31 May 1872
Source of text:
DAR 159: 15
Summary:
A review and criticism of Chauncey Wright’s paper on phyllotaxy [Mem. Am. Acad. Arts & Sci. n.s. 9 (1867–73): 379–415]. Does not believe that the "distributive" and "cyclical" properties, which CW claims characterise the existing spiral orders of leaf arrangement, can be shown to be advantageous to plants. CW’s speculations on the origins of the spiral arrangement of leaves are purely hypothetical.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Hubert Airy
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
7 June 1872
Source of text:
DAR 159: 15a
Summary:
On leaf arrangement. [Badly damaged and almost illegible.]
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Hubert Airy
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
[before 15] July 1872
Source of text:
DAR 159: 16
Summary:
Outlines his theory on the origin of existing orders of leaf arrangement. Believes spiral and whorled orders have evolved from a primitive distichous arrangement. These arrangements permit a compact bud form of small surface area that can withstand external changes in temperature, and in particular can tolerate frost.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Hubert Airy
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
16 July 1872
Source of text:
DAR 159: 17
Summary:
Thanks CD for reading his MS [8412] and for his suggestions.
Clarifies his statement on the contraction of the bud-axis: did not mean to imply that this contraction occurred in an individual’s life-time, rather that it was the effect, after the course of ages, of successive favourable modifications.
Believes the true theory of phyllotaxy will give a convincing illustration and proof of the theory of evolution.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Hubert Airy
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
20 July 1872
Source of text:
DAR 159: 18
Summary:
Discusses the significance of the node. Believes, with CD, that it has no independent importance but is merely the consequence of the presence of a leaf. Does not believe a distinction can be made between whorled and alternate leaf arrangements on the basis of the number of leaves springing from a node. The node, as the starting point of a leaf, is subject to any disarrangement which takes place among the leaves.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Hubert Airy
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
21 July 1872
Source of text:
DAR 159: 19
Summary:
Corrects a factual error in his previous letter [8418].
Sends specimens illustrative of the "nodal" question.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Hubert Airy
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
24 July 1872
Source of text:
DAR 159: 20
Summary:
Responds to CD’s comments on his MS on phyllotaxy.
The initial variation required by his theory would be a slight twist of the bud-axis; believes the frequent twisting of stems and branches renders such a variation possible.
Admits he placed too much emphasis on the importance of frost. He should have spoken more generally of "vicissitudes of climate".
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Hubert Airy
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
20 Sept 1872
Source of text:
DAR 159: 21
Summary:
Disputes Thomas Meehan’s observations on the hardiness of exposed buds, and believes bud-scales are for the protection of the bud-leaves. Reiterates his opinion that the phyllotaxy of a plant is determined by causes acting when the leaves are crowded into close contact. Attempts to explain how a different phyllotaxy on the upper and lower parts of the same shoot could have arisen.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Hubert Airy
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
24 Sept 1872
Source of text:
DAR 159: 22
Summary:
Thanks for letter, in which CD cited [Anton] Kerner’s alpine observations.
Describes with diagrams the curious disposition of leaves on some Acacia twigs, and points out that his theory should account for these anomalies as well as normal cases.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Hubert Airy
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
3 Dec 1872
Source of text:
DAR 159: 23
Summary:
Discusses works lent him by CD: Candolle, Kerner, Braun, Sachs, and CD’s own notes on relative positions of leaves. Plans paper on subject for Royal Society.
Just appointed medical inspector under local government board.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
George James Allman
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
13 Apr 1872
Source of text:
DAR 159: 54
Summary:
Thanks for sending translation of A. W. Malm’s paper ["On flatfishes", K. Svensk. Vetensk. Akad. Handl. N. F. 7 (1867–8) no. 4]; thinks it establishes that eye migrates across surface of head rather than through the skull.
Considers the relationship between direction of locomotion and the presence of stalked eyes in Crustacea.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Julius Althaus
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
16 Dec 1872
Source of text:
DAR 159: 56
Summary:
In his admirable work on expression CD has left out influence of fifth pair of cerebral nerves on the portiodura and on physiognomy; sends reference to his paper on this subject ["On certain points in the physiology and pathology of the fifth pair of cerebral nerves", Med.-Chir. Trans. 52 (1869): 27–42].
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
Text Online
From:
Amadeo I, King of Spain
To:
Ferdinand von Mueller
Date:
18 March 1872
Source of text:
RB MSS M200b.50, Library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne
Summary:
No summary available.
Contributor:
Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller Project
From:
Anthropological Society, Vienna
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
9 Apr 1872
Source of text:
DAR 230: 32
Summary:
Cancel: Diploma, not a letter.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Henri Apatowsky
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
11 Jan 1872
Source of text:
DAR 159: 77
Summary:
Asks CD whether he will find a translator and publisher for a paper Dr A wrote in 1870, siding with Carl Vogt in defence of CD’s view of descent of man.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
