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Letter from Francis Darwin to [Mme. Jout]

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A letter to [Mme. Jout] with a list of novels recommended by Emma Darwin and includes a photograph of Charles Darwin. Transcription: "Strausburg July
Show moreA letter to [Mme. Jout] with a list of novels recommended by Emma Darwin and includes a photograph of Charles Darwin. Transcription: "Strausburg July 16/81 Dear Mme Just. I am glad to be able to send you the most recent photograph of my father; it is I think a very good likeness. I also enclose a list of novels recommended by my mother; she has a good deal of ex= perience in novel reading as she reads alout to my father all the best ones that are published. The three American novels by Howell are extremely pleasant, the name of one which I have corrected so badly ought to be "The Lady of the Aroostook". Please let me thank you + Prof Just for the very pleasant day which I spend at [] yours very truly Francis Darwin"
The Robert M. Stecher Collection of Charles Darwin Books and Manuscripts
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Creator

Darwin, Francis, Sir, 1848-1925

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http://hdl.handle.net/2186/ksl:ditalldar00080

Letter from Francis Darwin to [unknown]

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A letter to unknown person to inquire about his father's address at a particular time. Transcription: "Jan 14 07 Dear Sir If you will look at the Life
Show moreA letter to unknown person to inquire about his father's address at a particular time. Transcription: "Jan 14 07 Dear Sir If you will look at the Life + Letters [] p 281, 283, 291 you will see that his lodgings were 36 St Marl borough St At vol1 p299 I say that the house occupied by him after his marriage was 12 Upper Gower St. I imagine that Upper G St was part of what is now all called Gower St but I cannot say how that may be I see no reason for thinking that there is a mistake as to his address at that time yours faithfully Francis Darwin" Letter, signed by sender. Sent from Wychfield, Cambridge, England.
The Robert M. Stecher Collection of Charles Darwin Books and Manuscripts
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Darwin, Francis, Sir, 1848-1925

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http://hdl.handle.net/2186/ksl:ditalldar00088

Letter from Charles Darwin to George Charles Wallich [8223]

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Darwin asks Wallich for permission to publish a photograph (also enclosed in letter). The photograph is of a small girl wearing a hat and who is smili
Show moreDarwin asks Wallich for permission to publish a photograph (also enclosed in letter). The photograph is of a small girl wearing a hat and who is smiling. Transcription: "9. Devonshire Street [Parland] Place Feb [28]th 1872? My dear Sir you gave my the [most??] charming photograph. Now I am going to [buy] a [good] farm, which it is quite likely you may [] wish to [grant] In my little book an [Exposition?] I wish to give a photo [by] to [] map of 2 or 3 smiling faces. For this map the negative is [unrequired?]. Now if you [mind] to leaving me the negative, with the permission to [] that the photograph was [done] by you. You must, of course, [] the important [] in helping me. But if you grany this farm, could you send me the negative to above adding by [] Co [soon?], as I want [] to get the [] [plates??] finished soon. Was the smile intentionally []? or taken when [the] little bit who knew what you were doing? My dear Sir Yours sincerely Ch. Darwin" Letter, signed by sender. Written from Devonshire. Photograph included.
The Robert M. Stecher Collection of Charles Darwin Books and Manuscripts
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Darwin, Charles, 1809-1882

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http://hdl.handle.net/2186/ksl:ditalldar00030

Letter from Charles Darwin to [H. W. Bates] 11848

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Darwin states that it would be a real pleasure to propose Bates for [F.] Royal Society. Darwin also asks that Bates send him the necessary information
Show moreDarwin states that it would be a real pleasure to propose Bates for [F.] Royal Society. Darwin also asks that Bates send him the necessary information for the certificate as well as a list of men he would like to sign it. Darwin should not be disappointed if Bates is not elected first time. Transcription: "Jan 26' 79 Down, Beckenham, Kent. Railway Station Orpington.S.E.R. My dear Bates It will give me real pleasure to purpose you for this object. You will see that you surely must not [] the [],- not that there can be the least impropriety in you asking any of your friends.- Will you therefore full up all the necessary particulars, giving a [] full hit of your publication + return the paper to me. At the same time give me a hit with addresses of [] men as you wd like to sign, + I will then write a forward certificate to each.- I do not know who [] to Council + it is a confounded bore that some of the best men, to whom I shd naturally apply, such is [] + [] are excluded. This makes it the more necessary that I shd have some sort of hit from you. Ever yours sincerely Ch. Darwin you must not be [] if you are not elected the first time, for hardly anybody is thus elected." Letter, signed by sender. Sent from Down House, near Beckenham, Kent, England.
The Robert M. Stecher Collection of Charles Darwin Books and Manuscripts
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Darwin, Charles, 1809-1882

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http://hdl.handle.net/2186/ksl:ditalldar00064

