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The writing of "Origin" | Darwin Correspondence Project
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This letter led to the first announcement of Darwin’s and Wallace’s respective theories of organic change at the Linnean Society of London in July 1858 and prompted the composition and publication, in November 1859, of Darwin’s major treatise On the origin of species by means of natural selection." /> <meta property="og:updated_time" content="2017-05-05T12:06:33+01:00" /> <meta property="og:image" content="https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/sites/default/files/MS-DAR-00048-000-00187.jpg" /> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary" /> <meta name="twitter:url" content="https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/people/about-darwin/origin-species/writing-origin" /> <meta name="twitter:title" content="The writing of "Origin"" /> <meta property="article:published_time" content="2015-06-09T13:30:35+01:00" /> <meta property="article:modified_time" content="2015-06-09T13:30:35+01:00" /> <title>The writing of "Origin" | Darwin Correspondence Project</title> <meta name="viewport" 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itemtype="https://data-vocabulary.org/Breadcrumb"> <ul class="campl-unstyled-list campl-horizontal-navigation clearfix"> <li class="first-child"><span itemprop="title"><a href="/" class="easy-breadcrumb_segment easy-breadcrumb_segment-front campl-home ir">Home</a></span></li> <li><span itemprop="title"><a href="/people" class="easy-breadcrumb_segment easy-breadcrumb_segment-1">People</a></span></li> <li><span itemprop="title"><a href="/people/about-darwin" class="easy-breadcrumb_segment easy-breadcrumb_segment-2">About Darwin</a></span></li> <li><span itemprop="title"><a href="/people/about-darwin/origin-species" class="easy-breadcrumb_segment easy-breadcrumb_segment-3">On the Origin of Species</a></span></li> <li><span class="easy-breadcrumb_segment easy-breadcrumb_segment-title" itemprop="title">The writing of "Origin"</span></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <h1 class="campl-page-title">Darwin Correspondence Project</h1> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="campl-row campl-page-header"> <div class="campl-wrap"> <div class="region region-horizontal-navigation"> <div id="block-menu-block-1" class="block block-menu-block"> <div> <div class="menu-block-wrapper menu-block-1 menu-name-main-menu parent-mlid-0 menu-level-1"> <div class="campl-wrap clearfix campl-local-navigation"><div class="campl-local-navigation-container"><ul class="campl-unstyled-list"><li class="first leaf menu-mlid-198"><a href="/">Home</a></li> <li class="expanded active-trail menu-mlid-2309"><a href="/people/about-darwin" class="active-trail campl-selected">About Darwin</a><ul class="campl-unstyled-list local-dropdown-menu"><li class="first collapsed active-trail menu-mlid-2309"><a href="/people/about-darwin" class="active-trail">About Darwin overview</a></li> <li class="expanded menu-mlid-869"><a href="/people/about-darwin/family-life">Family life</a><ul class="campl-unstyled-list local-dropdown-menu"><li class="first collapsed menu-mlid-869"><a href="/people/about-darwin/family-life">Family life overview</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1125"><a href="/people/about-darwin/family-life/darwin-childhood">Darwin on childhood</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1038"><a href="/tags/about-darwin/family-life/darwin-marriage">Darwin on marriage</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1258"><a href="/people/about-darwin/family-life/darwin-s-observations-his-children">Darwin’s observations on his children</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-2295"><a href="/people/about-darwin/family-life/darwin-and-fatherhood">Darwin and fatherhood</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1039"><a href="/people/about-darwin/family-life/death-anne-elizabeth-darwin">The death of Annie Darwin</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-1051"><a href="/people/about-darwin/family-life/visiting-darwins">Visiting the Darwins</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3416"><a href="/commentary/voyage-hms-beagle" title="">Voyage of HMS Beagle</a></li> <li class="expanded menu-mlid-1035"><a href="/people/about-darwin/what-darwin-read">What Darwin read</a><ul class="campl-unstyled-list local-dropdown-menu"><li class="first collapsed menu-mlid-1035"><a href="/people/about-darwin/what-darwin-read">What Darwin read overview</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1130"><a href="/people/about-darwin/what-darwin-read/darwin-s-student-booklist">Darwin’s student booklist</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-933"><a href="/people/about-darwin/what-darwin-read/books-beagle">Books on the Beagle</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-1036"><a href="/people/about-darwin/what-darwin-read/darwin-s-reading-notebooks">Darwin’s reading notebooks</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="expanded active-trail menu-mlid-1059"><a href="/people/about-darwin/origin-species" class="active-trail">On the Origin of Species</a><ul class="campl-unstyled-list local-dropdown-menu"><li class="first collapsed active-trail menu-mlid-1059"><a href="/people/about-darwin/origin-species" class="active-trail">On the Origin of Species overview</a></li> <li class="leaf active-trail active menu-mlid-1060 campl-current-page"><a href="/people/about-darwin/origin-species/writing-origin" class="active-trail active">The writing of "Origin"</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1084"><a href="/people/about-darwin/origin-species/abstract-darwin-s-theory">Abstract of Darwin’s theory</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1093"><a href="/people/about-darwin/origin-species/alfred-russel-wallace-s-essay-varieties">Alfred Russel Wallace’s essay on varieties</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1094"><a href="/charles-darwin-and-his-publisher">Charles Darwin and his publisher</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-1147"><a href="/people/about-darwin/origin-species/review-origin-species">Review: The Origin of Species</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1126"><a href="/people/about-darwin/darwins-health">Darwin’s health</a><ul class="campl-unstyled-list local-dropdown-menu"><li class="first last leaf menu-mlid-2917"><a href="/tags/darwin/darwin-on-his-health">Darwin's notes for his physician, 1865</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1128"><a href="/about-darwin/darwin-s-photographic-portraits">Darwin’s photographic portraits</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-2896"><a href="/have-you-read-one-about">Have you read the one about....</a></li> <li class="expanded menu-mlid-2654"><a href="/people/about-darwin/six-things-darwin-never-said">Six things Darwin never said – and one he did</a><ul class="campl-unstyled-list local-dropdown-menu"><li class="first collapsed menu-mlid-2654"><a href="/people/about-darwin/six-things-darwin-never-said">Six things Darwin never said – and one he did overview</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-2892"><a href="/people/about-darwin/six-things-darwin-never-said/evolution-misquotation">The evolution of a misquotation</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="expanded menu-mlid-3673"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue">Portraits of Charles Darwin: a catalogue</a><ul class="campl-unstyled-list local-dropdown-menu"><li class="first collapsed menu-mlid-3673"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue">Portraits of Charles Darwin: a catalogue overview</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3676"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/11-ellen-sharples-pastel">1.1 Ellen Sharples pastel</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3709"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/12-george-richmond-marriage-portrait">1.2 George Richmond, marriage portrait</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3718"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/13-thomas-herbert-maguire-lithograph">1.3 Thomas Herbert Maguire, lithograph</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3721"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/14-samuel-laurence-drawing-1">1.4 Samuel Laurence drawing 1</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3724"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/15-samuel-laurence-drawing-2">1.5 Samuel Laurence drawing 2</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3727"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/16-ouless-oil-portrait">1.6 Ouless oil portrait</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3730"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/17-ouless-replica">1.7 Ouless replica</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3733"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/18-anonymous-drawing-after-ouless">1.8 anonymous drawing, after Ouless</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3736"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/19-rajon-etching-after-ouless">1.9 Rajon, etching after Ouless</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3679"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/110-rajon-etching-variant-state">1.10 Rajon etching, variant state</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3682"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/111-laura-russell-oil">1.11 Laura Russell, oil</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3685"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/112-marian-huxley-drawing">1.12 Marian Huxley, drawing</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3688"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/113-louisa-nash-drawing">1.13 Louisa Nash, drawing</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3691"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/114-william-richmond-oil">1.14 William Richmond, oil</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3694"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/115-albert-goodwin-watercolour">1.15 Albert Goodwin, watercolour</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3697"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/116-alphonse-legros-drypoint">1.16 Alphonse Legros, drypoint</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3700"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/117-alphonse-legros-drawing">1.17 Alphonse Legros drawing</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3703"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/118-john-collier-oil-linnean">1.18 John Collier, oil in Linnean</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3706"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/119-john-collier-oil-npg">1.19 John Collier, oil in NPG</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3712"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/120-leopold-flameng-etching-after-collier">1.20 Leopold Flameng etching, after Collier</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3715"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/121-window-christs-college-cambridge">1.21 window at Christ's College Cambridge</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3739"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/21-thomas-woolner-bust">2.1 Thomas Woolner bust</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3772"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/22-thomas-woolner-metal-plaque">2.2 Thomas Woolner metal plaque</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3802"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/23-wedgwood-medallions">2.3 Wedgwood medallions</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3805"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/24-wedgwood-plaque">2.4 Wedgwood plaque</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3808"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/25-wedgwood-medallions-2nd-type">2.5 Wedgwood medallions, 2nd type</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3811"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/26-adolf-von-hildebrand-bust">2.6 Adolf von Hildebrand bust</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3814"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/27-joseph-moore-midland-union-medal">2.7 Joseph Moore, Midland Union medal</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3817"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/28-alphonse-legros-medallion">2.8 Alphonse Legros medallion</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3820"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/29-legros-medallion-plaster-model">2.9 Legros medallion, plaster model</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3742"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/210-moritz-klinkicht-print-legros">2.10 Moritz Klinkicht, print from Legros</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3745"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/211-christian-lehr-plaster-bust">2.11 Christian Lehr, plaster bust</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3748"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/212-allan-wyon-royal-society-medal">2.12 Allan Wyon, Royal Society medal</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3751"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/213-edgar-boehm-statue-nhm">2.13 Edgar Boehm, statue in the NHM</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3754"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/214-boehm-westminster-abbey-roundel">2.14 Boehm, Westminster Abbey roundel</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3757"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/215-boehm-terracotta-bust-npg">2.15 Boehm terracotta bust (NPG)</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3760"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/216-horace-montford-statue-shrewsbury">2.16 Horace Montford statue, Shrewsbury</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3763"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/217-montford-statuette">2.17 Montford, statuette</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3766"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/218-montford-carnegie-bust">2.18 Montford, Carnegie bust</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3769"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/219-montford-bust-royal-society">2.19 Montford, bust at the Royal Society</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3775"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/220-montford-terracotta-bust-npg">2.20 Montford, terracotta bust, NPG</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3778"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/221-montford-relief-christs-college">2.21 Montford, relief at Christ's College</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3781"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/222-l-j-chavalliaud-statue-liverpool">2.22 L.