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Life and Letters of Charles Darwin Novel Chapters
List of most recent chapters published for the Life and Letters of Charles Darwin novel. A total of 123 chapters have been translated and the release date of the last chapter is Apr 02, 2024
Latest Release: Chapter 1 : The Life and Letters of Charles Darwin.Volume I.by Charles Darwin.PREFACE In choosing le
The Life and Letters of Charles Darwin.Volume I.by Charles Darwin.PREFACE In choosing letters for publication I have been largely guided by the wish to ill.u.s.trate my father's personal character. But his life was so essentially one of work, that a hist
- 123 Wollaston Medal, 1859. Royal Geographical. 1838. Royal. 1839. Royal Medal, 1853. Copley Medal, 1864. Linnean. 1854. Ethnological. 1861.Medico-Chirurgical. Hon. Member. 1868. Baly Medal of the Royal College of Physicians, 1879.SOCIETIES.--PROVINCIAL, COLON
- 122 The s.e.xual Colours of certain b.u.t.terflies. 'Nature,' January 8, 1880, volume xxi. page 237.The Omori Sh.e.l.l Mounds. 'Nature,' April 15, 1880, volume xxi. page 561.Sir Wyville Thomson and Natural Selection. 'Nature,' November 11, 1880, volume
- 121 ("Zoology"), page 45.Special t.i.tles of Charles Darwin's contributions to the foregoing:-- i. Extract from an unpublished work on Species by Charles Darwin Esq., consisting of a portion of a chapter ent.i.tled, "On the Variation of Or
- 120 II.--LIST OF BOOKS CONTAINING CONTRIBUTIONS BY CHARLES DARWIN.A Manual of scientific enquiry; prepared for the use of Her Majesty's Navy: and adapted for travellers in general. Edited by Sir John F.W.Herschel, Bart. 8vo. London, 1849. (Section VI. Ge
- 119 CHARLES ROBERT DARWIN. Born 12 February, 1809. Died 19 April, 1882.APPENDIX II.I.--LIST OF WORKS BY CHARLES DARWIN.Narrative of the Surveying Voyages of Her Majesty's s.h.i.+ps 'Adventure'and 'Beagle' between the years 1826 and 18
- 118 Sir Joseph Hooker was asked by my father "to take into consideration, with the aid of the botanical staff at Kew and the late Mr. Bentham, the extent and scope of the proposed work, and to suggest the best means of having it executed. In doing this,
- 117 [The next letter to Professor Semper (Professor of Zoology at Wurzburg.) bears on the same subject:]FROM CHARLES DARWIN TO K. SEMPER. Down, July 19, 1881.My dear Professor Semper, I have been much pleased to receive your letter, but I did not expect you t
- 116 CHARLES DARWIN TO JULIUS WIESNER. Down, October 25th, 1881.My dear Sir, I have now finished your book ('Das Bewegungsvermogen der Pflanzen.'Vienna, 1881.), and have understood the whole except a very few pa.s.sages. In the first place, let me th
- 115 1880.[The few sentences in the autobiographical chapter give with sufficient clearness the connection between the 'Power of Movement,' and one of the author's earlier books, that on 'Climbing Plants.' The central idea of the book
- 114 CHARLES DARWIN TO J. BURDON SANDERSON. Down, July 25, 1873.My dear Dr. Sanderson, I should like to tell you a little about my recent work with Drosera, to show that I have profited by your suggestions, and to ask a question or two.1. It is really beautifu
- 113 CHARLES DARWIN TO ASA GRAY. Down, August 4 [1863].My present hobby-horse I owe to you, viz. the tendrils: their irritability is beautiful, as beautiful in all its modifications as anything in Orchids. About the SPONTANEOUS movement (independent of touch)
- 112 CHARLES DARWIN TO ASA GRAY. April 19 [1864].... I received a little time ago a paper with a good account of your Herbarium and Library, and a long time previously your excellent review of Scott's 'Primulaceae,' and I forwarded it to him in India, as it
- 111 CHARLES DARWIN TO ASA GRAY. June 8 [1860].... I have been making some little trifling observations which have interested and perplexed me much. I find with primroses and cowslips, that about an equal number of plants are thus characterised.SO-CALLED (by m
- 110 [An extract from a letter to Dr. Gray (March 11, 1873) mentions the progress of the work:-- "I worked last summer hard at Drosera, but could not finish till I got fresh plants, and consequently took up the effects of crossing and sel-fertilising plants,
- 109 ... I was much interested by your brother's article on Hedychium; about two years ago I was so convinced that the flowers were fertilized by the tips of the wings of large moths, that I wrote to India to ask a man to observe the flowers and catch the mot
- 108 With many thanks, my dear sir, Yours sincerely, CH. DARWIN.P.S.--I send by this post my paper on climbing plants, parts of which you might like to read.[Sir Thomas Farrer and Dr. W. Ogle were also guided and encouraged by my father in their observations.
