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- Darwin, Charles, 1809-1882 -- Correspondence (x)
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Show moreGladstone has recommended yearly pension of £200 for Wallace. Letter from Down, Beckenham, Kent. Transcription: "Jan 7" 1881 Down, Beckenham, Kent. Railway Station Orpington.S.E.R. My dear Bates I write one line, as I am sure that this news will please you, [] that I have just received a note from [] himself, [] that he "will recommend Mr. Wallace for a [] of 200 pounds a year." The memorial was send in very on to 5" + answer received today! Wonderfully kind of [filter]. I am of writing notes, though beyond measure pleased. Ever yours Ch. Darwin"
The Robert M. Stecher Collection of Charles Darwin Books and Manuscripts
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Show moreDarwin asks Henry Walter Bates to sign and return F.R.S. certificate for Raphael Meldola; if he objects to signing, Darwin will not mention the fact. Letter from Down, Beckenham, Kent. Transcription: "Feb. 17" 1882 Down, Beckenham, Kent. Railway Station Orpington.S.E.R. My dear bates Will you be so good as to sign the enclosed certificate for Mr. [], who does not expect to be elected until 2 or 3 years have elapsed? Please return in enclosed envelope. But if for any reason you object, I will mention this past to no one. I shall ask Sir J. [] if he [] sign _ then send it in to []. My dear Bates, yours very sincerely Ch. Darwin"
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Show moreDarwin thanks for assistance. He will write fully to Wallace tomorrow. Letter from Down, Beckenham, Kent. Transcription: "?29A Down, Beckenham, Kent. [] 16 My dear Bates Very many thanks your all your kind []. I will write [] in full detail to Wallace + I hope all will go smooethly. yours very sincerely Ch. Darwin"
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Show moreTranscription: "Dear Sir I am much obliged for your note & have been greatly interested by the facts you mention of the identical parasites on the same species of birds at immensely remote stations. I am sorry to say I cannot think of any possible means of procuring the parasites of the S. American Mammifers to which you refer. Some surgeon, or officer, interested in Nat. Hist wd be the only means & I know none now there. Are you aware whether the same parasites are found on any of our land birds in this country & in N. America. Some of the birds of Europe & N. America appear certainly identical; many form very closely related species or as some would think races: What an interesting investigation wd be the comparison of the parasites of the closely allied & representative birds of the two countries. Should you chance to know anything of the parasites of the land-birds of North America, perhaps, sometime you kindly wd. take the trouble to send me a line, as I am deeply interested in everything connected with geographical distribution, & the differences between species & varieties. I hope you will turn in your mind the possibility of investigating closely the N. American land-bird-parasites. When the same bird in immensely remote countries, has the same parasite, do you never observe some slight difference in colour, size or proportions of such parasites? I have forgotten to answer your question, about the Aperea being identical with the guinea-pig, & I can only answer it by professing entire ignorance & doubt: I certainly shd disbelieve it, if you cd show the parasites were different. How is the parasite of the wolf with the dog, if the latter has one? I hope you will excuse this long note & believe me dear Sir Yours very faithfully C. Darwin" Letter sent from Down, Beckenham, Kent, England
The Robert M. Stecher Collection of Charles Darwin Books and Manuscripts
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Show moreDear & much respected Sir I ought to apologise for troubling you; but I have at last carefully read your excellent criticisms on my Book. I agree with much of them, & wholly with your final sentence. The objections & difficulties, which may be urged against my view, are indeed heavy enough almost to break my back; but it is not yet broken! You put very well & very fairly that I can in no one instance explain the course of modification in any particular instance. I could make some sort of answer to your case of the two Rats; & might I not turn round, & ask him, who believes in the separate creation of each species, why one Rat has a longer tail or shorter ears than another? I presume that most people would say that these characters were of some use or stood in some connection with other parts; & if so, natural selection could act on them. But as you put the case, it tells well against me. You argue most justly against my question, whether the many species were created as eggs or as mature; I certainly had no right to ask that question. I fully agree that there might have been as well 100,000 creations as 8 or 10, or only one. But then on the view of 8 or 10 creations, (i.e. as many as there are distinct types of structure) we can on my view understand the homological & embryological resemblances of all the organisms of each type; & on this ground almost alone I disbelieve in the innumerable acts of creation. There are only two points on which, I think, you have misunderstood me: I refer only to one Glacial period as affecting the distribution of organic beings: I did not wish even to allude to the doubtful evidence of Glacial action in the Permian & Carboniferous periods. Secondly, I do not believe that the process of development has always been carried on at the same rate in all different parts of the world. Australia is opposed to such belief. The nearly contemporaneous equal development in past periods I attribute to the slow migration of the higher & more dominant forms over the whole world; & not to independent acts of development in different parts. Lastly, permit me to add that I cannot see the force of your objection, that nothing is effected until the origin of life is explained: surely it is worth while to attempt to follow out the action of Electricity, though we know not what electricity is. If you should at any time do me the favour of writing to me, I should be very much obliged if you would inform me, whether you have yourself examined Brehm’s sub-species of Birds; for I have looked through some of his writings, but have never met an Ornithologist who believed in his works. Are these sub-species really characteristic of certain different regions of Germany? Should you write, I should much like to hear how the German Edition sells. With my once more sincerely expressed gratitude & with entire respect I beg leave to remain Dear & Honoured Sir Yours sincerely & respectfully Charles Darwin Letter from Down, Beckenham, Kent.
