1

RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL

Reference The Darwin Papers at the University Library Cambridge DAR156

Reduction 12 x

2

Correspondence & notes about acquisition of the Darwin Papers.

Sir A. Barlow to Librarian	4.9.42	1-2
Librarian's note for syndicate & chairman's comment	7. 9.42	3
Librarian to Sir A. Barlow	14.10.42	4
Sir A. Barlow to Librarian	17.10.42	5
Typed note & corrections by Sir A. Barlow (for Times	3.11.42	6
Librarian to Sir A. Barlow	20.10.42	7
[do]	24.10.42	8
Sir A. Barlow to Librarian	23.11.42	9
Secretary of Pilgrim Trust to Librarian	23.11.42	10
Librarian to Sir A. Barlow	26.11.42	11
Librarian to Secretary of Pilgrim Trust	26.11.42	12
[do] Sir A. Barlow	9.12.42	13
Sir A. Barlow to Librarian	10.12.42	14
Sir C. G. Darwin to Librarian	13.12.42	15
Librarian to Sir A. Barlow	14.12.42	16
[do] Sir C. G. Darwin	15.12.42	17
Secretary of Library to Secretary of British Association	30.12.42	18
Librarian to Sir A Barlow	10.7.43	19
Bernard Darwin to Sir A Barlow	12.7.43	20-21
[do] Librarian	4.8.43	22
Librarian o Bernard Darwin	9.8.43	23
Bernard Darwin to Librarian	12.8.43	24
Librarian's note	15.10.43	25
Bernard Darwin to Librarian	9.5.46	26
Librarian to B. Darwin	18.5.46	27
Bernard Darwin to Librarian	22.5.46	28
[do]	31.8.48	29
[do]	2.9.48	30
Librarian to Sir C. G. Darwin	13.10.48	31
Sir C. G. Darwin to Librarian	31.10.48	32
Librarian to Sir C. G. Darwin	2.11.48	33
Lady N. Barlow to Librarian	29.11.48	34
Librarian to Lady N. Barlow	1.12.48	35
Secretary of Library to secretary of British Association	4.12.48	36
Secretary of British Association to Secretary of Library	6.12.48	37
Lady N. Barlow to Librarian	7.12.48	38
Librarian to Lady N. Barlow	11.12.48	39
Curator of Down House to Secretary of Library	12.12.48	40
Secretary of Library to Curator of Down House	15.12.48	41
Note on missing items		42
Secretary of Library to Curator of Down House	21.12.48	43-44
[do] Bernard Darwin	21.12.48	45-46
Bernard Darwin to Secretary of Library	28.12.48	47

3

Curator of Down House to secretary of Library	29.12.48	48
Secretary of Library to Curator of Down House	4.1-49	49
[do] to Bernard Darwin	4.1.49	50
[do]	12.1.49	51
[do] Sir C. G. Darwin	12.1.49	52
Sir C. G. Darwin to secretary of Library	17.1.49	53
Secretary of Library to Sir C. G. Darwin	18.1.49	54
[do] to Librarian, National Library of Scotland	18.1.49	55
Librarian, National Library of Scotland to Secretary of Library	26.1.49	56-57
Secretary of Library to Librarian, National Library of Scotland	29.1.49	58
[do] Mrs Ashworth	29.1.49	59
Mrs Ashworth to Secretary of Library	3.2.49	60
Secretary of Library to Bernard Darwin	3.2.49	61
Bernard Darwin to Secretary of Library	4.2.49	62
Secretary of Library to Bernard Darwin	5.2.49	63
[do] Mrs Ashworth	5.2.49	64
[do] Curator of Down House	7.2.49	65
Bernard Darwin to Secretary of Library	7.2.49	66
Secretary of Library to Mrs Ashworth	7.2.49	67
Curator of Down House to Secretary of Library	9.2.49	68
Secretary of Library to Bernard Darwin	9.2.49	69
[do] Mrs Ashworth	9.2.49	70
Mrs Ashworth to Secretary of Library	17.2.49	71
Note re 2 letters for Down House		72
Librarian to Curator of Down House	22.7.49	73
Curator of Down House to Librarian	23.7.49	74

 

4

[1]

[date stamped: 7 SEP.1942]

[610]

BOSWELLS

WENDOVER

AYLESBURY

4. 9. 42

Dear Mr. Scholfield

The Pilgrim Trust have decided to buy certain MSS. of Charles Darwin, with the intention that the main part should be given to the Cambridge University Library, & the next to Downe House. I am writing to ask whether the Library would be willing to accept the gift.

I enclose a list of the principal items. A full catalogue is available. The greater number belong to Bernard Darwin & Mrs Cornford, & the rest to Sir Charles Darwin. (I am co-executor with Bernard Darwin of the late Sir Francis Darwin, his & Mrs Cornford's father. I am writing on behalf of all three)

The proposal is to give to Downe House the Diary of the Beagle (the property of Sir Charles Darwin), which is at present deposited with you; the field note books from which it was compiled; certain smaller items relating particularly to Downe; at Charles Darwin's personal account-books; and to give the rest to Cambridge.

The principles of division is to let Downe have a popular exhibit, & items specially relating to Downe, but to keep in the University Library the rest of the material, in order that it may be available for any future student of Darwin & his work. The material throws a good deal of light on his method of work & the growth of his theory of Evolution & natural Selection.

The reason for choosing this particular item for Downe is that, though, the Diary was not fully published in the original editions it was fully published by the Cambridge Univ Press in 1933, the

5

future student of Darwin can get all he is likely to want from that edition. While therefore the Pilgrim Trustees & the present owners decided that the material as a whole should be kept together, no great harm is done by allocating the Beagle material to Downe.

The most important MS is, I imagine, th Autobiography. This has not been completely published, & the present owners wish to reserve the copyright.

