Volume I Part 40 (2/2)

The distribution of fresh-water molluscs has been a horrid incubus to me, but I think I knoay nohen first hatched they are very active, and I have had thirty or forty crawl on a dead duck's foot; and they cannot be jerked off, and will live fifteen and even twenty-four hours out of water

[The following letter refers to the expedition of the Austrian frigate ”Novara”; Lyell had asked estions]

CHARLES DARWIN TO C LYELL Down, February 11th [1857]

My dear Lyell,

I was glad to see in the newspapers about the Austrian Expedition I have nothing to add geologically to y” in the Admiralty Manual of Scientific Enquiry) I do not knohether the Expedition is tied down to call at only fixed spots But if there be any choice or power in the scientific men to influence the places--this would be most desirable It iswould aid ating ALL THE PRODUCTIONS of the most isolated islands, especially of the southern heuelen Land, they are very iuelen Land, how nite beds, and whether there are signs of old Glacial action Every sea shell and insect and plant is of value froht to have Hooker's New Zealand Essay What grand work to explore Rodriguez, with its fossil birds, and little known productions of every kind Again the Seychelles, which, with the Cocos so near, must be a remnant of some older land The outer island of Juan Fernandez is little known The investigation of these little spots by a band of naturalists would be grand; St Paul's and Aically Can you not recoet os If they come from the north it will be a shame and a sin if they do not call at Cocos Islet, one of the Galapagos I always regretted that I was not able to exaos In New Zealand urge on thelaciers

Urge the use of the dredge in the Tropics; how little or nothing we know of the limit of life doard in the hot seas?

My present work leads lected in out of the way countries

The Revillagigedo Island off Mexico, I believe, has never been trodden by foot of naturalist

If the expedition sticks to such places as Rio, Cape of Good Hope, Ceylon and Australia, etc, it will not do much

Ever yours e occurs in a letter to Mr Fox, February 22, 1857, and has reference to the book on Evolution on which he was still at work The remainder of the letter is ot h I wish I could set less value on the bauble fame, either present or posthuree: yet, if I know usto, if I knew that my book would be published for ever anonymously”]

CHARLES DARWIN TO AR WALLACE Moor Park, May 1st, 1857

My dear Sir,

I aed for your letter of October 10th, fro, syement By your letter and even still ulated the introduction of new species'--Ann Nat Hist, 1855) in the Annals, a year or ht much alike and to a certain extent have coard to the Paper in the Annals, I agree to the truth of alree withpretty closely with any theoretical paper; for it is lamentable how each man draws his own different conclusions from the very same facts This summer will make the 20th year (!) since I opened my first note-book, on the question how and in ay do species and varieties differ fro e, that though I have written o to press for two years I have never heard how long you intend staying in the Malay Archipelago; I wish I ht profit by the publication of your Travels there before e harvest of facts I have acted already in accordance with your advice of keeping do in a state of nature, distinct; but I have solad to be backed by your opinion I must confess, however, I rather doubt the truth of the now very prevalent doctrine of all our do descended froh I do not doubt that it is so in some cases I think there is rather better evidence on the sterility of hybrid aniard to plants the collection of carefully recorded facts by Kolreuter and Gaertner (and Herbert,) is ENORMOUS I ree with you on the little effects of ”climatal conditions,” which one sees referred to ad nauseam in all books: I suppose some very little effect must be attributed to such influences, but I fully believe that they are very slight It is really IMPOSSIBLE to explain my views (in the compass of a letter), on the causes and means of variation in a state of nature; but I have slowly adopted a distinct and tangible idea,--whether true or false others e; for the firmest conviction of the truth of a doctrine by its author, seeuarantee of truth!

CHARLES DARWIN TO JD HOOKER Moor Park, Saturday [May 2nd, 1857]

My dear Hooker,

You have shaved the hair off the Alpine plants pretty effectually

The case of the Anthyllis will make a ”tie” with the believed case of Pyrenees plants becolabrous at low levels If I DO find that I have marked such facts, I will lay the evidence before you I wonder how the belief could have originated! Was it through final causes to keep the plants warm? Falconer in talk coupled the two facts of woolly Alpine plants and mammals How candidly and meekly you took my Jeremiad on your severity to second-class ly little voice asked me, once or twice, how much of my noble defence of the poor in spirit and in fact, ing to your having not seldoly little voice with conteain I sometimes despise h I do NOT despise h known to lay a foundation for the discussion on the origin of species I have been led to despise and laugh atput down that ”Alpine plants have large flowers,” and now perhaps I may write over these very words, ”Alpine plants have small or apetalous flowers!”

CHARLES DARWIN TO JD HOOKER Down, [May] 16th [1857]

My dear Hooker,

You said--I hope honestly--that you did not dislikeor not as tidoan developed normally (ie, not a ree, coan in allied species, tends to be HIGHLY VARIABLE I cannot doubt this froive an instance, the Cross-bill is very abnormal in the structure of its bill coillidae, and the beak is EMINENTLY VARIABLE The His, is VERY variable in the length of its legs I could give MANYand curious illustrations in all classes; so many that I think it cannot be chance

But I have NONE in the vegetable kingdonorance If Nepenthes consisted of ONE or two species in a group with a pitcher developed, then I should have expected it to have been very variable; but I do not consider Nepenthes a case in point, for when a whole genus or group has an organ, however anomalous, I do not expect it to be variable,--it is only when one or few species differ greatly in soan from the forms CLOSELY ALLIED to it in all other respects, that I believe such part or organ to be highly variable Will you turn this in your mind? It is an important apparent LAW (!) for me

Ever yours, C DARWIN