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Show moreTranscription: "Gentlemen I see that Miss Meteyard is preparing a life of my grandfather Josiah Wedgwood. I have in my possession a good many letters to him from Dr Erasmus Darwin (also my grandfather) & if they would be likely to give any information, I shall be glad to send them to Miss Meteyard or to you. They are chiefly on semi-scientific subjects & probably would only be useful as shewing what subjects were occupying Mr Wedgwood’s mind & the dates of them. Perhaps you will forward this to Miss Meteyard I am Gentleman Yours faithfully Charles Darwin"
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Show moreDarwin encloses a statement and circular he has been asked to send to Lubbock. Transcription: " Ap. 8. Down, Beckenham, Kent Dear Lubbock lady Lubbock has been so good as to return to us the enclosed + has given me your address. I have been asked to send it to you. As you perhaps will not have a large envelope with you, I enclose one addressed, + I shd be obliged if you will post the statemend of my circular. yours sincerely Ch. Darwin" Letter sent from Down, Beckenham, Kent, England.
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Show moreDarwin thanks for volume on craniology and for suggestion to Austrian Government that Darwin receive volumes on Novara voyage. Transcription: "Dec 24. 1876 Dear Sir, I write a line to thank you very sincerely for your [] kind letters, + to acknowledge the safe arrival of your present of the volume on Craniology, which I will read as soon as I have finished some other books in hand It is extremely good of you to suggest my name to the Austrian government for a copy of the magnificent series of volumes containing the full account of the voyage [] 'Novara', but in [] I do not feel that I am worthy of so fine a present. I hope that Mr. Scherzer + yourself will benefit by your stay at Sadbrook. Pray give my kind remembrances to Dr. [Lave] and all his family. Once again accept my best thanks + believe me, dear Sir yours very faithfully Charles Darwin" Letter sent from Down, Bromley, Kent, England.