Most of the MSS books are in Charles Darwin's own hand but one or two are fair copies made for him by the schoolmasters at Downe.

Sir Charles Darwin's MSS are at Barclay's Bank, Cambridge (except the Beagle Diary). The rest of the material is in Bernard Darwin's house. – Gorringes, Downe Kent.

The Downe House trustees have accepted the items offered to them, & Sir Charles Darwin will be writing to ask you to send the Beagle Diary to them.

The occasion for the sale is that Mrs. Cornford finds it necessary to raise some money for her family. We all felt that the documents should be in a public library rather than in private ownership, & though sale in U.S.A. would have produced much more cash, that we would like them to remain in this country.

We should be glad that, through the munificence of the Pilgrim Trust, they should find a home at Cambridge.

Yours very truly

Alan Barlow.

6

[2]

see Nature (PH1488) P340 1.6.95

(For a description of this collection, see Nature 7 Nov. 1942 p. 535.)

List of principal items

Autobiography

[Itinerary] of the Beagle, & field note-Books.

MSS. of:-

Most of the Origin of species

Cross and Self-fertilization.

Northern Chile

1844/? (1844) Sketch of the "Origin" / two copies, one corrected by CD.)

Movements of Animals

Climbing Plants.

A number of papers on geological & botanical subjects.

Scientific note-books

Material collected for new editions of the Descent of Man, Origin of species, Coral Reefs, Climbing Plants, Orchids.

Early notes on natural history topics.

Lists of books read, (with some abstracts.

Letters from Huxley, Henslow, Hooker, Asa Gray, Lyell, Richard Owen, Kingsley, Sedgwick Galton, Wallace, Samuel Butler, Tyndall & others.

Printed pamphlets (not by CD) on biological, geological & botanical subjects, (many American), some with his markings.

Reviews & press-cuttings.

7

[3]

SYND. 14 Oct:

I have written to Sir Alan Barlow saying that I will bring his letter before the syndicate in due course, & that I felt sure that the offer of the Darwin MSS would be accepted with enthusiasm & gratitude

A F S.

7 Sep. 1942

Of course – a fine offer.

THC

[4]

[610]

14 October, 1942

47L/OL/42

Sir Alan Barlow, K.B.E.,

Boswells,

Wendover,

Aylesbury.

Dear Sir Alan Barlow,

Darwin MSS

Your letter of September 4 was before the Library Syndicate at their meeting on October 14, and I am asked to say that the Syndics appreciate deeply the generous offer of the Pilgrim Trust to present the MS remains of Charles Darwin to his own University. It is particularly gratifying to be able to include them in our collections along with the manuscripts of other distinguished scientists who were also sons of Cambridge.

As soon as the papers reach us, I will inform the Vice-Chancellor. Meantime would you be good enough to tell me to whence the official thanks of the University should be conveyed?

Yours very truly,

Librarian

8

[5]

BOSWELLS,

WENDOVER,

AYLESBURY.

Darwin MSS.

17. X. 42

Dear Mr. Scholfield

Thank you for your letter of 14 Octr. The donors, jointly with the Pilgrim Trust, are

B. R. M. Darwin, C. B. E. Gorringes, Downe, Kent

Mrs Cornford, Conduit Head, Madingley Rd Cambridge

Sir Charles Darwin, K.B. E., M.C., F. R. S. National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, Middx.

If you don't want to bother to write to each, you might send me a letter, & I will pass it round. The Pilgrim Trust I think wd like letter. (T. Jones, C. H. LL.D., Pilgrim Trust, Harlech, N. Wales)

The documents belonging to Sir Charles Darwin are in two boxes at Barclays Bank, Cambridge. I am asking him to send you an authority to the Bank to deliver them to you; & also a request to you to deliver the M.S. of the Beagle Diary top the sec[retary] of the British Association.

I believe that they

9

would like you to keep it till the end of the war, but perhaps you would arrange this with the secretary (O.J. R. Howarth, O.B.E., Down House, Kent.)

The rest of the material is in several boxes at Bernard Darwin's house. I think he would like to hand it over to you at once. I am writing to him about it.

You will remember that we wish to reserve the copyright of the Autobiography. Would you kind [sic] let me have a note that the syndics accept this condition?

I propose to send the enclosed notice to the Times and Nature. The Pilgrim Trust & the British Assoc[iation] agree. Is it satisfactory to you?

Yours very truly

Alan Barlow.

P.S. The Autobiography, which belongs to Sir C. D. is at the moment with him at Teddington & not at Barclays.

10

[6]

Presentation of Darwin M.S.S, to the Cambridge University Library & to the British Association.

A generous & timely grant from the Pilgrim Trust has enabled the present owners of certain important MSS of Charles Darwin to present them to the Cambridge University Library & to the British Association for presentation at Down House.

The gift includes the MS of Charles Darwin's Autobiography, the MS of the Diary of the Beagle, with the field note-books from which it was compiled, most of the MS of the Origin of Species, the MS of Movements of Plants, Climbing Plants, & other works, correspondence with Wallace, Samuel Butler, Huxley & other contemporaries, a number of pamphlets, some with annotations.

It was in 1842 that Charles Darwin went to live at Down House. A first sketch in his hand-writing of his Species Theory, written in 1842, is included in the gift.

11

[7, cut-off]

20 October, 1842

67L/OL/42

Sir Alan Barlow, K.B.E.,

Boswells,

Wendover,

Aylesbury.

Dear Sir Alan Barlow,

Darwin MSS

Many thanks for your letter, I propose to write to the Vice-Chancellor and it would be for him to convey the formal thanks of the University to the donors: I will give him your name and that of Dr. T. Jones.