- 107 Again to the same friend, November 1, 1861:-- "If you really can spare another Catasetum, when nearly ready, I shall be most grateful; had I not better send for it? The case is truly marvellous; the (so-called) sensation, or stimulus from a light touch i
- 106 A letter to Dr. Asa Gray (September 5th, 1857) gives the substance of the paper in the "Gardeners' Chronicle":-- "Lately I was led to examine buds of kidney bean with the pollen shed; but I was led to believe that the pollen could HARDLY get on the st
- 105 From a letter to Dr. Dohrn, February 13, 1882:-- "I have got one very bad piece of news to tell you, that F. Balfour is very ill at Cambridge with typhoid fever... I hope that he is not in a very dangerous state; but the fever is severe. Good Heavens, wh
- 104 He is manifestly a well-read physiologist and pathologist, and from his position a good anatomist. It is full of reasoning, and this in German is very difficult to me, so that I have only skimmed through each page; here and there reading with a little mor
- 103 I have at last read every word of your book, and it has excited in me greater interest than any other scientific book which I have read for a long time. You will perhaps be surprised how slow I have been, but my head prevents me reading except at interval
- 102 P.S.--You have paid me the highest conceivable compliment, by what you say of your work in relation to my chapters on distribution in the 'Origin,' and I heartily thank you for it.[The following letters ill.u.s.trate my father's power of ta
- 101 John Collier, for the portrait now in the possession of the Society.Of the artist, he wrote, "Collier was the most considerate, kind and pleasant painter a sitter could desire." The portrait represents him standing facing the observer in the loo
- 100 It may have been the revival of geological speculation, due to the revision of his early books, that led to his recording the observations of which some account is given in the following letter. Part of it has been published in Professor James Geikie'
- 99 "I was very much gratified by the wholly unexpected honour of being elected one of the Honorary Members. This mark of sympathy has pleased me to a very high degree."The following letter appeared in the "Times", April 18th, 1881:]CHARLE
- 98 I am grieved to hear of the death of my old and kind friend, though I knew that it could not be long delayed, and that it was a happy thing that his life should not have been prolonged, as I suppose that his mind would inevitably have suffered. I am glad
- 97 It was very good of you to write so long an account. Though the seance did tire you so much it was, I think, really worth the exertion, as the same sort of things are done at all the seances, even at --'s; and now to my mind an enormous weight of evi
- 96 C.D.-- -- Thinks this applies to me; I do not think so--i.e., as far as eccentricity. I suppose that I have shown originality in science, as I have made discoveries with regard to common objects. R.D.--Original character, had great personal influence and
- 95 The work was continued until April 1, 1874, when he was able to return to his much loved Drosera. He wrote to Mr. Murray:-- "I have at last finished, after above three months as hard work as I have ever had in my life, a corrected edition of the
- 94 CHARLES DARWIN TO A.R. WALLACE. Down, August 28, 1872.My dear Wallace, I have at last finished the gigantic job of reading Dr. Bastian's book ('The Beginnings of Life.' H.C. Bastian, 1872.) and have been deeply interested by it. You wished
- 93 CH. DARWIN.P.S.--I hope that this letter will not be quite illegible, but I have no amanuensis at present.CHARLES DARWIN TO K. SEMPER. Down, November 30, 1878.Dear Professor Semper, Since writing I have recalled some of the thoughts and conclusions which
- 92 No fact of your letter has interested me more than that about mimicry.It is a capital fact about the males pursuing the wrong females. You put the difficulty of the first steps in imitation in a most striking and CONVINCING manner. Your idea of s.e.xual s
- 91 My dear Dr. Ogle, You will think me a horrid bore, but I beg you, IN RELATION TO A NEW POINT FOR OBSERVATION, to imagine as well as you can that you suddenly come across some dreadful object, and act with a sudden little start, a SHUDDER OF HORROR; please