-J. Chavalliaud statue in Liverpool</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3784"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/223-hope-pinker-statue-oxford-museum">2.23 Hope Pinker statue, Oxford Museum</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3787"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/224-herbert-hampton-statue-lancaster">2.24 Herbert Hampton statue, Lancaster</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3790"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/225-henry-pegram-statue-birmingham">2.25 Henry Pegram statue, Birmingham</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3793"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/226-linnean-society-medal">2.26 Linnean Society medal</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3796"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/227-william-couper-bust-new-york">2.27 William Couper bust, New York</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3799"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/228-couper-bust-cambridge">2.28 Couper bust in Cambridge</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3823"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/31-antoine-claudet-daguerreotype">3.1 Antoine Claudet, daguerreotype</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3856"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/32-maull-and-polyblank-photo-1">3.2 Maull and Polyblank photo 1</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3865"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/33-maull-and-polyblank-photo-2">3.3 Maull and Polyblank photo 2</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3868"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/34-william-darwin-photo-1">3.4 William Darwin, photo 1</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3871"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/35-william-darwin-photo-2">3.5 William Darwin, photo 2</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3874"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/36-william-darwin-photo-3">3.6 William Darwin, photo 3</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3877"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/37-leonard-darwin-photo-verandah">3.7 Leonard Darwin, photo on verandah</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3880"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/38-leonard-darwin-interior-photo">3.8 Leonard Darwin, interior photo</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3883"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/39-leonard-darwin-photo-horseback">3.9 Leonard Darwin, photo on horseback</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3826"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/310-ernest-edwards-men-eminence">3.10 Ernest Edwards, 'Men of Eminence'</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3829"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/311-edwards-illustrated-london-news">3.11 Edwards, in Illustrated London News</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3832"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/312-edwards-second-group-photos">3.12 Edwards, second group of photos</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3835"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/313-edwards-representative-men">3.13 Edwards 'Representative Men'</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3838"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/314-julia-margaret-cameron-photos">3.14 Julia Margaret Cameron, photos</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3841"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/315-george-charles-wallich-photo">3.15 George Charles Wallich, photo</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3844"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/316-oscar-rejlander-photos">3.16 Oscar Rejlander, photos</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3847"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/317-lock-and-whitfield-men-mark">3.17 Lock and Whitfield, 'Men of Mark'</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3850"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/318-elliott-and-fry-photos-c1869-1871">3.18 Elliott and Fry photos, c.1869-1871</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3853"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/319-elliott-and-fry-photos-c1880-1">3.19 Elliott and Fry photos c.1880-1</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3859"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/320-elliott-and-fry-c1880-1-verandah">3.20 Elliott and Fry, c.1880-1, verandah</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3862"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/321-herbert-rose-barraud-photos">3.21 Herbert Rose Barraud, photos</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3886"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/41-albert-way-comic-drawings">4.1 Albert Way, comic drawings</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3919"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/42-augustus-earle-caricature-drawing">4.2 Augustus Earle, caricature drawing</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3952"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/43-alfred-crowquill-caricature">4.3 Alfred Crowquill, caricature</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3985"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/44-thomas-huxley-caricature-sketch">4.4 Thomas Huxley, caricature sketch</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-4018"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/45-william-beard-comic-painting">4.5 William Beard, comic painting</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-4051"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/46-thomas-nast-cartoon">4.6 Thomas Nast, cartoon</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-4054"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/47-vanity-fair-caricature">4.7 'Vanity Fair', caricature</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-4057"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/48-vanity-fair-preliminary-study">4.8 'Vanity Fair', preliminary study</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-4060"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/49-graphic-cartoon">4.9 'Graphic', cartoon</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3889"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/410-hornet-caricature-darwin">4.10 'Hornet' caricature of Darwin</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3892"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/411-fun-cartoon-little-lecture">4.11 'Fun' cartoon, 'A little lecture'</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3895"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/412-fun-wedding-procession">4.12 'Fun', Wedding procession</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3898"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/413-fun-cartoon-griset-emotional">4.13 'Fun' cartoon by Griset, 'Emotional'</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3901"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/414-fun-cartoon-troubles">4.14 'Fun' cartoon, 'That troubles'</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3904"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/415-george-cruikshank-comic-drawing">4.15 George Cruikshank, comic drawing</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3907"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/416-joseph-simms-physiognomy">4.16 Joseph Simms, physiognomy</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3910"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/417-figaro-unidentifiable-1871">4.17 'Figaro', unidentifiable 1871</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3913"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/418-figaro-chromolithograph-1">4.18 'Figaro' chromolithograph 1</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3916"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/419-george-montbard-caricature">4.19 George Montbard, caricature</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3922"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/420-frederick-waddy-caricature">4.20 Frederick Waddy, caricature</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3925"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/421-gegeef-our-national-church-1">4.21 Gegeef, 'Our National Church', 1</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3928"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/422-gegeef-et-al-our-national-church-2">4.22 Gegeef et al., 'Our National Church', 2</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3931"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/423-gegeef-battle-field-science">4.23 Gegeef, 'Battle Field of Science'</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3934"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/424-daily-graphic-nast-satire">4.24 'Daily Graphic', Nast satire</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3937"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/425-punch-1877-re-cambridge-doctorate">4.25 'Punch' 1877 re. Cambridge doctorate</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3940"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/426-christmas-card-caricature-monkeys">4.26 Christmas card caricature, monkeys</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3943"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/427-four-founders-darwinismus">4.27 'Four founders of Darwinismus'</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3946"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/428-english-celebrities-montage">4.28 'English celebrities' montage</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3949"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/429-richard-grant-white-fall-man">4.29 Richard Grant White, 'Fall of man'</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3955"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/430-la-petite-lune-gill-cartoon">4.30 'La Petite Lune', Gill cartoon</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3958"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/431-la-lune-rousse-gill-cartoon">4.31 'La Lune Rousse', Gill cartoon</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3961"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/432-anis-liqueur-label">4.32 Anis liqueur label</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3964"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/433-harpers-weekly-bellew-caricature">4.33 'Harper's Weekly', Bellew caricature</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3967"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/434-punch-sambourne-cartoon-1">4.34 'Punch', Sambourne cartoon 1</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3970"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/435-frederick-sem-caricature">4.35 Frederick Sem, caricature</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3973"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/436-sem-chistmas-card">4.36 Sem, Chistmas card</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3976"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/437-mosquito-satire">4.37 'Mosquito' satire</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3979"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/438-franz-goedecker-caricature">4.38 Franz Goedecker, caricature</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3982"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/439-moonshine-magazine-cartoon">4.39 'Moonshine' magazine cartoon</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3988"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/440-phrenological-magazine">4.40 'Phrenological Magazine'</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3991"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/441-punch-sambourne-cartoon-2">4.41 'Punch', Sambourne cartoon 2</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3994"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/442-punch-sambourne-cartoon-3">4.42 'Punch' Sambourne cartoon 3</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3997"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/443-illustrated-london-news-article">4.43 'Illustrated London News' article</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-4000"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/444-puck-cartoon-1">4.44 'Puck' cartoon 1</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-4003"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/445-puck-cartoon-2">4.45 'Puck' cartoon 2</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-4006"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/446-puck-cartoon-3">4.46 'Puck' cartoon 3</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-4009"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/447-puck-cartoon-4">4.47 'Puck' cartoon 4</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-4012"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/448-puck-cartoon-5">4.48 'Puck', cartoon 5</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-4015"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/449-alfred-bryan-caricature">4.49 Alfred Bryan, caricature</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-4021"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/450-cigar-box-lid-design">4.50 Cigar box lid design</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-4024"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/451-frederick-holder-life-and-work">4.51 Frederick Holder 'Life and Work'</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-4027"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/452-wasp-caricature">4.52 'Wasp' caricature</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-4030"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/453-claud-warren-outlines-hands">4.53 Claud Warren, 'Outlines of Hands'</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-4033"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/454-jubilees-queen-victoria">4.54 jubilees of Queen Victoria</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-4036"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/455-harry-furniss-caricature">4.55 Harry Furniss caricature</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-4039"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/456-larks-cartoon">4.56 'Larks' cartoon</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-4042"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/457-silhouette-cartoon">4.57 silhouette cartoon</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-4045"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/458-simian-savage-drawings">4.58 'Simian, savage' . . . drawings</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-4048"><a href="/about-darwin/portraits-charles-darwin-catalogue/459-simplicissimus-cartoon">4.59 'Simplicissimus' cartoon</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="expanded menu-mlid-4066"><a href="/about-darwin/darwin-and-experimental-life">Darwin and the experimental life</a><ul class="campl-unstyled-list local-dropdown-menu"><li class="first collapsed menu-mlid-4066"><a href="/about-darwin/darwin-and-experimental-life">Darwin and the experimental life overview</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-4069"><a href="/about-darwin/darwin-and-experimental-life/what-experiment">What is an experiment?