If Sir Charles Darwin's documents are in Barclays Bank, I for one should be quite glad to leave them there for the present; and if the Secretary of the British Association would similarly allow us to keep the Beagle diary, it would save us an incalculable amount of toil. It is with our own treasure packed in boxes piled one upon another; but whereabouts in which box, would take us a long while to discover!

I should assure that the family wish to reserve the Copyright of the Autobiography, and I cannot imagine the Syndic's demurring. But I will put the point before them on October 28.

The notice for The Times and Nature is admirable.

Your very truly,

Librarian

12

[8]

24 October, 1942

85L/OL/42

Dear Sir Alan Barlow,

I have referred your point concerning the Copyright of Charles Darwin's Autobiography to the Syndicate, and they would be grateful for some further information. The particular point is: for how long is the Copyright to be reserved to the executors? It can hardly be in perpetuity; could a term of years be suggested?

Yours very truly,

Librarian

Sir Alan Barlow, K.B.E.,

THE ATHENÆUM

PALL MALL S.W.1

Darwin MSS             23.xi.42

Dear Mr. Scholfield

I must apologise for not having written to you before about the copy-right of the Darwin Autobiography.

What we want to secure is that the document shall not be published in the life-time of Major Leonard Darwin. But we recognise that an indefinite reservation is tiresome. Would it meet your needs if we stipulated that it should not be published before 1 Jan 1952 without consent of any one (not all) of Sir Charles Darwin, Bernard Darwin or myself?

Yours sincerely

Alan Barlow

Charles Darwin see

13

[10]

CHAIRMAN: RT HON. LORD MACMILLAN G.C.V. SECRETARY: THOMAS JONES C.H.

THE PILGRIM TRUST

FOUNDER: EDWARD S. HARKNESS

HARLECH

NORTH WALES

TELEPHONE HARLECH 98

23rd November 1942

Sir,

I understand that the Trustees of the Darwin MSS have now allocated a selection to the University of Cambridge. I am directed by the Pilgrim Trust formally to ask your acceptance of the MSS chosen for preservation in the University Library.

I am, Sir,

Yours faithfully,

[Signed] Thomas Jones

Secretary

The Secretary to The Syndics of the Cambridge University Library.

[11]

100L/NL/42              26 November, 1942

Dear Sir Alan Barlow,

Your letter of November 23 arrived opportunely, and was before the Library Syndicate at their meeting on November 25. I am directed to say that they willingly agree that the Autobiography of Charles Darwin shall not be published before 1 January 1952 unless either you, or Sir Charles or Mr. Bernard Darwin consent to such a course.

Yours sincerely,

Librarian

Sir Alan Barlow, K.B.E.,

14

[12]

26 November, 1942

102L/NL/42

Thomas Jones Esq., C.H.,

The Pilgrim Trust.

Harlech,

N. Wales.

Dear Sir,

Your letter of November 23 conveying the offer of certain MSS of Charles Darwin was before the Library Syndicate at their meeting on November 25, and I am directed to say that, acting on behalf of the University, they accept with deep gratitude this valuable and historic collection from the hand of one of the University's most famous sons.

I am, Sir,

Yours faithfully,

Librarian

15

[13]

38L/DL/42               9 December, 1942

Dear Sir Alan Barlow,

We have been delving among the MSS which we stowed away three years ago, and have unearthed the Autobiography of Charles Darwin, which I understand is now the property of the Trustees of Downe House.

I would not suggest sending it just now through the post, but if they are content to wait until January, I will despatch it by Registered Post then.

Would you kindly tell me to whom it should be directed and the full address?

Yours sincerely,

Librarian

Sir Alan Barlow, K.B.E.

[14]

BOSWELLS,

WENDOVER,

AYLESBURY

38L/DL/42               10.xii.42

Dear Mr. Scholfield

I can't identify the copy of the Autobiography which you mention. We know of two copies – the original MS, which Charles Darwin has & which will come to you in due course, & a copy by Sir F. Darwin, which Bernard Darwin decided to keep, & which my wife has have at the moment.

Is it possible that the volume to which you refer is the MS. of the Diary of the Beagle, which Charles Darwin deposited with you? It is to go to Downe, but you will remember that they wished you to keep it till the end of the war?

It is not the Beagle,

16

& if, as is probable, it belonged to one of the family, I am sure that they wd wish the Library to treat it as included in the gift, if the Library wishes to have it. If you cd tell me where you got it from, I will try & track its provenance. I don't know whether Sir F. Darwin left you any books. (I thought that his all went to the Botanical Library) – but I did not know that he had a second duplicate.

Yours sincerely,

Alan Barlow.

17

[15]

BUSHY HOUSE,

TEDDINGTON,

MIDDLESEX.

MOLESEY 2444.

Dec 13.42

Dear Scholfield

Sir Alan Barlow told me a little time ago that the arrangement for transfer of the various MSS was agreed, and I now write to fulfil the last details.

1. I enclose herewith an instruction to the bank to deliver to you on demand the two boxes of papers. I would suggest that you should get them catalogued and send me a list. Also there are possibly among them some you do not want for the Library in which case I would probably send them to the B.A. at Downe. Indeed Lady Barlow who has looked through them suggests that item 144.9 "Worms" should go there as belonging more closely to what they already have. If you are going into the matter perhaps you could consider this before taking possession formally.

The two boxes 144 and 147 are very old and when you have cleared them I do not want them back. I have some keys, but rather

18

inadequately labelled, and am sending you herewith one of them. I know one of the   boxes has a broken lock (sealed up since), and this key may be for the other one. If      not will you either break the lock or let me know and I will try again.

I am sorry not to be able to be more active in the business, but really can hard by find

the time just now.

2. There is still he Autobiography to come to you. At present it is in the hands of Lady Barlow who is doing some sort of collation of the text and will send it you in due course.