- 90 With regard to the subsequent reception of the 'Descent of Man,' my father wrote to Dr. Dohrn, February 3, 1872:-- "I did not know until reading your article (In 'Das Ausland.'), that my 'Descent of Man' had excited so m
- 89 CHARLES DARWIN TO A. GUNTHER. May 15 [1870].My dear Dr. Gunther, Sincere thanks. Your answers are wonderfully clear and complete. I have some a.n.a.logous questions on reptiles, etc., which I will send in a few days, and then I think I shall cause no more
- 88 [The following letter refers to Mr. Wallace's article in the April number of the 'Quarterly Review' (My father wrote to Mr. Murray: "The article by Wallace is inimitably good, and it is a great triumph that such an article should appea
- 87 He wrote from Caerdeon to Sir J.D. Hooker (June 22nd):-- "We have been here for ten days, how I wish it was possible for you to pay us a visit here; we have a beautiful house with a terraced garden, and a really magnificent view of Cader, right oppos
- 86 CHARLES DARWIN TO F. MULLER. Down, February 22 [1867].... Many thanks for all the curious facts about the unequal number of the s.e.xes in Crustacea, but the more I investigate this subject the deeper I sink in doubt and difficulty. Thanks also for the co
- 85 With sincere respect, I remain, dear sir, Yours very faithfully, CHARLES DARWIN.[The next letter is of especial interest, as showing how high a value my father placed on the support of the younger German naturalists:]CHARLES DARWIN TO W. PREYER. (Now Prof
- 84 CHARLES DARWIN TO A. NEWTON. (Prof. of Zoology at Cambridge.) Down, February 9 [1870].Dear Newton, I suppose it would be universally held extremely wrong for a defendant to write to a Judge to express his satisfaction at a judgment in his favour; and yet
- 83 CHARLES DARWIN TO C. LYELL. Down, July 18 [1867].My dear Lyell, Many thanks for your long letter. I am sorry to hear that you are in despair about your book (The 2nd volume of the 10th Edition of the 'Principles.'); I well know that feeling, but
- 82 [The following letter, from Mrs. Boole, is one of those referred to in the last letter to Sir J.D. Hooker:]Dear Sir, Will you excuse my venturing to ask you a question, to which no one's answer but your own would be quite satisfactory?Do you consider
- 81 "You will shriek at me when you hear that I have just subscribed to the Jamaica Committee." (He subscribed 10 pounds.) On this subject I quote from a letter of my brother's:-- "With respect to Governor Eyre's conduct in Jamaica, h
- 80 I thank you most sincerely for having so carefully considered my MS. It has been a real act of kindness. It would have annoyed me extremely to have re-published Buffon's views, which I did not know of, but I will get the book; and if I have strength
- 79 CHARLES DARWIN TO F. MULLER. Down, August 10 [1865].My dear Sir, I have been for a long time so ill that I have only just finished hearing read aloud your work on species. And now you must permit me to thank you cordially for the great interest with which
- 78 The presentation of the Copley Medal is of interest in another way, inasmuch as it led to Sir C. Lyell making, in his after-dinner speech, a "confession of faith as to the 'Origin.'" He wrote to my father ('Life,'vol. ii. pag
- 77 I liked extremely your review of De Candolle. What an awfully severe article that by Falconer on Lyell ("Athenaeum", April 4, 1863, page 459.The writer a.s.serts that justice has not been done either to himself or Mr. Prestwich--that Lyell has n
- 76 to-morrow, I will add my impression of Owen's letter.... The Lyells are coming here on Sunday evening to stay till Wednesday.I dread it, but I must say how much disappointed I am that he has not spoken out on species, still less on man. And the best
- 75 Keep your spirits up. A book is no light labour. I have been better lately, and working hard, but my health is very indifferent. How is your health? Believe me, dear Bates, Yours very sincerely, C. DARWIN.CHAPTER 2.IV. -- THE SPREAD OF EVOLUTION.'VAR
- 74 CHARLES DARWIN TO T.H. HUXLEY. Down, [January?] 14 [1862].My dear Huxley, I am heartily glad of your success in the North (This refers to two of Mr. Huxley's lectures, given before the Philosophical Inst.i.tution of Edinburgh in 1862. The substance o