</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-4081"><a href="/about-darwin/darwin-and-experimental-life/morphology-movement-observation-and-experiment">From morphology to movement: observation and experiment</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-4078"><a href="/about-darwin/darwin-and-experimental-life/fools-experiments">Fool's experiments</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-4075"><a href="/about-darwin/darwin-and-experimental-life/experimenting-emotions">Experimenting with emotions</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-4072"><a href="/about-darwin/darwin-and-experimental-life/animals-ethics-and-progress-science">Animals, ethics, and the progress of science</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3366"><a href="/fake-darwin">Fake Darwin: myths and misconceptions</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3402"><a href="/darwins-bad-days">Darwin's bad days</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-3644"><a href="/people/about-darwin/darwin-s-first-love">Darwin’s first love</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="expanded menu-mlid-800"><a href="/letters" title="">The letters</a><ul class="campl-unstyled-list local-dropdown-menu"><li class="first collapsed menu-mlid-800"><a href="/letters" title="">The letters overview</a></li> <li class="expanded menu-mlid-2080"><a href="/letters/darwins-life-letters">Darwin's life in letters</a><ul class="campl-unstyled-list local-dropdown-menu"><li class="first collapsed menu-mlid-2080"><a href="/letters/darwins-life-letters">Darwin's life in letters overview</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1097"><a href="/letters/darwins-life-letters/darwin-letters-1821-1836-childhood-beagle-voyage">1821-1836: Childhood to the Beagle voyage</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1106"><a href="/letters/darwins-life-letters/darwin-letters-1837-1843-london-years-natural-selection" title="Charles Darwin's life seen through his letters, 1837-43">1837-43: The London years to 'natural selection'</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1107"><a href="/letters/darwins-life-letters/darwin-letters-1844-1846-building-scientific-network">1844-1846: Building a scientific network</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1108"><a href="/letters/darwins-life-letters/darwin-letters-1847-1850-microscopes-and-barnacles">1847-1850: Microscopes and barnacles</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1109"><a href="/letters/darwins-life-letters/darwin-letters-1851-1855-death-daughter">1851-1855: Death of a daughter</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1110"><a href="/letters/darwins-life-letters/darwin-letters-1856-1857-big-book">1856-1857: The 'Big Book'</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-936"><a href="/letters/darwins-life-letters/darwin-letters-1858-1859-origin">1858-1859: Origin</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-937"><a href="/letters/darwins-life-letters/darwin-letters-1860-answering-critics">1860: Answering critics</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1111"><a href="/letters/darwins-life-letters/darwin-letters-1861-gaining-allies">1861: Gaining allies</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1098"><a href="/letters/darwins-life-letters/darwin-letters-1862-multiplicity-experiments">1862: A multiplicity of experiments</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1099"><a href="/letters/darwins-life-letters/darwin-letters-1863-quarrels-home-honours-abroad">1863: Quarrels at home, honours abroad</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1100"><a href="/letters/darwins-life-letters/darwin-letters-1864-failing-health">1864: Failing health</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-935"><a href="/letters/darwins-life-letters/darwin-letters-1865-delays-and-disappointments">1865: Delays and disappointments</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1101"><a href="/letters/darwins-life-letters/darwin-letters1866-survival-fittest">1866: Survival of the fittest</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1102"><a href="/letters/darwins-life-letters/darwin-letters-1867-civilised-dispute">1867: A civilised dispute</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1103"><a href="/letters/darwins-life-letters/darwin-letters-1868-studying-sex">1868: Studying sex</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1104"><a href="/letters/darwins-life-letters/darwin-letters-1869-forward-all-fronts">1869: Forward on all fronts</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1105"><a href="/letters/darwins-life-letters/darwin-letters1870-human-evolution">1870: Human evolution</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1151"><a href="/letters/darwins-life-letters/darwin-letters-1871-emptying-nest">1871: An emptying nest</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1152"><a href="/letters/darwins-life-letters/darwin-letters-1872-job-done">1872: Job done?</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1049"><a href="/letters/darwins-life-letters/darwins-letters-1873-animal-or-vegetable">1873: Animal or vegetable?</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1050"><a href="/letters/darwins-life-letters/darwin-letters-1874-turbulent-year">1874: A turbulent year</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-2275"><a href="/letters/darwins-life-letters/darwin-letters-1875-pulling-strings">1875: Pulling strings</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-2894"><a href="/letters/darwins-life-letters/darwin-letters-1876-midst-life">1876: In the midst of life</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3363"><a href="/letters/darwins-life-letters/darwin-letters-1877-flowers-and-honours">1877: Flowers and honours</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3383"><a href="/letters/darwins-life-letters/darwin-letters-1878-movement-and-sleep">1878: Movement and sleep</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3394"><a href="/letters/darwins-life-letters/darwin-letters-1879-tracing-roots">1879: Tracing roots</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3661"><a href="/letters/darwins-life-letters/darwin-letters-1880-sensitivity-and-worms">1880: Sensitivity and worms</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-4063"><a href="/letters/darwins-life-letters/darwin-letters-1881-old-friends-and-new-admirers">1881: Old friends and new admirers</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-4102"><a href="/letters/darwins-life-letters/darwin-letters-1882-nothing-too-great-or-too-small">1882: Nothing too great or too small</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="expanded menu-mlid-3384"><a href="/letters/darwins-works-letters">Darwin's works in letters</a><ul class="campl-unstyled-list local-dropdown-menu"><li class="first collapsed menu-mlid-3384"><a href="/letters/darwins-works-letters">Darwin's works in letters overview</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3385"><a href="/letters/darwins-works-letters/journal-researches">Journal of researches</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3386"><a href="/letters/darwins-works-letters/living-and-fossil-cirripedia">Living and fossil cirripedia</a></li> <li class="expanded menu-mlid-3400"><a href="/letters/darwins-works-letters/origin-big-book">Before Origin: the ‘big book’</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first collapsed menu-mlid-3400"><a href="/letters/darwins-works-letters/origin-big-book">Before Origin: the ‘big book’ overview</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-3401"><a href="/letters/darwins-works-letters/origin-big-book/dates-composition-darwins-manuscript-species">Dates of composition of Darwin's manuscript on species</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3406"><a href="/letters/darwins-works-letters/origin">Origin</a></li> <li class="expanded menu-mlid-3407"><a href="/letters/darwins-works-letters/rewriting-origin-later-editions">Rewriting Origin - the later editions</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first collapsed menu-mlid-3407"><a href="/letters/darwins-works-letters/rewriting-origin-later-editions">Rewriting Origin - the later editions overview</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3412"><a href="/letters/darwins-works-letters/rewriting-origin-later-editions/how-old-earth">How old is the earth?</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3411"><a href="/letters/darwins-works-letters/rewriting-origin-later-editions/whale-bear">The whale-bear</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-3413"><a href="/letters/darwins-works-letters/rewriting-origin-later-editions/origin-lost-changes-second-german">Origin: the lost changes for the second German edition</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3404"><a href="/letters/darwins-works-letters/orchids">Orchids</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3662"><a href="/letters/darwins-works-letters/climbing-plants">Climbing plants</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3387"><a href="/letters/darwins-works-letters/descent">Descent</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3388"><a href="/letters/darwins-works-letters/expression">Expression</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3389"><a href="/letters/darwins-works-letters/insectivorous-plants">Insectivorous plants</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3663"><a href="/letters/darwins-works-letters/forms-flowers">Forms of flowers</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-4084"><a href="/letters/darwins-works-letters/cross-and-self-fertilisation">Cross and self fertilisation</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3405"><a href="/letters/darwins-works-letters/life-erasmus-darwin">Life of Erasmus Darwin</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-3665"><a href="/letters/darwins-works-letters/movement-plants">Movement in Plants</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-2264"><a href="/letters/about-letters">About the letters</a></li> <li class="expanded menu-mlid-2408"><a href="/letters/lifecycle-letter-film">Lifecycle of a letter film</a><ul class="campl-unstyled-list local-dropdown-menu"><li class="first collapsed menu-mlid-2408"><a href="/letters/lifecycle-letter-film">Lifecycle of a letter film overview</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-2411"><a href="/letters/lifecycle-letter-film/editing-letter">Editing a Letter</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-2409"><a href="/letters/lifecycle-letter-film/working-darwin-archive">Working in the Darwin archive</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-2296"><a href="/letters/capturing-darwin-s-voice-audio-selected-letters">Capturing Darwin’s voice: audio of selected letters</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-2266"><a href="/letters/correspondence-women">Correspondence with women</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-878"><a href="/hunt-new-letters">The hunt for new letters</a></li> <li class="expanded menu-mlid-1136"><a href="/letters/editorial-policy-and-practice">Editorial policy and practice</a><ul class="campl-unstyled-list local-dropdown-menu"><li class="first collapsed menu-mlid-1136"><a href="/letters/editorial-policy-and-practice">Editorial policy and practice overview</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-3646"><a href="/letters/editorial-policy-and-practice/full-notes-editorial-policy">Full notes on editorial policy</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-2263"><a href="/letters/symbols-and-abbreviations">Symbols and abbreviations</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-2905"><a href="/letters/darwins-letters-timeline">Darwin's letters: a timeline</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-2909"><a href="/world-map">Darwin's letters: World Map</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3364"><a href="https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/have-you-read-one-about" title="">Have you read the one about...