3. You hold on my behalf the Diary of the Beagle which I lent you about 1936 and have not reclaimed yet. This is to go to the B.A. Would you therefore deliver it on demand to Dr. Howarth. I fear at the moment I cannot find the receipt you gave me but will try again if you attach importance to it. Otherwise this letter and the receipt from the B.A. should be sufficient discharge for you.

Yours sincerely

CGDarwin

19

[16]

54L/DL/42               14 December, 1942

Dear Sir Alan Barlow,

I apologise for a stupid mistake. I ought to have looked up my previous correspondence and not to have written from (a defective) memory. It is the MS of the Beagle that we have, and I suppose that they allowed us to keep it instead of sending it to Downe House, out of consideration for the trouble which the search for it would cause. By all means let it stay here: it is as safe as our treasure, and of course takes up no room.

Yours sincerely,

Librarian

Sir Alan Barlow, K.B.E.,

20

[17]

15 December 1942.

59/DL/42

Dear Darwin,

Many thanks for your letter of Dec. 13 and for the enclosures.

I will send the MS of the Beagle diary to Dr Howarth soon as I hear from him.

I shall be away from Cambridge Dec. 19 - Jan. 2, but on my return will call upon Barclays Bank and have the boxes 144 and 147 transferred to the Library. I note what you say about "Item 144(9); Worms". There may, I fear be some delay over making a list of the papers: we are, as you may fancy, extremely short handed.

Yours sincerely

Librarian

Sir G. C. Darwin, M.C., Sc.D., F.R.S.

21

[18]

[750]

[missing [illeg] W 12/8/53]

30 December, 1942

9CL/DS/42

Dear Sir,

I am obliged to you for your letter of 23 December about the transfer of the MS of Charles Darwin's Beagle Diaries.

I note that Professor Brooks will get into communication with me about this, and when he has done so I will communicate with you again.

Yours faithfully,

Secretary of the Library.

The Secretary,

The British Assoc: for the Advancement of Science.,

[19]

University Library Cambridge

Dear Sir Alan Barlow,

It is true that no formal letter of thanks from the Vice-Chancellor has been sent to Mr Bernard Darwin (as representing the Darwin family), but then, as none of the papers of Charles Darwin has yet reached us, it seemed a little premature to describe what I had not seen and to ask the V.C. to say thank you to what we have not yet received. That's why the paragraph in the Times

22

some months ago seemed to me at any rate premature also!

However, this evidently is not the opinion of others. I am only sorry, very sorry, that our silence should be taken as want of proper appreciation & gratitude, & I will now write to the Vice-Chancellor.

Yours very truly

A F Scholfield

10 Aug 1943

23

[20]

as from Gorringes

CRIPP'S CORNER,

FOREST ROW,

SUSSEX.

July 12, 1943

Dear Alan,

Many thanks. I'm so glad you've written to Scholfield & I feel sure you've strung him up with admirable skill. He makes me so angry that I shd like to give the things to Oxford!

I return the Accounts correspondence as I don't think Frances wd be wildly [illeg]

how can I tell Nora about the parties named.

Mr. Fegan was a sort of missioner wh did good

24

[21]

work among poor London boys & had, I think a sort of camp of them as Downe every summer.

Today he wd doubtless have been an ardent Scoutmaster. To the best of my [illeg] he was buried at Downe.

Mr. Sales as the old cook at D. House; Mrs Evans then, though the Mrs was a country cook's wife.

She married Mr. Sales as his second wife Mrs Sales an a [2 words illeg] in Down & all round about. Her step daughter Mabel (now dead) married Mr. Nicholls. Him a baker. I saw him the other day - a pretty old gent now.

from Bernard Darwin

25

[22]

GORRINGES, DOWNE, KENT.

FARNBOROUGH, KENT 611

4 August 1943

Dear Mr. Scholfield,

Perhaps I ought to have written to you more about my part of the Darwin MSS to be given to the Univ Library. They are all here, presumably as safe as the house is but no safes. I am perfectly ready to keep them here till after the war but it would doubtless be better if you could get them now.

The question is how you are to get them. I don't know how you could send any vehicle to fetch them (they are fairly heavy & bulky) in those petrol-less days, and sending them by train might not be over-safe.

Perhaps at your leisure you would let me know what you think & would like done.

Yours very truly

Bernard Darwin

26

[23]

[846]

COPY

9 August 1943

Dear Mr. Darwin,

I am much obliged to you for your letter. As all our eggs are in one basket at the moment, and as transport is a real problem, I gratefully accept your offer to retain the Charles Darwin MSS at your house until the war is over. When the time comes for their removal, I suppose a single closed motor-van would contain the lot: you say that they are 'heavy & bulky'.

I hope that I may live to see this noble collection ranged upon our shelves beside the papers of two other great Cambridge scientists, Kelvin and Newton.

Yours very truly,

A.F. Scholfield

Librarian

[846]

Gorringes,

Downe,

Kent.

12.8.43

Dear Mr. Scholfield,

Many thanks for yr letter.

By all means let them let them all stay here, when I have the strongest personal reasons in hoping they would be moved.

Yes, a single closed van would hold them very easily. Perhaps "heavy & bulky" was too strong language on my part. They wd get into

27

the back of an ordinary car [with] a pinch.

Yours very truly

Bernard Darwin

28

[25]

Sir G Darwin's letter to Barclay's Bank authorizing them to hand over the CDarwin MSS in their keeping, together with the key of the box containing the MSS, are in the tall cupboard in the Librarian's room.

AF Scholfield

15 Oct. 1943

[723]

Gorringes,

Downe,

Kent.

9 May 1946

My dear Scholfield,

May I remind your that yr Darwin documents are still here awaiting you, unblitzed & unburgled so far.