Letter from Charles Darwin to [H. W. Bates] 2993

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Darwin writes to Bates to thank him for an interesting letter. Darwin notes that his belief is that a good observer is also a good theorist. He is als
Show moreDarwin writes to Bates to thank him for an interesting letter. Darwin notes that his belief is that a good observer is also a good theorist. He is also enthused in H. W. Bates writing on 'equatorial refrigeration'. Transcription: "My dear Sir, I thank you sincerely for writing to me and for your very interesting letter. Your name has for very long been familiar to me, and I have heard of your zealous exertions in the cause of Natural History. But I did not know that you had worked with high philosophical questions before your mind. I have an old belief that a good observer really means a good theorist and I fully expect to find your observations most valuable. I am very sorry to hear that your health is shattered; but I trust under a healthy climate it may be restored. I can sympathise with you fully on this score, for I have had bad health for many years and fear I shall ever remain a confirmed invalid. I am delighted to hear that you, with all your large practical knowledge of Nat. History, anticipated me in many respects and concur with me. As you say I have been thoroughily well attacked and reviled, (especially by entomologists, [J. O.] Westwood, [T. V.] Wollaston, and [Andrew] Murray have all reviewed and sneered at me to their hearts' content) but I care nothing about their attacks; several really good judges go a long way with me, and I observe that all those who go some little way tend to go somewhat further. What a fine philosophical mind your friend, Mr Wallace has, and he has acted in relation to me, like a true man with a noble spirit. I see by your letter that you have grappled with several of the most difficult problems, as it seems to me, in natural History— such as the distinctions between the different kinds of varieties, representative species Perhaps I shall find some facts in your paper on intermediate varieties in intermediate regions, on which subject I have found remarkably little information. I cannot tell you how glad I am to hear that you have attended to the curious point of Equatorial refrigeration. I quite agree that it must have been small; yet the more I go into that question the more convinced I feel that there was during the Glacial period some migration from N. to S. The sketch in the Origin gives a very meagre account of my fuller M.S. Essay on this subject. I shall be particularly obliged for a copy of your paper when published; and if any suggestions occur to me (not that you require any) or questions I will write and ask. Pray believe me, with respect and good wishes, My dear Sir, Yours sincerely, C. Darwin I have at once to prepare a new Edit of the Origin, and I will do myself the pleasure of sending you a copy; but it will be only very slightly altered. Cases of neuter ants, divided into castes, with intermediate gradations. (which I imagine are rare) interest me much. V. Origin on the Driver Ants p.—241.— (please look at the passage)" Letter, signed by sender. Sent from Down House, near Beckenham, Kent, England.
The Robert M. Stecher Collection of Charles Darwin Books and Manuscripts
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Darwin, Charles, 1809-1882

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http://hdl.handle.net/2186/ksl:ditalldar00037

Letter from Charles Darwin to [H. W. Bates] 3109

Description

Transcription: "My dear Sir I have been unwell, so have delayed thanking you for your admirable letter. I hope you will not think me presumptuous in s
Show moreTranscription: "My dear Sir I have been unwell, so have delayed thanking you for your admirable letter. I hope you will not think me presumptuous in saying how much I have been struck with your varied knowledge, & with the decisive manner in which you bring it to bear on each point,- a rare & most high quality, as far as my experience goes. I earnestly hope you will find time to publish largely: before the Linn. Soc. you might bring boldly out your views on Species. Have you ever thought of publishing your travels & working in them the less abstruse parts of your Nat. History? I believe it would sell, & be a very valuable contribution to Nat. History. You must, also, have seen a good deal of the natives. I know well it would be quite unreasonable to ask for any further information from you; but I will just mention that I am now & shall be for a long time writing on Domestic variation of all animals. Any facts would be useful; especially any showing that savages take any care in breeding their animals; or in rejecting the bad & preserving the good- or any fancies which they may have that one coloured or marked dog &c is better than another. I have already collected much on this head, but am greedy for facts. You will at once see their bearing on Variation under Domestication. Your observations on Carabus, with respect to Glacial period, seem very important. I daresay you know that some geologists have speculated on a Permian & even on a Challk Glacial period. When considering plants of Australia, a suspicion crossed me that there must have been an ancient migration from N. temperate to S. temperate regions. I feel sure that if you saw lists of plants in T. del Fuego—on isolated mountains of India, Java, Borneo, Abyssinia, S.E. Australia, Fernando Po, you would see that there must have been a very recent migration. This view is largely supported by plain geological facts. I have a rather long M.S. discussion, well copied out, which Hooker has read, & which if you thought it worth your while, you might with welcome read; but I doubt whether it would be worth your while. Hereafter when I come to Geograph. Distrib. (& God knows when that will be) I will deeply consider all your most valuable remarks. Thank you for facts on intermediate vars. in intermediate regions; I can see how complex the case is; & I hope before I come to that subject you will have largely published. But the case you give is excellent. Hardly anything in your letter has pleased me more than about sexual selection. In my large M.S (& indeed in Origin with respect to tuft of hairs—on breast of Cock-Turkey) I have guarded myself against going too far; but I did not at all know that male & female butterflies haunted rather different sites. If I had to cut up myself in a Review, I would have worked & quizzed Sexual selection; therefore, though I am fully convinced that it is largely true, you may imagine how pleased I am at what you say on your belief. This part of your letter to me is a quintessence of richness. The fact about Butterflies attracted by coloured sepals is another good fact, worth its weight in Gold. It would have delighted the heart of old Christian C. Sprengel, now many years in his grave. I am glad to hear that you have specially attended to "mimetic" analogies- a most curious subject. I hope you will publish on it. I have for a long time wished to know whether what Dr. Collingwood asserts, is true, that the most striking cases generally occur between insects inhabiting the same country. Believe me, Yours most truly obliged, Ch. Darwin" Letter, signed by sender. Sent from Down House, near Beckenham, Kent, England.
The Robert M. Stecher Collection of Charles Darwin Books and Manuscripts
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Darwin, Charles, 1809-1882

