From Samuel Butler to Francis Darwin 24 September 1877
Summary
Offers to send MS of part of his new book [Life and habit] which gently pokes fun at CD. His book will offer an alternative to Pangenesis.
Author: | Samuel Butler |
Addressee: | Francis Darwin |
Date: | 24 Sept 1877 |
Classmark: | DAR 199.5: 100 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-11152 |
From Samuel Butler to Francis Darwin 25 November 1877
Summary
SB’s book [Life and habit (1878)] will be bound shortly. He will send two copies, one of which can be given to CD. To SB’s surprise it has turned out to be an attack on CD’s views and a defence of Lamarck; describes how he was brought to the opinions expressed in it.
Author: | Samuel Butler |
Addressee: | Francis Darwin |
Date: | 25 Nov 1877 |
Classmark: | DAR 160: 393 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-11254 |
From Samuel Butler to the Athenæum [before 31 January 1880]
Summary
Darwin’s ‘Life or Erasmus Darwin’ came out in November 1879, after the March 1879 publication of Samuel Butler’s ‘Evolution Old and New’. CD guarantees accuracy of a translation in the book of an article from Kosmos. CD said article appeared before ‘Evolution Old and New,’ but Butler thinks it takes material from it. Otherwise, CD published another article entirely. Butler strongly criticizes the translation published by CD. Describes correspondence with CD about the matter, and involvement of Pall Mall Gazette.
Author: | Samuel Butler |
Addressee: | Athenæum |
Date: | [before 31 Jan 1880] |
Classmark: | Athenæum, 31 January 1880, p. 155 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-12442F |
From Samuel Butler to Francis Darwin [before 30 May 1872]
Summary
Sends drawings of dogs in different attitudes, drawn by his friend A. May. FD should not trouble CD unless he thinks the drawings will please him. [See Expression, pp. 54–5.]
Author: | Samuel Butler |
Addressee: | Francis Darwin |
Date: | [before 30 May 1872] |
Classmark: | DAR 106: A6–7 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8305 |
From Samuel Butler 2 January 1880
Summary
Asks CD for reference to the edition of Kosmos that contains the original of Ernst Krause’s article on Dr Erasmus Darwin. There are serious differences between the translation by W. S. Dallas and the Feb [1879] article by Krause on which CD, in the preface to Erasmus Darwin, says it was based. SB notes in particular that the concluding sentence of the translation, which is clearly aimed at [SB’s] Evolution, old and new, is not in the original. Since readers will assume the text of Erasmus Darwin was written before his book appeared, SB asks for an explanation.
Author: | Samuel Butler |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 2 Jan 1880 |
Classmark: | DAR 92: B65–6 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-12393 |
To Samuel Butler 3 January 1880
Summary
Krause altered the MS [of his essay on Erasmus Darwin] considerably before sending it to be translated. This is a common practice, but CD now regrets he did not state in his preface that the article had been modified. The translation had been arranged before SB’s book [Evolution, old and new] was announced.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Samuel Butler |
Date: | 3 Jan 1880 |
Classmark: | The British Library (Add MS 34486 D ff. 84–5) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-12396 |
From Samuel Butler 21 January 1880
Summary
SB has decided to lay the matter [the subject of 12393 and 12396] before the public and has written to the Athenæum stating the facts. [Athenæum 31 Jan 1880.]
Author: | Samuel Butler |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 21 Jan 1880 |
Classmark: | DAR 92: B67 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-12438 |
To Samuel Butler 30 September [1865]
Summary
Thanks SB for his Evidence [for the resurrection of Jesus Christ (1865)], the main argument of which is new to CD. He particularly agrees with the preface.
Has been confined to his bedroom for the last five months.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Samuel Butler |
Date: | 30 Sept [1865] |
Classmark: | The British Library (Add MS 34486 D ff. 58–9) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4902 |
From Samuel Butler 1 October 1865
Summary
Autobiographical letter describing how, when he could not conscientiously take orders, he went to New Zealand and has now returned to England to study art.
Fascinated and delighted by Origin
and is pleased that his pamphlet [Evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ] pleases CD.
Author: | Samuel Butler |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 1 Oct 1865 |
Classmark: | DAR 106: A1–2; Butler 1923, pp. 198–201 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4904 |
To Samuel Butler 6 October [1865]
Summary
Thanks SB for letter of 1 October.
Returns the printed letter in which SB replied to the Bishop [of Wellington, N. Z.]; it amused him.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Samuel Butler |
Date: | 6 Oct [1865] |
Classmark: | The British Library (Add MS 34486 D ff. 56–7) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4911 |
From Samuel Butler 11 May 1872
Summary
His chapter on machines in Erewhon has been misunderstood as laughing at the Origin. He was only trying to show how an absurd proposition can be defended with a little ingenuity, distortion, and departure from strict scientific method. Will explain in a second edition, if one is called for.
Author: | Samuel Butler |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 11 May 1872 |
Classmark: | DAR 106: A3–5 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8318 |
From Samuel Butler 30 May 1872
Summary
Thanks CD for his note and cheque for young May.
Will send copy of second edition of Erewhon, in which he has set himself straight about "having intended no villainy by the machines". [See 8318.]
Author: | Samuel Butler |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 30 May 1872 |
Classmark: | DAR 106: A8–10 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8361 |
To Samuel Butler 1 April [1873]
Summary
Comments on SB’s book [The fair haven (1873)]. CD is struck by SB’s dramatic power – thinks he could write "a really good novel". Surprised at strength of case SB makes that Jesus did not die on the cross. SB’s identity will soon be universally known: Leslie Stephen knows he is the author.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Samuel Butler |
Date: | 1 Apr [1873] |
Classmark: | The British Library (Add MS 34486 D: 60–1) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8835 |
From Samuel Butler 15 April 1873
Summary
Thanks CD for his kind letter about The fair haven [1873]. Encouraged by its reception. All he wants is to compel "an attitude of fixed attention in the place of cowardly shrinking from examination". Says he will try "a novel pure and simple with little ""purpose"" next".
Author: | Samuel Butler |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 15 Apr 1873 |
Classmark: | DAR 106: A11–12 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8859 |
letter | (14) |
Butler, Samuel (b) | (10) |
Darwin, C. R. | (4) |
Darwin, C. R. | (6) |
Butler, Samuel (b) | (4) |
Darwin, Francis | (3) |
Athenæum | (1) |
Butler, Samuel (b) | (14) |
Darwin, C. R. | (10) |
Darwin, Francis | (3) |
Athenæum | (1) |