I am sure they wd get into a normal car. If by any chance you someday come to get them yr self, I hope

29

you will fit in lunch with us

Yrs. sincerely

Bernard Darwin

30

[27]

154Y/MAL/46           18 May 1946

Bernard Darwin, Esq.,

Gorringes,

Downe,

Kent.

Dear Darwin,

Indeed I have not forgotten that the Charles Darwin papers are still in your safekeeping, and I should be grateful if you could and would keep them for a while. But as I can see no chance of coming myself to fetch them, I wonder whether I ought not to ask you to have them despatched by rail or by Pickford's. The papers are presumably in boxes of some kind, but even so they may need a good deal of additional packing. Please let me know what would be least trouble to yourself and what your wishes are generally in the matter.

Yours sincerely,

Librarian

31

[28]

Gorringes,

Downe,

Kent.

May 22 1946.

Dear Scholfield,

Many thanks for yr letter.

I am sorry there is no chance of your coming to collect the things at present.

I am disinclined to send them off by rail or Pickford's. When would as you suggest, be more packing necessary & I have no one who could do it properly or safely as it might to be done. As you say I am do what is least trouble to me then I think

32

the things had better stay here a bit longer till such time as a car can be sent from Camb to get them.

Yrs sincerely

Bernard Darwin.

33

GORRINGES, DOWNE, KENT

Aug 31, 1948

Dear Scholfield,

I've just had a letter from a gentleman of the University of Upsala asking me about certain letter from one Nilson to my grandfather & saying that you have suggested his writing to me.

This, you will allow me to say, seems a bit hard. Frankly I don't know whether such letters are to be found among the University property which I have now been harbouring here since 1945 & have simply had to say that as far as I know I don't possess any.

I really do think it is time you sent for your property here. Cars are not hard to come by nor the University too impoverished that this would not be possible. I am most

34

anxious to be quit of them and this sort of thing is not very encouraging to those who give anything to the Library.

Do please take some step in the matter. I wish you would.

Yours sincerely

Bernard Darwin.

35

[date stamped: 4 SEP.1949]

GORRINGES, DOWNE, KENT

2 September

Dear Scholfield,

Thank you very much for your letter. I will await a communication from Mr. Creswick as to the transport of the papers.

I am extremely sorry to hear you have been so long & seriously laid up & hope you will be quite well again by the beginning of next term.

Yours sincerely

Bernard Darwin

36

128Y/OL/48             13 October 1948

Sir C. Darwin, Sc.D., F.R.S.,

Bushy House,

Teddington,

Middlesex.

Dear Darwin,

You will remember that in 1942 the Pilgrim Trust conveyed to Downe House and to this Library certain MSS of Charles Darwin. Those destined for Cambridge have been collected from Downe and from Barclay's Bank, and there remains outstanding from you only the Autobiography which according to a note on a letter of October '42 from Sir Alan Barlow was then in your possession at Teddington.

The Library agreed not to allow publication of the Autobiography before 1 January 1952 except with the consent of yourself, Mr Bernard Darwin or Sir Alan Barlow.

The Library wishes now to complete its acquisition of the MSS by obtaining the Autobiography; and if you would tell me where it is now, I could arrange for it to be collected if you so desire.

Yours sincerely,

Librarian

37

[32]

Bushy House

Teddington

Middx

Oct. 31. 48

Dear Scholfield

I am afraid I had forgotten that you had not yet received the Autobiography of CD. I have run it to earth now, as being in the hands of Lady Barlow, kept in a safe at Boswell's Wendover, Bucks.

She tells me she has been through it to look for unpublished parts, but from her letter she seems undecided whether anything is worth publishing – which suggests to me that there is not. She says "Could you make the proviso when it is handed over that I could have it back if I wanted to do some more work on it?"

I personally think it rather unlikely the case will arise, but if it did, would your regulations allow for this.

38

She also tells me that there are two autobiographies, one in CD's writing and the other (which was in the possession of my uncle Frank) not in his writing.

The second was apparently a copy but not always quite correct. I do not imagine you will want it, but have no record of whether there was a definite specification of it in the purchase lists, in which case of course you should have it.

I am writing to Lady Barlow, telling her to send you the real one, wrapping it carefully and registering it. If you do not regard that as safe enough perhaps you would write to her direct and say what you want.

Yours sinc

CGDarwin

39

35Y/NL/48               2 November 1948

Sir C. Darwin, Sc.D., F.R.S.,

Bushy House,

Teddington,

Middlesex.

Dear Darwin,

I am much obliged to you for your letter of October 31 touching the Autobiography of Charles Darwin. I am afraid that in the matter of lending manuscripts we are bound by the Ordinances of the University and that it is not in the power of the Library Syndicate (still less, of course, of the Librarian) to say at any time the lady Barlow may have the loan of the MS – unless it were that she would agree to its being deposited for her use in the British Museum or some other public institution where its safe custody could be guaranteed more certainly than in a private house.

As to Sir Francis's copy you are right in thinking that we should not want it as well as C.D's autograph, so that if Lady Barlow would agree to send us the original, she might retain the copy.

With renewed thanks for the trouble you have taken,

Yours sincerely,

Librarian

40

[34]

from Lady Barlow

[1537]

BOSWELLS,

WENODVER,

AYLESBURY

29 XI 48

Dear Mr. Scholfield,

I have heard from my cousin, Sir Charles Darwin, that you await the arrival of the MS copy of the Autobiography of Charles Darwin for the Library, which has been in my keeping in the safe for some time. I will send it to you registered very shortly, as I want to verify some work on it I did some time ago in ascertaining how much remained unpublished.

This I can do by collating the MS copy with a second copy I have in Francis Darwin's handwriting. As soon as this is done I will despatch it within a few days.

Yours sincerely

Nora Barlow

41

[35]

1537/L/Y                 1 December 1948

Lady Barlow,

Boswells,

Wendover,

Aylesbury.