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http://hdl.handle.net/2186/ksl:ditalldar00052

Letter from Charles Darwin to [H. W. Bates] 3338

Description

Transcription: "My dear Sir I thank you for your extremely interesting letter, & valuable references, though God knows when I shall come again to this
Show moreTranscription: "My dear Sir I thank you for your extremely interesting letter, & valuable references, though God knows when I shall come again to this part of my subject. One cannot of course judge of style when one merely hears a paper, but yours seemed to me very clear & good. Believe me that I estimate its value most highly. Under a general point of view, I am quite convinced (Hooker & Huxley took same view some months ago) that a philosophic view of nature can solely be driven into naturalists by treating special subjects as you have here done. Under a special point of view I think you have solved one of the most perplexing problems which could be given to solve. I am glad to hear from Hooker that Linn. Soc. will give Plates, if you can get drawings; but I suppose they might be drawn on to stone or copper. Pray excuse me for again saying if ever you want £10 or £20, I shall be pleased to send it, for any aid in Natural History. Do not complain of want of advice during your Travels; I daresay part of your great originality of views may be due to the necessity of self exertion of thought. I can understand that your reception at B. Museum would damp you; they are a very good set of men, but not the sort to appreciate your work. In fact I have long thought that too much systematic work of description somehow blunts the faculties. The general public appreciates a good dose of reasoning, or generalisation with new & curious remarks on habits, final causes &c &c, far more than do the regular naturalists. I am extremely glad to hear that you have begun your Travels. (I thought your Glacial Letter admirably written); I am very busy, but I shall be truly glad to render any aid which I can by reading your 1st Chapter or two. I do not think I shall be able to correct style, for this reason, that after repeated trials I find I cannot correct my own style till I see the M.S. in type. Some are born with a power of good writing, like Wallace; others like myself & Lyell have to labour very hard & slowly at every sentence. I find it very good plan, when I cannot get a difficult discussion to please me, to fancy that some one comes into the room, & asks me what I am doing; & then try at once & explain to the imaginary person what it is all about. I have done this for one paragraph to myself several times; & sometimes to Mrs. Darwin, till I see how the subject ought to go. It is, I think, good to read one's M.S. aloud. But style to me is a great difficulty; yet some good judges think I have succeeded, & I say this to encourage you. What I think I can do will be to tell you whether parts had better be shortened. It is good I think to dash "in medias res", & work in later any descriptions of country or any historical details which may be necessary. Murray likes lots of woodcuts- give some by all means of Ants. The public appreciate Monkeys, our poor cousins. What sexual differences are there in monkeys? Have you kept them tame? if so about their expression. I fear that you will hardly read my vile handwriting, but I cannot without killing trouble, write better. You shall have my candid opinion on your M.S., but remember it is hard to judge from M.S.- one reads slowly & heavy parts seem much heavier. A first rate judge thought my Journal very poor; now that it is in print, I happen to know, he likes it. I am sure you will understand why I am so egotistical. I was a little disappointed in Wallace's Book on the Amazon; hardly facts enough. On other hand in Gosse's books there is not reasoning enough to my taste. Heaven knows whether you will care to read all this scribbling M.S. can be sent by Book Post, if marked to be printed. Had you not better register it? Many thanks for Wallace's letter; he rates me much too highly & himself much too lowly. That was an admirable paper of his in Linn. Journal. But what strikes me most about Mr Wallace is the absence of jealousy towards me: he must have a really good honest & noble disposition. A far higher merit than mere intellect. With cordial good wishes & thanks, Yours sincerely, C. Darwin I am glad you had pleasant day with Hooker: he is an admirably good man in every sense. Endorsement: Endorsement: 1861" Letter, signed by sender. Sent from Down House, near Beckenham, Kent, England.
The Robert M. Stecher Collection of Charles Darwin Books and Manuscripts
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Darwin, Charles, 1809-1882