</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-4183"><a href="/letters/charles-darwin-life-letters">Charles Darwin: A Life in Letters</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-4158"><a href="/darwin-conversation-exhibition">Darwin in Conversation exhibition</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-4099"><a href="/letters/diagrams-and-drawings-letters">Diagrams and drawings in letters</a></li> <li class="expanded menu-mlid-4105"><a href="/letters/favourite-letters">Favourite Letters</a><ul class="campl-unstyled-list local-dropdown-menu"><li class="first collapsed menu-mlid-4105"><a href="/letters/favourite-letters">Favourite Letters overview</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-4162"><a href="/letters/favourite-letters/be-envious-ripe-oranges-w-d-fox-may-1832">Be envious of ripe oranges: To W. D. Fox, May 1832</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-4111"><a href="/letters/favourite-letters/monstrous-stain-j-m-herbert-2-june-1833">That monstrous stain: To J. M. Herbert, 2 June 1833</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-4166"><a href="/letters/favourite-letters/my-most-solemn-request-emma-darwin-5-july-1844">My most solemn request: To Emma Darwin, 5 July 1844</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-4178"><a href="/letters/favourite-letters/our-poor-dear-dear-child-emma-darwin-23-april-1851">Our poor dear dear child: To Emma Darwin, [23 April 1851]</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-4174"><a href="/letters/favourite-letters/i-beg-million-pardons-john-lubbock-3-september-1862">I beg a million pardons: To John Lubbock, [3 September 1862]</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-4129"><a href="/letters/favourite-letters/prize-possessions-henry-denny-17-january-1865">Prize possessions: To Henry Denny, 17 January [1865]</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-4114"><a href="/letters/favourite-letters/how-manage-it-j-d-hooker-17-june-1865">How to manage it: To J. D. Hooker, [17 June 1865]</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-4117"><a href="/letters/favourite-letters/fly-flower-hermann-m-ller-23-october-1867">A fly on the flower: From Hermann Müller, 23 October 1867</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-4138"><a href="/letters/favourite-letters/reading-my-roommate-s-illustrious-ancestor-t-h-huxley-10-june-1868">Reading my roommate’s illustrious ancestor: To T. H. Huxley, 10 June 1868</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-4169"><a href="/letters/favourite-letters/beginning-something-j-d-hooker-22-january-1869">A beginning, & that is something: To J. D. Hooker, [22 January 1869]</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-4135"><a href="/letters/favourite-letters/perfect-copper-plate-hand-adolf-reuter-30-may-1869">Perfect copper-plate hand: From Adolf Reuter, 30 May 1869</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-4132"><a href="/letters/favourite-letters/darwin-s-favourite-photographer-o-g-rejlander-30-april-1871">Darwin’s favourite photographer: From O. G. Rejlander, 30 April 1871</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-4172"><a href="/letters/favourite-letters/your-letter-eternalized-us-n-d-doedes-27-march-1873">Your letter eternalized before us: From N. D. Doedes, 27 March 1873</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-4120"><a href="/letters/favourite-letters/lost-translation-auguste-forel-12-november-1874">Lost in translation: From Auguste Forel, 12 November 1874</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-4182"><a href="/letters/favourite-letters/i-never-trusted-drosera-e-f-lubbock-after-2-july-1875">I never trusted Drosera: From E. F. Lubbock, [after 2 July] 1875</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-4126"><a href="/letters/favourite-letters/argus-pheasant-mivart-r-wallace-17-june-1876">From Argus pheasant to Mivart: To A. R. Wallace, 17 June 1876</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-4141"><a href="/letters/favourite-letters/wearing-his-knowledge-lightly-fritz-m-ller-5-april-1878">Wearing his knowledge lightly: From Fritz Müller, 5 April 1878</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-4123"><a href="/letters/favourite-letters/terms-engagement-julius-wiesner-25-october-1881">Terms of engagement: To Julius Wiesner, 25 October 1881</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-4108"><a href="/letters/favourite-letters/intellectual-capacities-caroline-kennard-26-december-1881">Intellectual capacities: From Caroline Kennard, 26 December 1881</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="expanded menu-mlid-4144"><a href="/letters/darwin-plays">Darwin plays</a><ul class="campl-unstyled-list local-dropdown-menu"><li class="first collapsed menu-mlid-4144"><a href="/letters/darwin-plays">Darwin plays overview</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-4150"><a href="/letters/darwin-plays/emma-audio-play">'Emma' audio play</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-4147"><a href="/letters/darwin-plays/frank-audio-play">'Frank' audio play</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-4153"><a href="/letters/darwin-plays/confessing-murder-audio-play">'Like confessing a murder' audio play</a></li> <li class="last expanded menu-mlid-2294"><a href="/letters/darwin-plays/re-design-dramatisation">'Re: Design' dramatisation</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first collapsed menu-mlid-2294"><a href="/letters/darwin-plays/re-design-dramatisation">'Re: Design' dramatisation overview</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-1134"><a href="/commentary/religion/re-design-dramatisation/dramatisation-script">Dramatisation script</a></li> </ul></li> </ul></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3377"><a href="https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/search?sort=date&keyword=darwin&f1-document-type=letter" title="">Browse all Darwin letters in date order</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-3391"><a href="/letters/list-correspondents">List of correspondents</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="expanded menu-mlid-824"><a href="/commentary">Commentary</a><ul class="campl-unstyled-list local-dropdown-menu"><li class="first collapsed menu-mlid-824"><a href="/commentary">Commentary overview</a></li> <li class="expanded menu-mlid-2269"><a href="/commentary/evolution" title="">Evolution</a><ul class="campl-unstyled-list local-dropdown-menu"><li class="first collapsed menu-mlid-2269"><a href="/commentary/evolution" title="">Evolution overview</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-2262"><a href="/commentary/evolution/natural-selection">Natural selection</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-2293"><a href="/commentary/evolution/sexual-selection">Sexual selection</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-2299"><a href="/commentary/evolution/inheritance">Inheritance</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-2298"><a href="/commentary/evolution/divergence">Divergence</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3410"><a href="/commentary/evolution/correlation-growth-deaf-blue-eyed-cats-pigs-and-poison">Correlation of growth: deaf blue-eyed cats, pigs, and poison</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3414"><a href="/commentary/evolution/natural-selection-trouble-terminology-part-i">Natural Selection: the trouble with terminology Part I</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3415"><a href="/commentary/evolution/survival-fittest-trouble-terminology-part-ii">Survival of the fittest: the trouble with terminology Part II</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-3671"><a href="/commentary/evolution/darwin-s-species-notebooks-i-think">Darwin’s species notebooks: ‘I think . . .’</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="expanded menu-mlid-871"><a href="/commentary/geology" title="">Geology</a><ul class="campl-unstyled-list local-dropdown-menu"><li class="first collapsed menu-mlid-871"><a href="/commentary/geology" title="">Geology overview</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-2259"><a href="/commentary/geology/darwin-geology">Darwin and geology</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1127"><a href="/topics/geology/darwin-s-introduction-geology">Darwin’s introduction to geology</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1270"><a href="/commentary/geology/geology-beagle-voyage">The geology of the Beagle voyage</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1122"><a href="/commentary/geology/darwin-coral-reefs">Darwin and coral reefs</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-2258"><a href="/commentary/geology/darwin-s-earthquakes">Darwin’s earthquakes</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-2257"><a href="/topics/geology/darwin-geological-society" title="">Darwin and the Geological Society</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1123"><a href="/commentary/geology/darwin-glen-roy">Darwin and Glen Roy</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-1087"><a href="/topics/geology/bibliography-darwin-s-geological-publications">Bibliography of Darwin’s geological publications</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="expanded menu-mlid-2247"><a href="/commentary/life-sciences" title="">Life sciences</a><ul class="campl-unstyled-list local-dropdown-menu"><li class="first collapsed menu-mlid-2247"><a href="/commentary/life-sciences" title="">Life sciences overview</a></li> <li class="expanded menu-mlid-1117"><a href="/commentary/life-sciences/darwin-and-down">Darwin and Down</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first collapsed menu-mlid-1117"><a href="/commentary/life-sciences/darwin-and-down">Darwin and Down overview</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-1149"><a href="/commentary/life-sciences/darwin-and-down/darwin-s-hothouse-and-lists-hothouse-plants">Darwin’s hothouse and lists of hothouse plants</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-4087"><a href="/commentary/life-sciences/species-and-varieties">Species and varieties</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1058"><a href="/commentary/life-sciences/evolution-honeycomb">The evolution of honeycomb</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1083"><a href="/commentary/life-sciences/tale-two-bees">A tale of two bees</a></li> <li class="expanded menu-mlid-1088"><a href="/commentary/life-sciences/beauty-and-seed">Beauty and the seed</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first collapsed menu-mlid-1088"><a href="/commentary/life-sciences/beauty-and-seed">Beauty and the seed overview</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-1055"><a href="/commentary/life-sciences/beauty-and-seed/mauro-galetti-profile-ecologist">Mauro Galetti: profile of an ecologist</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-2261"><a href="/commentary/life-sciences/casting-about-darwin-worms">Casting about: Darwin on worms</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1081"><a href="/commentary/life-sciences/was-darwin-ecologist">Was Darwin an ecologist?</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3641"><a href="/commentary/life-sciences/dipsacus-and-drosera-frank-s-favourite-carnivores">Dipsacus and Drosera</a></li> <li class="expanded menu-mlid-2318"><a href="/commentary/life-sciences/darwin-and-barnacles">Darwin and barnacles</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first collapsed menu-mlid-2318"><a href="/commentary/life-sciences/darwin-and-barnacles">Darwin and barnacles overview</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-2317"><a href="/commentary/life-sciences/darwin-and-barnacles/darwin-s-study-cirripedia">Darwin’s study of the Cirripedia</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="expanded menu-mlid-2280"><a href="/commentary/life-sciences/darwin-and-vivisection">Darwin and vivisection</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first collapsed menu-mlid-2280"><a href="/commentary/life-sciences/darwin-and-vivisection">Darwin and vivisection overview</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-2284"><a href="/topics/life-sciences/darwin-and-vivisection/vivisection-draft-petition">Vivisection: draft petition</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-2285"><a href="/topics/life-sciences/darwin-and-vivisection/vivisection-baas-committee-report">Vivisection: BAAS committee report</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-2286"><a href="/topics/life-sciences/darwin-and-vivisection/vivisection-first-sketch-bill">Vivisection: first sketch of the bill</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-2287"><a href="/topics/life-sciences/darwin-and-vivisection/vivisection-darwins-testimony-royal-commission">Vivisection: Darwin's testimony</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-2288"><a href="/topics/life-sciences/darwin-and-vivisection/appeal-against-animal-cruelty">'An Appeal' against animal cruelty</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-2916"><a href="/commentary/life-sciences/biodiversity-and-its-histories">Biodiversity and its histories</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="expanded menu-mlid-873"><a href="/commentary/human-nature" title="">Human nature</a><ul class="campl-unstyled-list local-dropdown-menu"><li class="first collapsed menu-mlid-873"><a href="/commentary/human-nature" title="">Human nature overview</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-2604"><a href="/commentary/human-nature/darwin-human-evolution">Darwin on human evolution</a></li> <li class="expanded menu-mlid-1269"><a href="/commentary/human-nature/expression-emotions">The expression of emotions</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first collapsed menu-mlid-1269"><a href="/commentary/human-nature/expression-emotions">The expression of emotions overview</a></li> <li class="expanded menu-mlid-1262"><a href="/commentary/human-nature/expression-emotions/emotion-experiment">Emotion experiment</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first collapsed menu-mlid-1262"><a href="/commentary/human-nature/expression-emotions/emotion-experiment">Emotion experiment overview</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-1263"><a href="/commentary/human-nature/expression-emotions/emotion-experiment/results-darwin-online-emotions">Results of the Darwin Online Emotions Experiment</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-2256"><a href="/commentary/human-nature/expression-emotions/face-emotion">Face of emotion</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-2292"><a href="/commentary/human-nature/expression-emotions/darwin-s-queries-expression">Darwin’s queries on expression</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="expanded menu-mlid-1052"><a href="/commentary/human-nature/origin-language">The origin of language</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first collapsed menu-mlid-1052"><a href="/commentary/human-nature/origin-language">The origin of language overview</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1053"><a href="/commentary/human-nature/origin-language/language-key-letters">Language: key letters</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-1153"><a href="/commentary/human-nature/origin-language/language-interview-gregory-radick">Language: Interview with Gregory Radick</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-1140"><a href="/commentary/human-nature/darwin-and-human-nature-film-series">Film series podcasts</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="expanded menu-mlid-874"><a href="/commentary/religion" title="">Religion</a><ul class="campl-unstyled-list local-dropdown-menu"><li class="first collapsed menu-mlid-874"><a href="/commentary/religion" title="">Religion overview</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1033"><a href="/commentary/religion/darwin-and-design">Darwin and design</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1288"><a href="/commentary/religion/what-did-darwin-believe">What did Darwin believe?