Dear Lady Barlow,

I am much obliged to you for your letter of November 29.

There is no need for you to hurry. The papers were given to us as long ago as 1942, and there was a danger of the business being overlooked – not by you but by us! That is why I have been stirring.

Yours sincerely,

Librarian

42

[36]

1558/L/Y                 4 December 1948

D.N. Lowe Esq., O.B.E., M.A.,

The British Association for the Advancement of Science,

Burlington House,

London, W.1.

Dear Sir,

The Librarian has received from Mr Bernard Darwin of Gorringes, Downe, Kent, a number of boxes of papers containing Darwin Manuscripts which were in 1942 partly in his possession and partly in the possession of Sir Charles Darwin, and which the Pilgrim Trust bought with the intention of giving the main part to Cambridge University Library and the rest to Downe House. I understand that Downe House is now held by the British Association, partly as a memorial to Darwin, and I venture to write to you about help in checking the Darwin papers. We have a catalogue in manuscript of "MSS, papers, letters, and printed book which were at Gorringes in 1932".

A large number of the items in this catalogue can be identified among the papers we now have here, but there are others which have presumably gone to Downe House. We appear to have some papers which might appropriately be at Downe House, while papers are missing which would seem to be of interest here.

Would it be possible to obtain from the Custodian of the papers at Downe House a complete list of everything you had as a result of the Pilgrim Trust gift? If it were possible for us to have a copy of such a list we could continue our investigation of the Gorringes papers, particularly of items which we could not identify in either collection.

I should be very grateful for any information you can give us. If time and trouble could be saved by our sending someone to Downe, I am sure the Librarian would welcome an opportunity of doing so.

Yours very truly,

Secretary of the Library

43

[37]

[date stamped: 7 DEC. 1948]

British Association for the Advancement of Science

BURLINGTON HOUSE

LONDON, W.1

6th December, 1948

Secretary of the Library,

University Library,

Cambridge.

Dear Sir,

I have to thank you for your letter 1558/L/Y of 4th December, on Darwin's papers, which I have sent to the Curator of Down House.

Yours faithfully,

D.N. Lowe

Secretary.

44

[38]

[date stamped: 10 DEC.1948]

Anderson I have acknowledged this volume. Please stamp with Down's stamp & then pass on to Mr. Cook for repair. NB.

BOSWELLS,

WENDOVER,

AYLESBURY.

7 Dec. 1948

Dear Mr. Scholfield,

Here at last is the C.D. Autobiography. I am very glad indeed that it is finding a home in the Cambridge University Library.

You will see one side of the spine is cracked & has been since I've known it.

Please let me have a line telling me of its safe arrival.

Yours sincerely

Nora Barlow

45

1537/L/Y                 11 December 1948

Lady Barlow,

Boswells,

Wendover,

Aylesbury.

Dear Lady Barlow,

I was glad indeed to set eyes on the autograph copy of Charles Darwin's Autobiography, and am greatly obliged to you for despatching it.

We can soon have the back repaired and then I propose to exhibit the volume in one of our show-cases.

Yours sincerely,

Librarian

46

[40]

[date stamped: 14 DEC.1949]

British Association for the Advancement of Science

DOWN HOUSE, DOWNE FARNBOROUGH, KENT.

Dec. 12, 1948

Dear Sir,

The secretary of the British Association has handed to me your letter of Dec. 4 to him.

I enclose herewith (and shall be grateful for the return of) the list of Darwin papers which we received under the gift of October 1942. An article which append in Nature at that time may be of interest.

Yours very truly,

O.J.R. Howarth

Curator.

47

[41]

1558/S/Y                 15 December 1948

O.J.R. Howarth, Esq.,

British Association for the Advancement of Science

Down House,

Downe,

Farnborough,

Kent.

Dear Sir,

The Librarian asks me to thank you for your kindness in sending us the list of Darwin papers given you by the Pilgrim Trust in October'42. We have made a copy for our use and I return you the original as requested.

Yours very truly,

Secretary of the Library

48

[42]

Missing at ULC from the 1932 catalogue of Darwin papers.

to All (sent on 9.2.49)         C1      Early notebook containing observations made at                                                             Edinburgh

to All (sent on 9.2.49)         C7b Viii Observations on zoology made during Beagle voyage

                                      C21     Notebook for experiments 1855-56

                                      C34     Full material used in 'Power of movement of plants (pubd                                                1880) including photographs

                                      C40 a-j Collections of notes on particular subjects collected over                                                 a number of years

                                      C41 b-g Miscellaneous undatable scientific notes

                                      D1      Memorandum book in form of letter to a friend 1822,

                                                history notes at school, & other early fragments

                                      D5      Personal journal 1809-1881, started 1838 [DAR158.1-76]

49

[whole page crossed]

50

[43]

1558/S/Y                 21 December 1948

O.J.R. Howarth, Esq.,

British Association for the Advancement of Science,

Down House,

Downe, Farnborough,

Kent.

 

Dear Sir,

We have lately been sorting the Darwin MSS which were given to us by the Pilgrim Trust some years ago., at which time certain kinds of papers went to Down House. The Librarian asks me to write saying that we have a few things which he considers should go to Down, and inviting your views on them.

1. Charles Darwin's Address Book
2. List of Plate, August 1853, and Accounts from Lambert & Rawlings, Feb. 1839.
3. Charles Darwin's Account of Down (a number of sheets and pieces of paper)
4. A single sheet: Revised Directions Mch 17, 1882 (Daily regimen).

I wonder if you can by any chance tell me anything of the present whereabouts of

C1      Early notebook concerning observations made in Edinburgh

C21     Notebook for experiments 1855-56

C34     Full material used in Power of Movement in Plants, including photographs

C40     Collections of Notes on particular subjects collected over a number of years

C41     Miscellaneous undatable scientific notes

D1      Memorandum book in form of letters to a friend 1822 history notes at school, and     other early fragments

D5      Personal journal 1809-81. Started 1838 (we have a copy of this, not in C.D.'s hand).