- 73 Kind as you have been in taking this trouble and offering me this specimen, to tell the truth I value your note more than the specimen. I shall keep your note amongst a very few precious letters. Your kindness has quite touched me.Yours affectionately and
- 72 P.S.--Tell Lady Lyell that I was unable to digest the funereal ceremonies of the ants, notwithstanding that Erasmus has often told me that I should find some day that they have their bishops. After a battle I have always seen the ants carry away the dead
- 71 "I shall be glad to hear when you have decided how many copies you will print off--the more the better for me in all ways, as far as compatible with safety; for I hope never again to make so many corrections, or rather additions, which I have made in
- 70 I sincerely hope that you will be able to carry out your intention of writing on the "Birth, Life, and Death of Words." Anyhow, you have a capital t.i.tle, and some think this the most difficult part of a book. I remember years ago at the Cape o
- 69 [Dr. Gray wrote three articles in the 'Atlantic Monthly' for July, August, and October, which were reprinted as a pamphlet in 1861, and now form chapter iii. in 'Darwiniana' (1876), with the heading 'Natural Selection not inconsis
- 68 T.H. HUXLEY TO CHARLES DARWIN. August 6th, 1860.My dear Darwin, I have to announce a new and great ally for you...Von Baer writes to me thus:--Et outre cela, je trouve que vous ecrivez encore des redactions. Vous avez ecrit sur l'ouvrage de M. Darwin
- 67 CHARLES DARWIN TO C. LYELL. Down [June 14th, 1860].... Lowell's review (J.A. Lowell in the 'Christian Examiner,' May 1860.) is pleasantly written, but it is clear that he is not a naturalist. He quite overlooks the importance of the acc.u.m
- 66 My dear Mr. Wallace, I received this morning your letter from Amboyna, dated February 16th, containing some remarks and your too high approval of my book. Your letter has pleased me very much, and I most completely agree with you on the parts which are st
- 65 My dear Hooker, Questions of priority so often lead to odious quarrels, that I should esteem it a great favour if you would read the enclosed. ((My father wrote ("Gardeners' Chronicle", 1860, page 362, April 21st): "I have been much in
- 64 [The following letter is of interest in connection with the mention of Mr. Bentham in the last letter:]G. BENTHAM TO FRANCIS DARWIN. 25 Wilton Place, S.W., May 30th, 1882.My dear Sir, In compliance with your note which I received last night, I send herewi
- 63 From two common superst.i.tions, at least, I shall be free while judging of your books:-- 1. I have long since, from watching the crossing of domesticated animals and plants, learnt to disbelieve the dogma of the permanence of species.2. I have gradually
- 62 CHARLES DARWIN TO H.G. BRONN. Down, July 14 [1860].Dear and honoured Sir, On my return home, after an absence of some time, I found the translation of the third part (The German translation was published in three pamphle-like numbers.) of the 'Origin
- 61 The chapter on HYBRIDISM is not a WEAK, but a STRONG chapter. You have done wonders there. But still you have not accounted, as you may be held to account, for divergence up to a certain extent producing increased fertility of the crosses, but carried one
- 60 I am very much obliged for your letter. It is of great use and interest to me to know what impression my book produces on philosophical and instructed minds. I thank you for the kind things which you say; and you go with me much further than I expected. Y
- 59 [It is impossible to give in a short s.p.a.ce an adequate idea of Mr.Huxley's article in the "Times" of December 26. It is admirably planned, so as to claim for the 'Origin' a respectful hearing, and it abstains from anything like
- 58 Embryology is my pet bit in my book, and, confound my friends, not one has noticed this to me.CHARLES DARWIN TO ASA GRAY. Down, December 21st [1859].My dear Gray, I have just received your most kind, long, and valuable letter. I will write again in a few
- 57 A sentence in another letter to M. de Quatref.a.ges shows how anxious he was to convert one of the greatest of contemporary Zoologists: "How I should like to know whether Milne Edwards had read the copy which I sent him, and whether he thinks I have
