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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.
Requests information for W. S. Macleay on JFWH’s method of catching pelagic animals while ship is under way.
Thanks JWL for having acceded to CD’s wish to acquire a piece of land to provide a sheltered walk at Down.
Must decline invitation for dinner; he is unwell.
Asks JCR to collect cirripedes for him on forthcoming expedition [to the Arctic in search of Sir John Franklin].
Undertakes to write geological part of Admiralty Instructions [A manual of scientific enquiry (1849), Collected papers 1: 227–50]. Has doubts as to his success.
Sends MS of his chapter on geology for Manual [Collected papers 1: 227–50]. Fears it may be too long. Does not much like it but can do no better. After hesitation, has recommended books. Defends his point that mere collection of rock specimens is "of hardly any use to Geology".
Sends MS of "Geology" for Manual [Collected papers 1: 227–50]. First parcel lost. Asks JFWH to give advice on an unclear note, translated from Élie de Beaumont, on measuring incline of lava-flows.
Describes colour changes from blue to red in valves of operculum of the cirripede genus Ibla.
Sends two valves of Ibla.
In his chapter [for Manual, Collected papers 1: 227–50], he will strike out any part that JFWH wants struck out, but if much shortening is required it will need rewriting.
Thanks JFWH for the trouble he has taken to correct printing error in "Geology".
Discusses Dr Gully’s water-cure.
Receipt for £3 5s, proceeds of a lecture, for the Down Coal and Clothing Club.
Referee’s report on paper by Daniel Sharpe ["On foliation and cleavage", Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. 142 (1852): 445–62].
Will give his support to a school for the poor to be a memorial to the late Sir John Lubbock.
Gives his opinion on some difficulties that have arisen in connection with the establishment of the school for the poor at Down.
Declines the honour of writing a biography of Leopold von Buch, on grounds that he would not do it well; nor does he hold Buch so high as the world at large does.
Thanks ES for his note [missing]. CD had understood that what was wanted was a eulogy [of Leopold von Buch] combined with historical criticism, after the French practice. Agrees that historico-critical sketches of work of great foreigners have a place in Philosophical Transactions and wishes he had taste and capacity for it.
Distressed to find himself in conflict with JWL on appointment of a Guardian [for the parish].
Is unequal to taking chair as President of Natural History Section of BAAS meeting in Liverpool. Very little fatigue or excitement brings on swimming of head, nausea, and other symptoms.
Reports that his intercession with Folliott Baugh [Rector of Chelsfield, Kent] has had no effect. Baugh still believes Farnborough’s rights have not been attended to if entire fund is applied to the school at Down.
CD called on Baugh but found him adamant; he has already laid the case before the [Charity] Commissioners and if necessary will take it to a Court of Equity.