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http://hdl.handle.net/2186/ksl:ditalldar00049

Letter from Charles Darwin to [H. W. Bates] 3460

Description

Transcription: "My dear Sir I will write again; but I do not want to lose a post to say that the terms are very favourable: I never heard of such term
Show moreTranscription: "My dear Sir I will write again; but I do not want to lose a post to say that the terms are very favourable: I never heard of such terms being offered for first work. You may depend he thinks very highly of your Book. I have always agreed for each edition separately, (except for my Journal which I disposed of all at once for much worse terms); but I think the terms are so good, I would let Murray do as he likes. You might say you should prefer agreeing for only one Edition. I am heartily glad. Yours, C Darwin" Letter, signed by sender. Sent from Down House, near Beckenham, Kent, England.
The Robert M. Stecher Collection of Charles Darwin Books and Manuscripts
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Darwin, Charles, 1809-1882

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http://hdl.handle.net/2186/ksl:ditalldar00051

Letter from Charles Darwin to H. W. Bates 3532

Description

Transcription: "My dear Mr Bates, Hearty thanks for your most interesting letter and three very valuable extracts. I am very glad that you have been l
Show moreTranscription: "My dear Mr Bates, Hearty thanks for your most interesting letter and three very valuable extracts. I am very glad that you have been looking at the S. temperate insects. I wish that the materials in B. Museum had been richer, but I should think the case of the S. American Carabi, supported by some other case, would be worth a paper. To us who theorise I am sure the case is very important. Do the S. American Carabi differ more from the other species, than do, for instance, the Siberian and European and N. American and Himalayan (if the genus exists there); if they do, I entirely agree with you that the difference would be too great to account for by the recent Glacial period. I agree, also, with you in utterly rejecting an independent origin for these Carabi. There is a difficulty, as far as I know, in our ignorance whether insects change quickly in time; you could judge of this by knowing how far closely allied Coleoptera generally have much restricted ranges, for this almost implies rapid change. What a curious case is offered by Land-Shells, which become modified in every sub-district, and have yet retained the same general structure from very remote geological periods. When working at glacial period, I remember feeling much suprise how few Birds, no mammals and very few sea-mollusca seemed to have crossed, or deeply entered, the intertropical regions during the cold period. Insects, from what you say, seem to come under the same category. Plants seem to migrate more readily than animals. Do not underrate the length of Glacial period; Forbes used to argue that it was equivalent to the whole of the pleistocene period in the warmer latitudes. I believe with you that we shall be driven to an older Glacial period. I am very sorry to hear about B. Museum; it would be hopeless to contend against any one supported by Owen. Perhaps another chance might occur before very long. How would it be to speak to Owen, as soon as your own mind is made up? From what I have heard, since talking to you, I fear strongest personal interest with Minister is requisite for Pension. Farewell and may success attend the "acerrimo propugnatori", Yours very sincerely, C. Darwin I deeply wish you could find some situation in which you could give your time to Science; it would be a great thing for science and for yourself." Letter, signed by sender. Sent from Down House, near Beckenham, Kent, England.
The Robert M. Stecher Collection of Charles Darwin Books and Manuscripts
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Darwin, Charles, 1809-1882

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http://hdl.handle.net/2186/ksl:ditalldar00041

Letter from Charles Darwin to H. W. Bates 3764

Description

Transcription: "My dear Mr Bates, I want to hear a little news of you and your Book, and how you and it go on. We have had a wretched summer and have
Show moreTranscription: "My dear Mr Bates, I want to hear a little news of you and your Book, and how you and it go on. We have had a wretched summer and have returned home about a fortnight. One of my poor Boys, Leonard, was fearfully ill for two months from effect of Scarlet fever and on our journey to sea-side, Mrs Darwin sickened with the fever and we were detained 3 weeks at Southampton. My health has suffered considerably, but I am now slowly at work again. When at leisure pray let me have a line, telling me what you have been doing. By the way the other day a Mr Edwin Brown of Burton sent me Procs. of N. Ent. Soc. with a letter, in which he tells me that he is working at a genealogical classification of genus Carabus. In answer I told him that you had thought of something of the kind. Pray believe me, Yours very sincerely, C. Darwin" Letter, signed by sender. Sent from Down House, near Beckenham, Kent, England.
The Robert M. Stecher Collection of Charles Darwin Books and Manuscripts
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Darwin, Charles, 1809-1882

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http://hdl.handle.net/2186/ksl:ditalldar00043