- 56 CHARLES DARWIN TO J.D. HOOKER. Ilkley, Yorks.h.i.+re [November 1859].My dear Hooker, I cannot help it, I must thank you for your affectionate and most kind note. My head will be turned. By Jove, I must try and get a bit modest.I was a little chagrined by
- 55 I sincerely hope that you keep your health; I suppose that you will be thinking of returning (Mr. Wallace was in the Malay Archipelago.) soon with your magnificent collections, and still grander mental materials.You will be puzzled how to publish. The Roy
- 54 The Life and Letters of Charles Darwin.Volume II.by Charles Darwin.CHAPTER 2.I. -- THE PUBLICATION OF THE 'ORIGIN OF SPECIES.'OCTOBER 3, 1859, TO DECEMBER 31, 1859.1859.[Under the date of October 1st, 1859, in my father's Diary occurs the e
- 53 "In regard to this last subject [the changes from one set of animal and vegetable species to another]...you remember what Herschel said in his letter to me. If I had stated as plainly as he has done the possibility of the introduction or origination
- 52 ...Our difference on "principle of improvement" and "power of adaptation" is too profound for discussion by letter. If I am wrong, I am quite blind to my error. If I am right, our difference will be got over only by your re-reading car
- 51 CHARLES DARWIN TO C. LYELL. Down, September 25th [1859].My dear Lyell, I send by this post four corrected sheets. I have altered the sentence about the Eocene fauna being beaten by recent, thanks to your remark.But I imagined that it would have been clear
- 50 CHARLES DARWIN TO C. LYELL. Down, June 21st [1859].I am working very hard, but get on slowly, for I find that my corrections are terrifically heavy, and the work most difficult to me. I have corrected 130 pages, and the volume will be about 500. I have tr
- 49 I know that Lyell has been INFINITELY kind about my affair, but your dashed (i.e., underlined) "INDUCE" gives the idea that Lyell had unfairly urged Murray.CHARLES DARWIN TO ASA GRAY. April 4th [1859]....You ask to see my sheets as printed off;
- 48 I shall to-morrow finish my last chapter (except a recapitulation) on Affinities, h.o.m.ologies, Embryology, etc., and the facts seem to me to come out VERY strong for mutability of species.I have been much interested in working out the chapter.I shall no
- 47 You will, I think, admit that Australian plants, flouris.h.i.+ng so in India, is no argument that they could hold their own against the ten thousand natural contingencies of other plants, insects, animals, etc., etc. With respect to South West Australia a
- 46 I cannot give you facts, and I must write dogmatically, though I do not feel so on any point. I may just mention, in order that you may believe that I have SOME foundation for my views, that Hooker has read my MS., and though he at first demurred to my ma
- 45 Yours affectionately, C. DARWIN.P.S.--I have had some fun here in watching a slave-making ant; for I could not help rather doubting the wonderful stories, but I have now seen a defeated marauding party, and I have seen a migration from one nest to another
- 44 ...I have received your letters. I cannot think now (So soon after the death, from scarlet fever, of his infant child.) on the subject, but soon will. But I can see that you have acted with more kindness, and so has Lyell, even than I could have expected
- 43 I find horses of various colours often have a spinal band or stripe of different and darker tint than the rest of the body; rarely transverse bars on the legs, generally on the under-side of the front legs, still more rarely a very faint transverse should
- 42 CHARLES DARWIN TO J.D. HOOKER. Down, August [1857].My dear Hooker, It is a horrid bore you cannot come soon, and I reproach myself that I did not write sooner. How busy you must be! with such a heap of botanists at Kew. Only think, I have just had a lette
- 41 P.S.--I do not know how far you will care to hear, but I find Moquin-Tandon treats in his 'Teratologie' on villosity of plants, and seems to attribute more to dryness than alt.i.tude; but seems to think that it must be admitted that mountain pla