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Show moreTranscription: "Respected Sir! I beg leave to return you my sincere thanks for your great kindness in sending me your last work “Aus Natur und Wissenschaft.” I have read the chapter, in which you treat of my work, & you have indeed conferred the most distinguished honour on me. I venture to thank you, also, on account of the good which you will effect in getting the subject widely discussed, & the truth finally discovered, which I have much at heart. I am, like so many Englishmen a very poor proficient at Languages, & German is to me, excepting the simplest descriptions, extremely difficult; but I hope to make intelligible to myself some of your valuable volume. With my best thanks, I have the honour to remain, Respected Sir, Your obliged servant, Charles Darwin" Letter sent from Down, Beckenham, Kent, England
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Show moreDarwin writes to say he would be happy to send his autograph. Transcription: "Jan 30" 1875 Down, Beckenham, Kent. Railway Station Orpington.S.E.R. Dear Mrs Cookson George tells me that you would like to have my autograph; _ I am proud to send my signature for this purpose. I wish it was rather more ornamental. Pray believe me, yours very sincerely Charles Darwin" Letter sent from Down, Beckenham, Kent, England
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Show moreDarwin thanks for gift of [Panthea,] the spirit of nature [1849]. Transcript: " Jan 9 1880 Dear Sir I am much obliged to you for your courteous note + for the gift of your 'Spirit of Nature'. I will read your work as soon as I have finished a book in hand, + I remain Dear Sir yours faithfully Charles Darwin" Letter sent from Down, Beckenham, Kent, England
The Robert M. Stecher Collection of Charles Darwin Books and Manuscripts
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Show moreDarwin cannot believe in possibility that the duck is a hybrid, but correlation accords with some other facts. He requests specimens of berries and more information about the Madresfield Court vine. Transcription: "Charles Darwin [Bapeth] Southampton on the hybrid duck- -------------------- Professor Owen and Doctor Gimther (of the British [] are [assured] Sep 1 after careful examination are sure that it is a hybrid- Dear Sir I am much obliged for your kind letter. I cannot believe in the possibility of thte hybrid in question. I have examined one such bird, + cleaned its skeleton + it was a pure duck Mr Bartlett of the [].Soc. has examined the bones of several such birds with the same result. The correlation however in all these cases between deficient swimming membrane + a deformed narrow beak, is extremely curious, + accords with some other facts. The case of the vine interests me more; but I do not understand whether the whole of the Madresfield Court vine now bears rounded berries, or whether a shoot has been produced from the point of [inarchmont]. I do not return home until the 11th + the state of my health prevents my coming to see this vine, which youa re so kind as to offer to show me. If you are inclined to take the trouble to send me half ([] with their names) a doxen berries of the peere Hamburgh, the peere Madresfield Ct, + of the modified Madresfield, together with information, or a little sketch of the marched specimen the information might be of very great use to me. I have lately been writing on an allied subject, + my article is not yet printed off - The speciments, if you kindly agree to send them may be addressed here, or after my return home, to Down Beckenham - If by Railway, to Orpington Station S.E.R. Dear Sir yours faithfully Charles Darwin Dr. Samuel Newington" Letter sent from Basett, Southampton.
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Show moreDarwin writes that a certificate for admission [of Robert Swinhoe] to Royal Society with many signatures has been lost by the Post Office. Asks for another so he can get the signatures anew. Transcription: "March 2nd Down, Beckenham, Kent. My dear Sir A form of certificate for admission to Royal Sor. to which I had got a lot of signatures has been lost by the Post-office, + I must get to work again to get all the signatures anew! Will you though be so good as to send me by return of Post a new certificate, + kindly inform me the latest date at which they can be suspended this year. yours sincerely Ch. Darwin" Letter sent from Down, Beckenham, Kent, England.
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Show moreDarwin thanks Society for honour of his election as Honorary Member. Facsimile Transcription: "May 28, 70 Sir, I beg leave to thank you for your very courteous letter of May 20th in which you announced to me that the Imperial Society of Naturalists of Moscow has conferred on me the distinguished honour of electing me an Honorary Member. This morning I received your Diploma I hope that you will express on my part to the Society how deeply I feel gratified by this honour. In accordance with your Suggestion I have directed my published to forward to your Society the last edition of my Origin of Specied and my Journal of researches during the voyage of the Beagle With my Sincere thanks I have the honour to remain, Sir, your most obedient Servant Charles Darwin"
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Show moreDarwin writes in appreciation for the addressee's "magnificent work in quarto on Mining Industry, together with an atlas in folio..." and the kindness shown to his cousins while visiting California. Transcription: "Feb. 20/02/1872 Down, Beckenham, Kent. My dear Sir I have no doubt that I owe to you such kindness The present received [] days ago of your [] work in [] on Mining Industry, together with an atlas in folio. I can affirm you that I am fully [] of this mark of [] feeling towards []. My [] have told me much of all that they saw in California + how greatly they were indebted to you for all sorts of assistance + kindness. They desire me to send you their vy kind remembrances. Pray believe me, My dear Sir yours sincerely + obliged Charles Darwin" Letter sent from Down, Beckenham, Kent, England