51

[44]

2

These were listed under those marks in 1932 in a Catalogue of the Darwin MSS and papers at Gorringes, Kent, but when the Gorringes papers came to us (given in 1942) there were not among them. They may have been disposed of between 1932 and 1942 since so much of the surviving manuscripts of Charles Darwin is to be found here or with you, I should like to note in the catalogue the present location of any of the papers which are now neither in U.L.C. nor at Down House. Can you help with this?

Yours sincerely,

Secretary of the Library

52

[45]

1240/S/Y                 21 December 1948

Bernard Darwin, Esq.,

Gorringes,

Downe,

Kent.

Dear Mr Darwin,

We have now done a good deal of work sorting the Darwin papers, and the Catalogue which you lent me for the purpose has been very useful. Your Catalogue is a dated document of considerable interest to future investigators of Darwin's papers. I therefore venture to ask – do you really need it? Or may be incorporate it in the collection?

As you will realise, if it is retained in the Library, it will always be available here if you or anyone else wishes to consult it.

The Catalogue was complied in 1932. The manuscripts were given to Cambridge University Library and to the British Association in October 1942. Do you recollect whether, between those dates, any of the manuscripts were given elsewhere, or otherwise disposed of? I ask because there are certain items in the Catalogue which we have certainly not got. We have a list of the MSS which are now in Down House, and they do not appear there.

Of course there is the possibility that I may have missed another small box or bag in the cellar. Is this possible?

The items which we do not appear to have are described as follows in the Catalogue:-

C1      Early notebook concerning observations made in Edinburgh

C21     Notebook for experiments 1855-56

53

[46]

2

C34     Full material used in Power of Movement in Plants, including photographs

C40     Collections of Notes on particular subjects collected over a number of years

C41     Miscellaneous undatable scientific notes

D1      Memorandum book in form of letters to a friend 1822 history notes at school, and     other early fragments

D5      Personal journal 1809-81. Started 1838 (we have a copy of this, not in C.D.'s hand).

The Librarian has just gone away for Christmas or he would join us, in sending best wishes for Christmas and the New Year to you and Mrs Darwin.

Yours sincerely,

Secretary of the Library

54

[47]

GORRINGES, DOWNE, KENT.

FARNBOROUGH, KENT 611.

28. XII.48

Dear Mr. Creswick,

I'm sorry for not answering yr letter before but Xmas has intervened. Nor will my answer be satisfactory now except to say by all means keep the Catalogue I shd be glad for you to have it.

As to the missing documents heaven knows & I don't unless Down House has any of them, which I doubt. The only thing that rings any kind of bell – even the

55

faintest in my memory is [3 words illeg] Edinburgh. I have a sort of recollection having once extracted something about Edinburgh, for an enquirer to look at, and not having had it back. I've had a look for it & can't find it here [illeg] suspect one spot & if I do find it I'll send it on.

Otherwise I'm stumped. I don't think there is any cache that you did not discover. I'm sorry for being so hopeless but hopeless I am on this subject, if anything turns up you shall have it & meanwhile I can only apologise.

Yours sincerely

Bernard Darwin

56

[1558]

British Association for the Advancement of Science

Down House,

Downe, Farnborough, Kent.

Dec. 29, 1948

Dear Sir,

In reply to your letter of the 21st, my best course seems to be to send you the catalogue of the exhibits here, and also a typed list of other papers, etc., which at present are not exhibited. This typescript I should be glad to have back. From these you will see all the papers we have, perhaps the catalogue may be of other interest.

As for the parcels not accounted for, I am afraid I am of little use. Concerning C1 (Edinburgh notebook), this may possibly be in Edinburgh. At any rate, some years ago the late Prof. J. H. Ashworth of that university published a paper about Darwin's work in Edinburgh, and evidently had access to original documents.

I do not know exactly what the parcels C21 & C40

[in margin:] [illeg], 1949

57

may have represented. As for C34 (Movements in Plants), I have certainly never heard of this. Would the Botany School at Cambridge have it by any chance? Again, there are some Darwin papers at the British Museum.

Concerning D1 and D5, I wonder whether the family retained these? I have an idea that certain very early papers were so retained. I do not know where the Personal Journal is – more than once I should have liked to see it.

I feel sure that the B.A. Council would gladly receive the papers you mention (1 to 4) in the first part of your letter: it looks as though these must have been meant to come to us.

Yours very truly,

O.J.R. Howarth

Curator

58

[49]

32/S/Y                    4 January 1949

O.J.R. Howarth, Esq.,

Down House,

Downe,

Farnborough,

Kent.

Dear Sir,

Thank you for your letter of December 29 and the papers you sent with it. I will return your typescript after we have made use of it. When the Librarian comes back (about 12 January) we will send off the few items which we have suggested should be at Down House.

I am very grateful to you for the reference to Prof. J. H. Ashworth. This links up to a vague recollection of Mr Bernard Darwin, who tells me that some years ago he did look up some papers for someone working in Edinburgh. I will investigate in that quarter.

When the assistant who is sorting the Darwin manuscripts has digested the material you have sent, I will write again if we want any more information.

Yours very truly,

Secretary of the Library

59

[50]

31/S/Y          4 January 1949

Bernard Darwin, Esq.,

Gorringes,

Downe,

Kent.

Dear Mr Darwin,

Many thanks for your letter of 28 December. The Librarian will be most grateful to you for giving us your manuscript catalogue. I will write to the National Library of Scotland if it seems likely that they can help us about the identity of the party working on Darwin some time ago. I am in touch with the Curator at Down House who has been kind enough to let us have a list of their holdings so that our record of the manuscripts should be as complete as possible.

