The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online

RECORD: Rivers, Thomas. 1868. [Recollection and recommendation of Variation]. In a letter to Marshall P. Wilder (22 July 1868), Magazine of horticulture, botany, etc., vol. 34 (October): 294-295.

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe. 7.2021. RN1

NOTE: See the record for this item in the Freeman Bibliographical Database by entering its Identifier here. Rivers, Thomas, 1797-1877. Nurseryman, of Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire. R is repeatedly referred to in Variation. 1866 CD to R, on bud variation. 1866 CD to R, on plant variation in general. 1874 CD to Alfred Newton, R had reported great increase in number of birds in his garden. (Paul van Helvert & John van Wyhe, Darwin: A Companion, 2021, p. 384.)

Rivers' letter to Darwin to thank him for the book is in Correspondence vol. 16, p. 54. There is no record of Rivers' visit to Darwin except for this letter to his friend Marshall.

[page] 295

[…]

I have noted your new tariff. It seems unjust to allow you to import trees duty free, and make nurserymen pay it. Your rulers do very odd things. I had the pleasure, some weeks since, of lunching with Mr. Darwin, and was much delighted with him and all about him. You must get his books, "Animals and Plants under domestication."

The weather is so hot that my hand trembles while I write. I am thy humble friend, ever truly yours, THOS. RIVERS, July 22, 1868.

Thermometer, yesterday, at 2 P.M., in the shade, 94°, to-day, 92°. In the sun, 120°.

Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)