</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1034"><a href="/commentary/religion/darwin-and-church">Darwin and the Church</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1089"><a href="/commentary/religion/british-association-meeting-1860">British Association meeting 1860</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1121"><a href="/commentary/religion/darwin-and-religion-america">Darwin and religion in America</a></li> <li class="expanded menu-mlid-1045"><a href="/commentary/religion/essays-reviews-asa-gray">Essays and reviews by Asa Gray</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first collapsed menu-mlid-1045"><a href="/commentary/religion/essays-reviews-asa-gray">Essays and reviews by Asa Gray overview</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-2271"><a href="/commentary/religion/essays-reviews-asa-gray/darwiniana-preface">Darwiniana – Preface</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-2272"><a href="/commentary/religion/essays-reviews-asa-gray/essay-design-versus-necessity">Essay: Design versus necessity</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1046"><a href="/commentary/religion/essays-reviews-asa-gray/essay-natural-selection-natural-theology">Essay: Natural selection & natural theology</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1146"><a href="/commentary/religion/essays-reviews-asa-gray/essay-evolution-theology">Essay: Evolution and theology</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-2273"><a href="/commentary/religion/essays-reviews-asa-gray/essay-what-darwinism">Essay: What is Darwinism?</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-2274"><a href="/commentary/religion/essays-reviews-asa-gray/essay-evolutionary-teleology">Essay: Evolutionary teleology</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="last expanded menu-mlid-2249"><a href="/commentary/religion/science-and-religion-interviews">Science and religion Interviews</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first collapsed menu-mlid-2249"><a href="/commentary/religion/science-and-religion-interviews">Science and religion Interviews overview</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-2250"><a href="/commentary/religion/science-and-religion-interviews/interview-emily-ballou">Interview with Emily Ballou</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-2251"><a href="/commentary/religion/science-and-religion-interviews/interview-simon-conway-morris">Interview with Simon Conway Morris</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-2252"><a href="/commentary/religion/science-and-religion-interviews/interview-john-hedley-brooke">Interview with John Hedley Brooke</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-2253"><a href="/commentary/religion/science-and-religion-interviews/interview-randal-keynes">Interview with Randal Keynes</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-2254"><a href="/commentary/religion/science-and-religion-interviews/interview-tim-lewens">Interview with Tim Lewens</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-2255"><a href="/commentary/religion/science-and-religion-interviews/interview-pietro-corsi">Interview with Pietro Corsi</a></li> </ul></li> </ul></li> <li class="last expanded menu-mlid-3395"><a href="/commentary/curious" title="">For the curious...</a><ul class="campl-unstyled-list local-dropdown-menu"><li class="first collapsed menu-mlid-3395"><a href="/commentary/curious" title="">For the curious... overview</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-4155"><a href="/commentary/curious/cordillera-beagle-expedition">Cordillera Beagle expedition</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-4096"><a href="/commentary/curious/darwin-family">The Darwin family</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-4093"><a href="/commentary/curious/darwin-s-plant-experiments">Darwin’s plant experiments</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-4090"><a href="/commentary/curious/behind-scenes">Behind the scenes</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3664"><a href="/commentary/curious/darwin-s-networks">Darwin’s Networks</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3643"><a href="/commentary/curious/darwin-and-beagle-voyage">Darwin and the Beagle voyage</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3403"><a href="/commentary/curious/darwin-and-working-home">Darwin and working from home</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3409"><a href="/commentary/curious/darwin-cats-and-cat-shows">Darwin, cats and cat shows</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3396"><a href="/commentary/curious/darwin-and-dogs">Darwin and dogs</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3397"><a href="/commentary/curious/darwins-illness">Darwin's illness</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3398"><a href="/commentary/curious/plant-or-animal-or-don-t-try-home">Plant or animal? (Or: Don’t try this at home!)</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-3399"><a href="/commentary/curious/strange-things-sent-darwin-post">Strange things sent to Darwin in the post</a></li> </ul></li> </ul></li> <li class="expanded menu-mlid-823"><a href="/people">People</a><ul class="campl-unstyled-list local-dropdown-menu"><li class="first collapsed menu-mlid-823"><a href="/people">People overview</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-2150"><a href="/commentary/key-correspondents" title="">Key correspondents</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-2153"><a href="/commentary/beagle-voyage-networks" title="">Beagle voyage networks</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-2152"><a href="/commentary/family-and-friends" title="">Family and friends</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-2159"><a href="/commentary/darwins-scientific-network" title="">Darwin's scientific network</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-2155"><a href="/tags/readers-and-critics" title="">Readers and critics</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-2162"><a href="/tags/publishers-artists-and-illustrators" title="">Publishers, artists and illustrators</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3381"><a href="/correspondents-alphabetical" title="">People pages in alphabetical order</a></li> <li class="expanded menu-mlid-3367"><a href="/people/german-and-dutch-photograph-albums">German and Dutch photograph albums</a><ul class="campl-unstyled-list local-dropdown-menu"><li class="first collapsed menu-mlid-3367"><a href="/people/german-and-dutch-photograph-albums">German and Dutch photograph albums overview</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3372"><a href="/people/german-and-dutch-photograph-albums/photograph-album-german-and-austrian-scientists">Photograph album of German and Austrian scientists</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-3371"><a href="/people/german-and-dutch-photograph-albums/photograph-album-dutch-admirers">Photograph album of Dutch admirers</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-3370"><a href="/german-poems-presented-darwin">German poems presented to Darwin</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-3380"><a href="https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/search?text=%22%22;f1-document-type=people;sort=name" title="">List of all people mentioned in letters</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="expanded menu-mlid-825"><a href="/learning-resources" title="">Learning</a><ul class="campl-unstyled-list local-dropdown-menu"><li class="first collapsed menu-mlid-825"><a href="/learning-resources" title="">Learning overview</a></li> <li class="expanded menu-mlid-1739"><a href="/learning/7-11">Ages 7-11</a><ul class="campl-unstyled-list local-dropdown-menu"><li class="first collapsed menu-mlid-1739"><a href="/learning/7-11">Ages 7-11 overview</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-2601"><a href="/learning/7-11/darwin-the-collector">Darwin The Collector</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-2602"><a href="/learning/7-11/detecting-darwin">Detecting Darwin</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-2603"><a href="/learning/7-11/darwin-and-evolution">Darwin And Evolution</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-2600"><a href="/learning/7-11/darwins-fantastical-voyage">Darwin's Fantastical Voyage</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-3408"><a href="/learning/7-11/home-learning-7-11-years">Home learning: 7-11 years</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="expanded menu-mlid-1744"><a href="/learning/11-14">Ages 11-14</a><ul class="campl-unstyled-list local-dropdown-menu"><li class="first collapsed menu-mlid-1744"><a href="/learning/11-14">Ages 11-14 overview</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-2899"><a href="/learning/11-14/darwin-and-religion">Darwin and Religion</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-2898"><a href="/learning/11-14/doing-darwins-experiments">Doing Darwin’s Experiments</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-2900"><a href="/learning/11-14/how-dangerous-was-darwin">How dangerous was Darwin?</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-2901"><a href="/learning/11-14/offer-of-a-lifetime">Offer of a lifetime</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-2903"><a href="/learning/11-14/darwin-and-slavery">Darwin and slavery</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-2902"><a href="/learning/11-14/beagle-voyage">Beagle Voyage</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-2904"><a href="/learning/11-14/darwins-scientific-women">Darwin’s scientific women</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-1154"><a href="/case-studies-using-darwin%E2%80%99s-letters-classroom">Schools Gallery: Using Darwin’s letters in the classroom</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="expanded menu-mlid-833"><a href="/learning/universities">Universities</a><ul class="campl-unstyled-list local-dropdown-menu"><li class="first collapsed menu-mlid-833"><a href="/learning/universities">Universities overview</a></li> <li class="expanded menu-mlid-1063"><a href="/learning/universities/letters-primary-source" title="">Letters as a primary source</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first collapsed menu-mlid-1063"><a 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href="/learning/universities/getting-know-darwins-science">Getting to know Darwin's science</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first collapsed menu-mlid-1550"><a href="/learning/universities/getting-know-darwins-science">Getting to know Darwin's science overview</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-2144"><a href="/learning/universities/getting-know-darwins-science/early-days">Early days</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1086"><a href="/learning/universities/getting-know-darwins-science/barnacles">Barnacles</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-932"><a href="/learning/universities/getting-know-darwins-science/biogeography">Biogeography</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1287"><a href="/learning/universities/getting-know-darwins-science/variation-under-domestication">Variation under domestication</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1259"><a href="/learning/universities/getting-know-darwins-science/orchids">Orchids</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1150"><a 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about="/people/about-darwin/origin-species/writing-origin" typeof="foaf:Document"> <span property="dc:title" content="The writing of "Origin"" class="rdf-meta element-hidden"></span><span property="sioc:num_replies" content="0" datatype="xsd:integer" class="rdf-meta element-hidden"></span> <div class="content campl-content-container"> <div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-file field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><div id="file-491" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg"> <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/file/ms-dar-00048-000-00187jpg">MS-DAR-00048-000-00187.jpg</a></h2> <div class="content"> <a href="https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/sites/default/files/MS-DAR-00048-000-00187.jpg"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="campl-scale-with-grid" src="https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/sites/default/files/MS-DAR-00048-000-00187.jpg" width="995" height="1194" alt="Part of a letter from W. H. Miller to Darwin exploring the geometrical architecture of honey-combs" title="Part of a letter from W. H. Miller to Darwin exploring the geometrical architecture of honey-combs" /></a><div class="field field-name-field-file-reference field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">http://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/MS-DAR-00048/187</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-file-caption field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Part of a letter from W. H. Miller to Darwin exploring the geometrical architecture of honey-combs</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-file-identifier field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">CUL DAR 48: B1bbr</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-credit field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Cambridge University Library</div></div></div> </div> </div> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><blockquote><p>When I was in spirits I sometimes fancied that my book w<sup>d</sup> be successful; but I never even built a castle-in-the air of such success as it has met with; I do not mean the sale, but the impression it has made on you…& Hooker & Huxley. The whole has <em>infinitely</em> exceeded my wildest hopes.