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Show moreDarwin asks about the composition of a spermaceti ointment which he has been buying for some years “because I blackened some young shoots of plants with this ointment mixed with Lamp-black & it produced an extraordinary effect on the shoots, which I think cannot be accounted for merely by the exclusion of light”. Transcription: "Jan 6" Down, Beckenham, Kent. Railway Station Orpington.S.E.R. Dear Sir you have supplied me for some years with "vy soft [] ointment." Will you kindly inform me exactly of what it is composed; [] what kind of oil + whether any []. I want to know because I blackened some young shoots of plants with this ointment mixed with []. black + it produced an [] effect on the shoots, which I think cannot be accounted for merely by the exclusion of Light. Forgive me for troubling you + I remain Dear Sir yours faithfully Ch. Darwin"
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Show moreDarwin orders sulphuric ether, nitric ether, chloroform, and prussic acid [for Drosera experiments? See Insectivorous plants, pp. 209, 219]. Transcription: "Please send me about 1/2 oz of [] [] + about 1/2 oz of [] [], both as pure as possible, for experimental purposes, in bottles with corks, as I shall use them immediately C. Darwin Down Sept 17th c1861-2 Please turn over also about a [] od chloroform (I have [] and [] but it has been kept long + I am afraid of its purity) also about a [] of [] Acid of [] (please mark proportion of [] acid to water on label) also 20 or 30 drops of pure, concentrated [] acid. C.D. Vanilla Lubbock 6 60eva TUrn over" Letter sent from Down, Beckenham, Kent, England
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Show moreDarwin orders two bottles of chlorodyne and bottles and corks of various sizes. Transcription: "To Mr Baxter [] [] Kent Please send 2 Bottles of Cholorvigne. Also 6 bottles with corks + wide mouths about as large as such bottles are sold with smelling-salts. Also 6 bottles of smaller size with wide mouths + corks C. Darwin Down Oct 27 1874 Postcard sent from Down, Beckenham, Kent, England
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Show moreAir Letter to Robert Stecher. Transcription: Dear Dr. Stecher, Thank you for your letter of 16th December about Dr. Bruere. I am glad that you took up the subject with him, and I may say I wish you had expressed yourself even more strongly. It seems to me really quite shocking that a man can reach a position of his kind on such an unbelievably deficient upbringing. If I had felt it incumbent on me to write to him as you have done, I think I would have asked him if he also believed that the earth was flat. If I can be any help to you over the projected lecture I hope you will let me know. But I should mention that I expect to be abroad on holiday during February. With kind regards and best wishes for 1960, Yours sincerely, Charles Darwin Letter, signed by sender. Envelope included. Sent from Newnham Grange, Cambridge.
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Show moreEmma sends news of the parish, specifically that Mr. Ffinden who is generally disliked, may be leaving. She also speaks of her son, Frank, and his wife. Emma also mentions Lady Lubbock's health. Transcription: "Oct 12 - 74 my dear Mr Innes It is some time since I have sent you any parish news; + as we hear a rumour of an important change, I will give you the first information of it; though I have not much hopes that it will prove true. It is said that on the death of Mr [Ffinden]'s uncle Mr Sketchley, vicar of [Derrford], which has just taken place, his son is to come here + Mr [Ffinden] to take the [Derrford] living. This would certainly be a great blessing to this place, as Mr [Ffinden] has no influence here + excited general dislike. The chapel is so crowded that it has been enlarged. I do not mention this as an evil from my point of view, but only as a proof of Mr Ff's unpopularity. You will not think me an impartial person perhaps as he cuts every member of our family when we meet; but as I said before the scheme of exchange sounds most improbable. Frank + his wife are settled in your old house + like the place very much. They have bought up old carved chests + cabinets in wales,(her native country) + have made the rooms look very well, + the garden is certainly beyond the average in prettiness + snugness. Frank helps his father + I hope will save him a good deal; but I am afraid it will always be against Mr Darwin's nature to sit idle + rest himself. I am afraid Lady Lubbock's health is failing in a way to cause great uneasiness, though we cannot hear of any specific disorder. Some people are afraid that the Railway accident some years ago has left some mischief which has been in abeyance hitherto. Pray give my kind love to Mrs Innes - I hope she + you will come + see us again, + with Charles' very kind regards yours very sincerely Emma Darwin P.S. I obeyed your directions about Aquilegia, but it has not come up, neither your seed, nor some other of the same kind. The gardener [] hopes still that it will appear in the spring. The Rev. J Brodie Innes Milton Brodie Torres N.B" Letter, signed by sender. Sent from Down House, near Beckenham, Kent, England. Envelope included.
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