- 40 CHARLES DARWIN TO J.D. HOOKER. December 24th [1856]....How I do wish I lived near you to discuss matters with. I have just been comparing definitions of species, and stating briefly how systematic naturalists work out their subjects. Aquilegia in the Flor
- 39 CHARLES DARWIN TO ASA GRAY. Down, July 20th [1856]....It is not a little egotistical, but I should like to tell you (and I do not THINK I have) how I view my work. Nineteen years (!) ago it occurred to me that whilst otherwise employed on Natural History,
- 38 CHARLES DARWIN TO J.D. HOOKER. May 11th [1856]....Now for a MORE IMPORTANT! subject, viz., my own self: I am extremely glad you think well of a separate "Preliminary Essay" (i.e., if anything whatever is published; for Lyell seemed rather to dou
- 37 ...Miss Thorley (A lady who was for many years a governess in the family.) and I are doing A LITTLE BOTANICAL WORK! for our amus.e.m.e.nt, and it does amuse me very much, viz., making a collection of all the plants, which grow in a field, which has been a
- 36 I forget whether I ever told you what the object of my present work is,--it is to view all facts that I can master (eheu, eheu, how ignorant I find I am) in Natural History (as on geographical distribution, palaeontology, cla.s.sification, hybridism, dome
- 35 ...At last I am going to press with a small poor first-fruit of my confounded Cirripedia, viz. the fossil pedunculate cirripedia. You ask what effect studying species has had on my variation theories; I do not think much--I have felt some difficulties mor
- 34 I will trouble you with only one other question. In discussion with Mr.Gould, I found that in most of the genera of birds which range over the whole or greater part of the world, the individual species have wider ranges, thus the Owl is mundane, and many
- 33 Professor Newton, who was so kind as to look through the 1844 Sketch, tells me that my father's remarks on the migration of birds, incidentally given in more than one pa.s.sage, show that he had antic.i.p.ated the views of some later writers.With reg
- 32 At another place, speaking of intermediate forms he says:-- "Cuvier objects to propagation of species by saying, why have not some intermediate forms been discovered between Palaeotherium, Megalonyx, Mastodon, and the species now living? Now accordin
- 31 There have been great fears that his heart is affected; but, I hope to G.o.d, without foundation. Hooker's book (Sir J. Hooker's 'Himalayan Journal.') is out, and MOST BEAUTIFULLY got up. He has honoured me beyond measure by dedicating
- 30 My dear Fox, I do not suppose you will have heard of our bitter and cruel loss. Poor dear little Annie, when going on very well at Malvern, was taken with a vomiting attack, which was at first thought of the smallest importance; but it rapidly a.s.sumed t
- 29 I have thus candidly stated my views (I hope intelligibly) of what seems best to be done in the present transitional and dangerous state of systematic zoology. Innumerable labourers, many of them crotchety and half-educated, are rus.h.i.+ng into the field
- 28 But, first, let me say that I never write to you except for my own good pleasure; now I fear that you answer me when busy and without inclination (and I am sure I should have none if I was as busy as you).Pray do not do so, and if I thought my writing ent
- 27 October 1846 to October 1854.[Writing to Sir J.D. Hooker in 1845, my father says: "I hope this next summer to finish my South American Geology, then to get out a little Zoology, and hurrah for my species work..." This pa.s.sage serves to show th
- 26 Believe me, my dear old friend, ever yours, C. DARWIN.CHARLES DARWIN TO J.D. HOOKER. Down, Monday [February 10th, 1845].My dear Hooker, I am much obliged for your very agreeable letter; it was very good-natured, in the midst of your scientific and theatri
- 25 In a letter to Lyell (1853) my father wrote, "I went up for a paper by the Arctic Dr. Sutherland, on ice action, read only in abstract, but I should think with much good matter. It was very pleasant to hear that it was written owing to the Admiralty
- 24 Visits to London of this kind were kept up for some years at the cost of much exertion on his part. I have often heard him speak of the wearisome drives of ten miles to or from Croydon or Sydenham--the nearest stations--with an old gardener acting as coac