—</p> <p class="rteright">(letter to Charles Lyell, <a href="/letter/DCP-LETT-2552.xml" style="color: rgb(7, 130, 193);">25 [November 1859]</a>)</p> </blockquote> <p>The year 1858 opened with Darwin hard at work preparing his ‘big book’ on species. Begun in May 1856 at the urging of Lyell, the manuscript was already more than half finished. Having completed his ninth chapter, on hybridism, on 29 December 1857, Darwin began in January 1858 to prepare the next chapter, ‘Mental powers and the instincts of animals’, sorting through his notes collected over two decades, checking his facts with various correspondents, and undertaking research to test the evidence or solve particular problems. He also continued to investigate the subjects of earlier chapters, inserting new material into the manuscript whenever appropriate. The correspondence shows that at any one time Darwin was engaged in a number of projects, fitting together the final pieces of his grand puzzle as they came to him.</p> <p>The chapter on instinct posed a number of problems for Darwin. ‘I find my chapter on Instinct very perplexing’, he told his cousin William Darwin Fox, ‘from not knowing what to choose from the load of curious facts on record.—’ (letter to W. D. Fox, <a href="/letter/DCP-LETT-2208.xml">31 January [1858]</a>). In addition to behaviour such as nest-building in birds, Darwin intended to discuss many other instincts and show how they could be accounted for by his theory of natural selection. Among these, the cell-making instincts of hive-bees posed a particular challenge to his overall theory.</p> <p>The geometrical architecture of the honey-combs constructed by hive-bees had long been celebrated as a classic example of divine design in nature. Darwin hypothesised that the instinct of the hive-bee to produce these seemingly mathematically conceived hexagonal structures might have evolved from an instinct to produce crude, loosely constructed clusters of circular cells, as exhibited by the Mexican bee <em>Melipona</em> or the humble-bee <em>Bombus</em>. This led him to observe and experiment with the process of construction as it took place in the hive. As with Darwin’s study of poultry and pigeons, many other people were drawn into his researches. William Bernhard Tegetmeier, founder and president of the Apiarian Society, provided Darwin with information and specimens. His old friend George Robert Waterhouse brought him up to date on the natural history of various bees and wasps. For assistance with mathematical measurements and geometry, Darwin called upon William Hallowes Miller, Cambridge professor of mineralogy, who many years earlier had identified the mineralogical specimens from the <em>Beagle</em> voyage; on his brother, Erasmus Alvey Darwin; and his son William. Even his apiarian neighbours were asked for help, providing him with bees and bee-hives.</p> <p>Darwin also continued the botanical work that related to his chapter on variation under nature. Having learned in the summer of 1857 that his method for deriving statistical comparisons of the number of varieties in large and small genera was erroneous, he persevered in reworking the laborious compilations of statistics from botanical works. The question was, Do the species of large genera have a higher proportion of distinct varieties than the species of smaller genera? The inquiry was of great importance to Darwin, for such evidence would support his view that varieties were incipient species (<em>Natural selection</em>, p. 145–6):</p> <p>From looking at species as only strongly marked & well defined varieties, I was led to anticipate that the species of the larger genera in each country would oftener tend to present varieties, than the species of the smaller genera; for on this view wherever many closely related species, (i.e. species of the same genus) have been formed many varieties, or as I look at them incipient species ought, as a general rule, to be now forming. Where many large trees grow, we expect to find saplings.</p> <p>Yet the interpretation of the statistics was still problematic. Hooker thought that Darwin was wrong to assume that botanists were equally attentive in recording varieties in large and small genera. Darwin put the point to leading botanists without revealing his reason or his own opinion. Hewett Cottrell Watson and Charles Cardale Babington thought that in their taxonomical practice they tended to pay more attention to varieties in larger genera, but they were not certain. This was a question new to the experts. Darwin was delighted to hear from Asa Gray that he was not aware of such a tendency in his own work, for this confirmed for Darwin that the positive results of his tabulations could be trusted as evidence for what actually occurred in nature (see letter to Asa Gray, <a href="/letter/DCP-LETT-2252.xml">4 April [1858]</a>, and <em>Natural selection</em>, p. 161).</p> <p>By the beginning of May 1858, the statistical tables were completed and his results written up. With some trepidation, Darwin sent his manuscript off to Hooker for his comments. Darwin’s relief on hearing of Hooker’s approval of his argument is evident. ‘Though I sh <sup>d</sup>. not have much cared about throwing away what you have seen,’ he told Hooker in his letter of <a href="/letter/DCP-LETT-2282.xml">8 [June 1858]</a>, ‘yet I have been forced to confess to myself that all was much alike, & if you condemned that you w <sup>d</sup>. condemn all—my life’s work—& that I confess made me a little low—but I c<sup>d</sup>. have borne it, for I have the conviction that I have honestly done my best.—’</p> <p>With much of his research completed, Darwin began in mid-June 1858 to write up the results of his study of pigeons, hoping to finish it in a week or two. He had scarcely begun when his work was interrupted by the arrival of the now-famous letter from Alfred Russel Wallace, enclosing an essay in which Wallace enunciated his own theory of natural selection. Darwin’s shock and dismay is evident in the letter he subsequently wrote to Charles Lyell, as Wallace had requested, informing Lyell of Wallace’s paper. ‘Your words have come true with a vengeance that I sh <sup>d</sup>. be forestalled’, he lamented to Lyell. ‘I never saw a more striking coincidence. if Wallace had my M.S. sketch written out in 1842 he could not have made a better short abstract! Even his terms now stand as Heads of my Chapters.’ (letter to Charles Lyell, <a href="/letter/DCP-LETT-2285.xml">18 [June 1858]</a>).</p> <p>As was his custom, Darwin did not supply a full date on his letter to Lyell. He simply dated the letter ‘18’ and referred to Wallace’s letter as having been received ‘today’. Following Francis Darwin (LL2:116–17) and relying on Charles Lyell’s endorsement, the editors have dated the letter 18 [June 1858]. However, the accuracy of Darwin’s words has been questioned by John L. Brooks and by H. Lewis McKinney, both of whom believe that Darwin received Wallace’s communication before 18 June. McKinney has suggested that Darwin received Wallace’s letter and manuscript on 3 June 1858, the same day that another letter from Wallace to his friend Frederick Bates, dated 2 March 1858, arrived in England (McKinney 1972, pp. 138–40). The cover of the letter to Bates bears Wallace’s direction ‘via Southampton’ and was postmarked ‘Singapore Apr 21 58’ and ‘London Ju 3 58’.</p> <p>Brooks maintains that Darwin received Wallace’s letter even earlier, perhaps as early as 14 May. Using records of the schedules of the Dutch East Indies mail service and of the Peninsular & Oriental Company, and assuming that the letter to Darwin was posted at the same time as that to Bates, Brooks suggests that a letter aboard the 9 March steamer could have arrived at the London General Post Office on 14 May via Marseilles or on 20 May via Southampton. Accordingto Brooks, Darwin kept the letter for a month, during which time he revisedhis species manuscript and appropriated, without acknowledgment, Wallace’s theory of divergence. Then, on 18 June he forwarded Wallace’s paper to Lyell (Brooks 1984, pp. 262–3). It is of some significance to note that the schedules in Brooks 1984 show that another mail from the East Indies arrived in London on 17 June, a delivery date that is consistent with the arrival of Wallace’s communication at Down on 18 June. In the absence of Wallace’s letter or of any firm evidence for the date of its arrival in England, the question of whether Darwin held the letter up for any reason is, as one scholar has recently concluded, ‘essentially unresolvable’ (Beddall 1988, p. 2).</p> <p>The correspondence between mid-May and mid-June 1858 provides some circumstantial evidence in favour of the 18 June date of receipt. Topics discussed in letters written in this interval are consistent with the normal tenor of Darwin’s work, and he shows no sign of anxiety. He says in a letter to Syms Covington, <a href="/letter/DCP-LETT-2276.xml">18 May [1858]</a>, that he expects the publication of his species theory to be still some time away. On <a href="/letter/DCP-LETT-2274.xml">16 May [1858]</a>, he arranged a meeting with Hooker to discuss his manuscript on large and small genera, stating, ‘I am in no sort of hurry, more especially as I know full well you will be dreadfully severe.—’ On <a href="/letter/DCP-LETT-2275.xml">18 [May 1858]</a>, he again tells Hooker: ‘There is not least hurry in world about my M.S.’ In his letter to Hooker of <a href="/letter/DCP-LETT-2282.xml">8 June [1858]</a>, he indicates that this topic is still foremost in his mind: ‘I will try to leave out all allusion to genera coming in & out in this part, till when I discuss the “principle of Divergence”, which with “Natural Selection” is the key-stone of my Book & I have very great confidence it is sound.’ This does not fit the mood of someone who is distressed, as Darwin clearly was in his letter to Lyell, at the prospect of losing priority for his life’s work.</p> <p>The story has often been told of how Lyell and Hooker suggested that Darwin’s years of labour on the species question be acknowledged by publishing jointly with Wallace’s paper part of an early sketch of his theory, along with an abstract of his views sent to Asa Gray in September 1857. The correspondence between Darwin, Lyell, and Hooker in this volume contains all of the extant letters pertaining to the reading of the Darwin–Wallace papers at the Linnean Society on 1 July 1858. It also includes an unpublished letter from Wallace to Hooker thanking him and Lyell for ‘their kind offices on this occasion’. The texts of all the relevant published material, including Wallace’s essay, are provided in Appendixes III and IV.</p> <p>The correspondence also shows, just how distressed Darwin was during the days immediately following his letter to Lyell. On 18 June 1858, his eldest daughter, Henrietta Emma, who had been ill since the beginning of the month, was stricken with diphtheria, then a little-known and frightening illness. Several days later, with Henrietta still very weak, the children’s nurse and then the baby, aged 18 months, came down with scarlet fever, currently sweeping through the village. Charles Waring Darwin’s condition deteriorated rapidly in the space of a few days and the Darwins were shocked by his unexpected death on 28 June. Upon the advice of Fox, the family fled the epidemic and stayed on the Isle of Wight until mid-August. During that time, Darwin learned of the death of his eldest sister, Marianne Parker. It is not surprising, then, to find that Darwin could not give his full attention to the announcement of his views in public and that he did not attend the meeting of the Linnean Society on 1 July 1858.</p> <p>After the theory of natural selection had finally been brought before a scientific audience, Darwin felt that he should publish a fuller and more formal statement, particularly since the excerpts from his writings in the joint paper had not been written for publication and his ‘big book’ was still far from finished. At first Darwin considered publishing an ‘abstract’ of his theory to appear in one or more papers in the <em>Journal of the Linnean Society</em>. But once he had commenced writing, he soon realised that even an abstract of his material would require a ‘small volume’ (letter to J. D. Hooker, <a href="/letter/DCP-LETT-2339.xml">12 October [1858]</a>). Begun while he was in Sandown on the Isle of Wight, the writing of this ‘abstract’ continued until March 1859; the resulting volume was published in November.</p> <p>Since Darwin intended to publish his larger work on species soon after the abstract appeared, he continued to accumulate data and to write lengthy, detailed sections for his ‘big book’. In September 1858 he finished his manuscript discussion of pigeons; this figures prominently in his two-volume work on Variation published in 1868 but occupies only a few pages in Origin. His observations and experiments on bees’ cells continued through the autumn of 1858, even though he had completed a draft of the chapter on instinct the previous March.</p> <p>By the middle of March 1859, Darwin had finished the last chapter of his abstract and begun to think of a publisher for the work. Again, he called upon Lyell for advice (letter to Charles Lyell, <a href="/letter/DCP-LETT-2437.xml">28 March [1859]</a>). Lyell suggested the firm of John Murray, publishers of the second edition of Darwin’s <em>Journal of researches</em> and of Lyell’s works, and well-known for its scientific list. Murray agreed to publish Darwin’s book without even seeing the manuscript, although he subsequently had reservations: Murray was, after all, also the publisher of the conservative <em>Quarterly Review</em>. He sent the manuscript to Whitwell Elwin, the editor of the <em>Quarterly</em>, for his opinion. Elwin’s long and considered reply to Murray is published in this volume. Despite Elwin’s suggestions, however, Darwin held firm to the original plan of his book (see letter from Elwin to Murray, <a href="/letter/DCP-LETT-2457A.xml">3 May 1859</a>, and letter to John Murray, <a href="/letter/DCP-LETT-2459.xml">6 May [1859</a>]).</p> <p>The extant correspondence with Murray consists primarily of letters from Darwin. They provide an interesting record of the process of seeing <em>Origin</em> through the press and of Darwin’s concerns about his book. He worried about its style and its length and whether it would be successful. In particular, he was anxious about the prospects of Murray recovering his expenses and even offered to share in the financial risk—an offer that Murray saw no need of accepting. Darwin took Murray’s advice and omitted the words ‘an abstract’ from the title of the forthcoming book (letter to Charles Lyell, <a href="/letter/DCP-LETT-2439.xml">30 March [1859]</a>). Darwin next considered calling the work ‘An essay on the origin of species and varieties’ (letters to Charles Lyell, <a href="/letter/DCP-LETT-2437.xml">28 March [1859]</a>, and to John Murray, <a href="/letter/DCP-LETT-2488.xml">10 September [1859]</a>), but finally decided on the title ‘On the origin of species by means of natural selection, or the preservation of favoured races in the struggle for life’.</p> <p>In October, having finished the last of the proof-sheets ‘13 months & 10 days’ after he had begun to write the abstract, Darwin left for a hydropathic establishment at Ilkley in Yorkshire to recuperate from the strain of publishing (see ‘Journal’; Appendix II). Twice in 1858 and three times in 1859 he had gone to Moor Park in Surrey for a week’s water-cure, from which he had seemed to profit. Darwin hoped that he and his daughter Henrietta would benefit from the treatment at the new establishment, but in this he was disappointed. ‘We have been here above 6 week,’ he wrote to Fox, ‘& I feel worse than when I came’ (letter to W. D. Fox, <a href="/letter/DCP-LETT-2533.xml">[16 November 1859]</a>). It was during his stay at Ilkley Wells that <em>Origin</em> was published; from there Darwin wrote ‘multitudes of letters’ to recipients of presentation copies, and it was there too that he began to receive the first indication about the reception of his work.</p> <p>Darwin was well aware that most of the leading figures in the scientific community would not be sympathetic to his heterodox views. As he told the recipients of presentation copies, in no case did he expect full agreement with the book, for he freely admitted that there were many difficulties with his theory. He begged Huxley, whom he believed might respond favourably to his ideas, not to be too harsh, explaining that his book was ‘a mere rag of an hypothesis with as many flaws & holes as sound parts.— My question is whether the rag is worth anything?’ (letter to T. H. Huxley, <a href="/letter/DCP-LETT-2466.xml">2 June [1859]</a>). But as critical letters began to arrive, Darwin could not conceal the discomfort he felt at the severity of some of the attacks.</p> <p>Adam Sedgwick’s negative response to <em>Origin</em> was not surprising, but it nevertheless distressed Darwin that Sedgwick should so vehemently condemn his book, telling Darwin that he had abandoned the ‘true method of induction’ (letter from Adam Sedgwick, <a href="/letter/DCP-LETT-2548.xml">24 November 1859</a>). Equally painful was the news that John Frederick William Herschel, whom he so venerated, had labelled natural selection the ‘law of higgledy-piggledy’ (letter to Charles Lyell, <a href="/letter/DCP-LETT-2575.xml">[10 December 1859]</a>). To each of his critics, Darwin replied by resting his case on a single proposition: ‘I cannot think a false theory would explain so many classes of facts, as the theory seems to me to do.’ (letter to Adam Sedgwick, <a href="/letter/DCP-LETT-2555.xml">26 November [1859]</a>).</p> <p>Even his strongest supporters found points in Darwin’s work with which they disagreed. Both Gray and Huxley, who were to become Darwin’s public champions, were frank in their reservations. Gray was critical of the concept of a blind, accidental process of natural selection and held out for design. Huxley felt that Darwin’s hypothesis needed to be tested by observation and experiment to prove that natural selection could produce all the effects Darwin ascribed to it. Hooker, though very much a convert, still argued about the fine points of Darwin’s theory (see letter to J. D. Hooker, <a href="/letter/DCP-LETT-2458.xml">6 May 1859</a>). Among the older scientists, only Leonard Horner gave his unqualified approval. Indeed, Darwin came to believe that only those who were of his generation or younger would be fully convinced.</p> <p>Darwin was particularly interested in Charles Lyell’s response to his theory. He often said that if he could convince Lyell, Hooker, and Huxley, he would rest content. During the final stages of proof-reading, he therefore sent sheets to Lyell for his comments. Only one of Lyell’s letters has survived, but from Darwin’s responses to Lyell’s many queries it is clear that Lyell gave the work deep attention. Gradually, in his letters, Lyell indicated that Darwin had made a powerful case for the mutability of species. He spoke out in favour of the book at the September meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science. But the great stumbling block for Lyell lay in the implications of the theory for the origin of mankind. As he wrote to Darwin on <a href="/letter/DCP-LETT-2501.xml">3 October 1859</a>, ‘the case of Man and his Races & of other animals & that of plants is one & the same & that if a “vera causa” be admitted for one instead of a purely unknown & imaginary one such as the word “Creation” all the consequences must follow—’. Although in the years to come Lyell served as one of Darwin’s most understanding and helpful advocates, Lyell never could bring himself fully to accept that man could have descended from an ape-like progenitor.</p> <p>By the middle of November, the first reviews of <em>Origin</em> began to appear. One in the <em>Athenæum</em> disturbed Darwin, not simply because it was critical but because it dismissed the book on theological grounds instead of evaluating its scientific merits. Darwin told Hooker, it ‘sets the Priests at me & leaves me to their mercies’ (letter to J. D. Hooker, <a href="/letter/DCP-LETT-2542.xml">[22 November 1859]</a>). Late in December, to Darwin’s great surprise, <em>The Times</em> carried a highly favourable review. ‘Certainly I should have said that there was only one man in England,’ Darwin wrote to Huxley the morning after he read it, ‘who could have written this Essay & that <em>you</em> were the man.’ (letter to T. H. Huxley, <a href="/letter/DCP-LETT-2611.xml">28 December [1859]</a>). Huxley admitted his authorship to Darwin and wrote a longer review for the December issue of <em>Macmillan’s Magazine</em>.</p> <p>Darwin was more than pleased by the few favourable comments in notices of and letters about his book. He told Murray, ‘I fear all Reviews of my present Book, will be very unfavourable; but I <em>now</em> feel confident my views will ultimately prevail: it is impossible that men like Lyell, Hooker, Huxley, H. C. Watson, Ramsay &c would change their minds without good cause.’ (letter to John Murray, <a href="/letter/DCP-LETT-2566.xml">2 December [1859]</a>).</p> <p>At Murray’s trade sale of 22 November, orders for <em>Origin</em> exceeded by 250 the 1250 copies of the first printing. Instead of printing additional copies, Murray called for a second edition to be published as soon as possible and asked Darwin to make only a minimal number of corrections. For the second edition, Darwin incorporated some material in response to early criticisms, especially those of Lyell, but because of the lack of time and his absence from Down, he made very few changes. One that Darwin later regretted was the elimination of a passage about the North American bear swimming open-mouthed to feed on insects, where he states: ‘I can see no difficulty in a race of bears being rendered, by natural selection, more and more aquatic in their structure and habits, with larger and larger mouths, till a creature was produced as monstrous as a whale.’ (<em>Origin</em>, p. 184). The passage was ridiculed because it was taken to mean that by natural selection a bear could be transformed into a whale. It is interesting to note that in the list of corrections Darwin sent to Asa Gray for a possible American edition, the story was not deleted (see <em>Correspondence</em> vol. 8, letters to Asa Gray, <a href="/letter/DCP-LETT-2665.xml">28 January [1860]</a> and <a href="/letter/DCP-LETT-2701.xml">[8 or 9 February 1860]</a>).</p> <p>A further change in the second edition was the inclusion of a comment on <em>Origin</em> by a ‘celebrated author and divine’ (Charles Kingsley) that ‘it is just as noble a conception of the Deity, to believe that he created primal forms capable of self development into all forms needful pro tempore & pro loco, as to believe that He required a fresh act of intervention to supply the lacunas w <sup>h</sup>. he himself had made’ (letter from Charles Kingsley, <a href="/letter/DCP-LETT-2534.xml">18 November 1859</a>). This and the two references to the Creator breathing life into the first primordial form were obviously intended to soften the impact of the theory on those for whom creation was central to their religious beliefs.</p> <p>As for Darwin’s own reaction to the publication of his evolutionary theory after working on its formulation for over twenty years, the correspondence reveals important changes in his self-perception and in his plans for the future. Confidence and modesty alternate, swinging Darwin from mood to mood with uncomfortable rapidity. He writes as one who has given his theory to the world for people to make of it what they will. ‘You do me injustice’, he wrote to Fox, ‘when you think that I work for fame: I value it to a certain extent; but, if I know myself, I work from a sort of instinct to try to make out truth’ (letter to W. D. Fox, <a href="/letter/DCP-LETT-2436.xml">24 [March 1859]</a>). Yet he desperately wanted people to accept his work. It was now his task, he thought, to publish the fuller version of his ‘abstract’ in order to provide the evidence necessary to convince thoughtful young naturalists of its validity. As he optimistically told Hooker, ‘We shall soon be a good body of working men & shall have, I am convinced, all young & rising naturalists on our side.—’ (letter to J. D. Hooker, <a href="/letter/DCP-LETT-2583.xml">14 December [1859]</a>).</p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-terms field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Terms: </div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/64" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Featured</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/commentary/evolution" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Evolution</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-term-related-letters field-type-text field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Related letters: </div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">2552</div><div class="field-item odd">2208</div><div class="field-item even">2252</div><div class="field-item odd">2282</div><div class="field-item even">2285</div><div class="field-item odd">2276</div><div class="field-item even">2274</div><div class="field-item odd">2275</div><div class="field-item even">2339</div><div class="field-item odd">2437</div><div class="field-item even">2457A</div><div class="field-item odd">2459</div><div class="field-item even">2439</div><div class="field-item odd">2437</div><div class="field-item even">2488</div><div class="field-item odd">2533</div><div class="field-item even">2466</div><div class="field-item odd">2548</div><div class="field-item even">2575</div><div class="field-item odd">2555</div><div class="field-item even">2458</div><div class="field-item odd">2501</div><div class="field-item even">2542</div><div class="field-item odd">2611</div><div class="field-item even">2566</div><div class="field-item odd">2665</div><div class="field-item even">2701</div><div class="field-item odd">2534</div><div class="field-item even">2436</div><div class="field-item odd">2583</div></div></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="campl-column3 campl-secondary-content "> <div class="region region-sidebar"> <div id="block-menu-block-3" class="block block-menu-block"> <div class="campl-content-container campl-no-bottom-padding"> <div class="campl-heading-container"> <h2>In this section:</h2> </div> </div> <div class="campl-content-container"> <div class="menu-block-wrapper menu-block-3 menu-name-main-menu parent-mlid-0 menu-level-3"> <ul class="menu"><li class="first leaf active-trail active menu-mlid-1060 with-rh-icon" style="background-image:url(https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/rh-icon/public/MS-DAR-00048-000-00187.jpg?itok=di6cC8eP)"><a href="/people/about-darwin/origin-species/writing-origin" class="active-trail active">The writing of "Origin"</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1084 with-rh-icon" style="background-image:url(https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/rh-icon/public/MS-DAR-00006-000-00103.jpg?itok=xT6hgLXg)"><a href="/people/about-darwin/origin-species/abstract-darwin-s-theory">Abstract of Darwin’s theory</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1093 with-rh-icon" style="background-image:url(https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/rh-icon/public/WALLACE-A-R-02-04935.jpg?itok=fB20SZcW)"><a href="/people/about-darwin/origin-species/alfred-russel-wallace-s-essay-varieties">Alfred Russel Wallace’s essay on varieties</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-1094 with-rh-icon" style="background-image:url(https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/rh-icon/public/MURRAY-J-01-03463.jpg?itok=xDWotczr)"><a href="/charles-darwin-and-his-publisher">Charles Darwin and his publisher</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-1147 with-rh-icon" style="background-image:url(https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/rh-icon/public/GRAY-A-01-01957.jpg?itok=JNxY-F0G)"><a href="/people/about-darwin/origin-species/review-origin-species">Review: The Origin of Species</a></li> </ul></div> </div> </div> <div id="block-cudl-related-letters" class="block block-cudl"> <div class="campl-content-container campl-no-bottom-padding"> <div class="campl-heading-container"> <h2>Related letters</h2> </div> </div> <div class="campl-content-container"> <div class="letter even"> <h3><a href="/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-2208.xml">To W. D. Fox 31 January [1858]</a></h3> <div class="summary"><p>Thanks WDF for information on blackbirds’ nests [see <i>Natural selection</i>, p. 505].</p><p>Problem of choosing from among the load of curious facts for chapter on "Instinct" [<i>Natural selection</i>, ch. 10; <i>Origin</i>, ch. 7] perplexes him.</p><p>Asks about behaviour of chicks in danger and whether crossed animals are wilder than either parent.</p></div> </div><div class="letter odd"> <h3><a href="/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-2252.xml">To Asa Gray 4 April [1858]</a></h3> <div class="summary"><p>Discusses the variation of species in large and small genera.</p><p>Thanks AG for his list of close species.</p><p>Laments the slow progress he makes with his book [<i>Natural selection</i>].</p></div> </div><div class="letter even"> <h3><a href="/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-2274.xml">To J. D. Hooker 16 May [1858]</a></h3> <div class="summary"><p>Arranges meeting with JDH at Thatched House Tavern.</p><p>Eager for JDH’s reaction to MS on large and small genera.</p></div> </div><div class="letter odd"> <h3><a href="/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-2276.xml">To Syms Covington 18 May [1858]</a></h3> <div class="summary"><p>CD’s health has been poor owing to hard work [on <i>Natural selection</i>]. He has to treat of every branch of natural history, which is beyond his strength.</p></div> </div><div class="letter even"> <h3><a href="/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-2275.xml">To J. D. Hooker 18 [May 1858]</a></h3> <div class="summary"><p>Arrangements for JDH to visit Down for weekend.</p></div> </div><div class="letter odd"> <h3><a href="/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-2282.xml">To J. D. Hooker 8 [June 1858]</a></h3> <div class="summary"><p>Pleased with JDH’s reaction to MS on large and small genera.</p><p>Confident of soundness of principle of divergence.</p><p>CD experimenting on pollination mechanism of Leguminosae. Asks JDH to investigate Fumariaceae.</p></div> </div><div class="letter even"> <h3><a href="/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-2285.xml">To Charles Lyell 18 [June 1858]</a></h3> <div class="summary"><p>Encloses MS by A. R. Wallace. CD has been forestalled. " . . . if Wallace had my MS sketch written out in 1842 he could not have made a better short abstract!" Wallace does not say if he wishes CD to publish MS, but CD will offer to send it to journal.</p></div> </div><div class="letter odd"> <h3><a href="/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-2339.xml">To J. D. Hooker 12 [October 1858]</a></h3> <div class="summary"><p>Abstract will run into a small volume.</p><p>Urges JDH not to reject natural selection until he has read abstract.</p><p>[Enclosed are CD’s comments on a ?JDH manuscript that perhaps belong elsewhere.]</p></div> </div><div class="letter even"> <h3><a href="/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-2436.xml">To W. D. Fox 24 [March 1859]</a></h3> <div class="summary"><p>Is correcting chapters [of <i>Origin</i>] for press.</p><p>Health has been wretched of late.</p><p>He values fame to a certain extent, but "if I know myself, I work from a sort of instinct to try to make out truth".</p></div> </div><div class="letter odd"> <h3><a href="/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-2437.xml">To Charles Lyell 28 March [1859]</a></h3> <div class="summary"><p>Has heard that CL has spoken to John Murray about publication [of <i>Origin</i>]. Encloses prospective title-page. Asks whether he ought to tell John Murray about unorthodoxy of the book.</p></div> </div><div class="letter even"> <h3><a href="/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-2439.xml">To Charles Lyell 30 March [1859]</a></h3> <div class="summary"><p>CD is grateful to CL for his help in arranging with Murray for publication [of <i>Origin</i>]. Sorry Murray objects to term "abstract" in title, but will defer to him and CL.</p></div> </div><div class="letter odd"> <h3><a href="/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-2457A.xml">From Whitwell Elwin to John Murray 3 May 1859</a></h3> <div class="summary"><p>Charles Lyell has asked WE to pass his opinions on the MS of <i>Origin</i> to CD via Murray. WE is convinced of the value of CD’s researches but "to put forth the theory without the evidence", as in the MS, "would do grievous injustice to his views". The omission of these facts reduces both the philosophical and popular value of the work, by virtue of its dryness.</p><p>Supports Charles Lyell’s suggestion that CD should first publish his observations on pigeons with a theoretical outline, for "[e]very body is interested in pigeons". Such a work would generate wider interest and be better understood. A subsequent, larger book would then be approached with impartiality "not to say favour" by a wider public.</p></div> </div><div class="letter even"> <h3><a href="/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-2458.xml">To J. D. Hooker 6 May [1859]</a></h3> <div class="summary"><p>JDH’s comments on style of <i>Origin</i> MS leave CD confused.</p><p>CD advises on how to get <i>Acacia</i> to set seed.</p></div> </div><div class="letter odd"> <h3><a href="/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-2459.xml">To John Murray 6 May [1859]</a></h3> <div class="summary"><p>CD is convinced that the suggestions [for the <i>Origin</i>?] of both Lyell and Whitwell Elwyn are impracticable.</p><p>Will send first six chapters of MS next week. Has taken such pains with it that he hopes corrections will not be heavy.</p></div> </div><div class="letter even"> <h3><a href="/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-2466.xml">To T. H. Huxley 2 June [1859]</a></h3> <div class="summary"><p>THH should understand that CD’s hypothesis [natural selection] has as many flaws and holes as sound parts. The question is whether CD’s rag of a hypothesis is worth anything. A poor rag is better than nothing to carry one’s fruit to market.</p></div> </div><div class="letter odd"> <h3><a href="/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-2488.xml">To John Murray 10 September [1859]</a></h3> <div class="summary"><p>On title of <i>Origin</i>, suggests omitting word "Varieties" altogether if JM does not object. Last proofs corrected, but revises still to do.</p></div> </div><div class="letter even"> <h3><a href="/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-2501.xml">From Charles Lyell 3 October 1859</a></h3> <div class="summary"><p>Praises the <i>Origin</i>: a "splendid case of close reasoning".</p><p>Objects to CD’s having ignored Lamarck and Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire.</p><p>Thinks CD should omit mentioning problem of explaining the eye at the beginning of chapter 14. Suggests rewording several passages.</p><p>Thinks want of peculiar birds in Madeira a difficulty, considering presence of them in Galapagos.</p><p>Has always felt that the case of man and his races is one and the same with animals and plants.</p></div> </div><div class="letter odd"> <h3><a href="/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-2533.xml">To W. D. Fox [16 November 1859]</a></h3> <div class="summary"><p>News of his health and the water-cure establishment.</p><p>[<i>Origin</i>] "my weariful book on Species" has been sent to WDF, who will not agree with it. Hooker is a convert, and Lyell is "staggered".</p></div> </div><div class="letter even"> <h3><a href="/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-2534.xml">From Charles Kingsley 18 November 1859</a></h3> <div class="summary"><p>Will judge CD’s book [<i>Origin</i>] free from two superstitions: the dogma of the permanent species and the need of an act of intervention to bring change.</p></div> </div><div class="letter odd"> <h3><a href="/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-2542.xml">To J. D. Hooker [22 November 1859]</a></h3> <div class="summary"><p>CD hopes Woodward was not the <i>Athenæum</i> reviewer. "The manner in which he drags in immortality, & sets the Priests at me … is base".</p><p>JDH has made CD feel he can "face a score of savage reviewers".</p><p>H. C. Watson has written to him in tremendous praise of the <i>Origin</i>.</p></div> </div><div class="letter even"> <h3><a href="/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-2548.xml">From Adam Sedgwick 24 November 1859</a></h3> <div class="summary"><p>Thanks CD for the <i>Origin</i>; AS has read the book "with more pain than pleasure". CD has deserted "the true method of induction" and many of his wide conclusions are "based upon assumptions which can neither be proved nor disproved". His "grand principle – <i>natural selection</i>" is "but a secondary consequence of supposed, or known, primary facts".</p></div> </div><div class="letter odd"> <h3><a href="/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-2552.xml">To Charles Lyell 25 [November 1859]</a></h3> <div class="summary"><p>Discusses corrections for second edition [of <i>Origin</i>]. Will leave out the reference to whale and bear. Discusses pheasant crosses. Success of the book.</p></div> </div><div class="letter even"> <h3><a href="/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-2555.xml">To Adam Sedgwick 26 November [1859]</a></h3> <div class="summary"><p>CD expected AS’s "strong disapprobation" of his book [<i>Origin</i>] but is grieved "to have shocked a man whom I sincerely honour". Has worked "like a slave" on the subject for over 20 years and is not conscious that bad motives have influenced the conclusions at which he has arrived. CD does not think the book will be mischievous and "if I be wrong I shall soon be annihilated". CD may have written too confidently from feeling confident that no "false theory would explain so many classes of facts".</p></div> </div><div class="letter odd"> <h3><a href="/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-2566.xml">To John Murray 2 December [1859]</a></h3> <div class="summary"><p>All sheets [of <i>Origin</i>, 2d ed.] are ready. Has made a few corrections</p><p>and inserted Charles Kingsley’s sentence in answer to those who may think the book is irreligious.</p><p>Insists page numbering be kept uniform with 1st edition.</p><p>Intends to start immediately on the "larger work", with a distinct title.</p><p>Fears reviews will be unfavourable but is confident his views will ultimately prevail.</p><p>Asks about plans for French edition.</p><p>Thanks JM for his exertions on behalf of sales of <i>Origin</i>.</p></div> </div><div class="letter even"> <h3><a href="/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-2575.xml">To Charles Lyell [10 December 1859]</a></h3> <div class="summary"><p>Discuss CL’s suggestions for revisions to the chapter on the geological record [<i>Origin</i>, ch. 9].</p><p>Henry Holland’s reaction to the book.</p><p>Comments on CL’s work on flint tools of early men.</p><p>Describes at length a conversation with Owen concerning <i>Origin</i>. Notes "that <i>at bottom</i> he goes immense way with us", but emphasises Owen’s unfriendly manner. Remarks that Owen accepted a relationship between bears and whales. "By Jove I believe he thinks a sort of Bear was the grandpapa of Whales!"</p><p>Has heard Herschel considered his book "the law of higgledy-piggledy".</p></div> </div><div class="letter odd"> <h3><a href="/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-2583.xml">To J. D. Hooker 14 December [1859]</a></h3> <div class="summary"><p>CD’s great satisfaction with JDH’s approval of <i>Origin</i>. The book has been extremely successful. Reactions of Asa Gray, Lyell, Bentham, and J. E. Gray.</p><p>Not one friend has noticed his pet bit in <i>Origin</i>: embryology.</p></div> </div><div class="letter even"> <h3><a href="/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-2611.xml">To T. H. Huxley 28 December [1859]</a></h3> <div class="summary"><p>Delighted with <i>Times</i> review [26 Dec 1859]. Puzzled by author, suspects THH, but publication in <i>Times</i> makes it unlikely. Sorry for Owen.</p></div> </div><div class="letter odd"> <h3><a href="/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-2665.xml">To Asa Gray 28 January [1860]</a></h3> <div class="summary"><p>If an American edition of <i>Origin</i> is considered worth while, CD would like AG’s reviews prefixed to it.</p><p>Will use all his strength to produce first part of his three-volume big work [<i>Variation</i>].</p></div> </div><div class="letter even"> <h3><a href="/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-2701.xml">To Asa Gray [8 or 9 February 1860]</a></h3> <div class="summary"><p>Sends historical preface and corrections for American edition of <i>Origin</i>;</p><p>would have liked AG’s review [<i>Am. J. Sci.</i> 2d ser. 29 (1860): 153–84] at the head.</p><p>Agrees with AG’s assessment of weak points.</p></div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="block-views-my-sidebar-block" class="block block-views"> <div> <div class="view view-my-sidebar view-id-my_sidebar view-display-id-block view-dom-id-fdfe97dabbc720ec606cbaba1a18cda8"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first views-row-last"> <div class="views-field views-field-field-side-text"> <div class="field-content"><h3>About this article</h3> <p>Extracted from the introduction to volume 7 of the <em>Correspondence of Charles Darwin</em>.</p> <p>Read the full introduction in <a href="/letters/darwins-life-letters/darwin-letters-1858-1859-origin"><em>Darwin's life in letters, 1858–1859: Origin</em></a></p> <p>.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="block-block-57" class="block block-block"> <div class="campl-content-container campl-no-bottom-padding"> <div 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