Yours sincerely,

Secretary of the Library

60

31/S/Y          12 January 1949

Bernard Darwin, Esq.,

Gorringes,

Downe,

Kent.

Dear Mr Darwin,

The remark in your letter on 28 December 1948 has been most helpful. You said "I have a sort of recollection having once extracted something about Edinburgh, for an enquirer to look at, and not having had it back". Working on this we have found in the Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh an article "Charles Darwin as a Student in Edinburgh", an address delivered on October 28 1935 by Prof. J.H. Ashworth, F.R.S., Department of Zoology, University of Edinburgh, with photographs of the Edinburgh Note-book and polite reference to you as the owner of the Note-book. Prof. Ashworth died on 4 February 1936.

You might think it importunacy on my part to keep on worrying you about the Edinburgh Note-book if it were not for the fact that, as I hope you realise, all our efforts are being directed to completing the tale of known Darwin manuscripts and their present whereabouts in the interests of posterity and the fame of your great ancestor.

Yours sincerely,

Secretary of the Library

61

[52]

84/S/Y                    12 January 1949

Prof. Sir Charles Darwin, K.B.E.,

Bushy House,

Teddington,

Middlesex.

Dear Sir Charles Darwin,

I have been corresponding, on behalf of the Librarian, with Mr Bernard Darwin about the identification of some of the Darwin manuscripts so generously given to this Library by the Darwin family and the Pilgrim Trust. We have not yet located an Edinburgh Note-book which was listed in Mr Bernard Darwin's Manuscript Catalogue.

I am in communication with him about this. We have discovered that it was used by Prof. J.H. Ashworth for an address delivered to the Royal Society of Edinburgh on October 28 1935, and subsequently printed in the Proceedings. Professor Ashworth refers there to the kindness of yourself and of Mr Bernard Darwin in permitting him to see a Note-book begun by Darwin in Edinburgh in March 1827 of which he gives photographs.

This is clearly the Note-book which we cannot trace and I write to ask if you have any recollection of what became of it after Professor Ashworth had it. He died, we find, on 4 February 1936.

As this Note-book was listed in the catalogue of the Gorringes papers we are naturally very anxious to secure it if possible, or, if it were disposed of before we received the gift of the Manuscripts, to know and record its present location.

If you can give me any help I am sure the Librarian will be most grateful.

Yours very truly,

Secretary of the Library

62

[53]

NATIONAL PHYSICAL LABORATORY,

TEDDINGTON,

MIDDLESEX.

Yr. ref: 84/S/Y                  17th January, 1949

Dear Mr Creswick,

I am afraid I cannot help you over this note-book you ask about. It has never been in my possession, and I do not think have ever even seen it.

If my cousin Bernard cannot trace it, it might be worth your while trying Mrs. Ashworth who was certainly alive a year or two ago, though whether she now lives in Edinburgh I do not know. I should think the University could tell you.

I seem to remember when I lived in Edinburgh seeing a short note published dealing with some things out of the note book and hearing them discussed. At a guess they would have been published in the Royal Society of Edinburgh's journal, so it might be worth your while writing to them, in case they might know something about it.

Yours sincerely,

CGDarwin

H.R. Creswick, Esq.,

Secretary of the Library,

The University,

Cambridge.

63

[54]

84/S/Y                    18 January 1949

Professor Sir Charles Darwin, K.B.E.,

National Physical Laboratory,

Teddington,

Middlesex.

Dear Sir Charles Darwin,

Many thanks for your letter about the Edinburgh note-book. I shall make enquiries as you suggest and no doubt we shall get on the track of it eventually.

Yours sincerely,

Secretary of the Library

64

[55]

11/S/Y                    18 January 1949

The Librarian

National Library of Scotland,

Edinburgh.

Dear Dobie,

I wonder if you can help us with a little investigation we are now faced with. In 1935 Prof. Ashworth wrote a paper for the Royal Society Edinburgh on Charles Darwin at Edinburgh. For this he had the use of a note-book belonging to Mr Bernard Darwin of Gorringes, Downe, Kent. I think he must have had the note-book in his possession because he gives photographs of it. A month or so after producing this paper Prof. Ashworth died.

During the war the Pilgrim Trust bought the Darwin manuscripts and gave them to Cambridge University Library. We have lately collected them from Mr Bernard Darwin. The Edinburgh note-book is listed in a manuscript catalogue which he had made about 1932. But it is not with the papers we have collected. Mr Bernard Darwin only has vague recollections of having got it out to lend to somebody at Edinburgh.

Sir Charles Darwin who is mentioned in the Ashworth article does not think he ever saw it, and says that it was certainly never in his possession.

Since we are now, I suppose, the greatest repository on Darwin manuscripts in the country, we want to be able to locate the Darwin manuscripts which were at any time in the possession of Bernard Darwin. It may be that the manuscript got mixed up with the Professor's things after his death.

Equally, the Darwins may have sold it to him or someone else before the Pilgrim Trust bought the manuscripts in their possession. I now write to you in the hope that you may know Mrs Ashworth and might be willing to make friendly enquiries as to whether she remembers anything about the note-book. There is also the hope that you may know something more than we do about the later history of this Edinburgh relic. Can you tell me anything at all that may be useful?

Yours sincerely,

Secretary of the Library.

65

[56]

[date stamped: 27 JAN.1949]

NATIONAL LIBRARY OF SCOTLAND

see Proc. Roy. Soc

Edin. 1934-5.

p. 97.

26.1.49

Dear Creswick,

Your letter 11/S/Y of the 18th January about Darwin MSS.: Ashworth returned a 'notebook of Charles Darwin and the accompanying papers of his Edinburgh period' to Bernard Darwin by regd. post on the 28th August, 1935, and B.D. wrote acknowledging their receipt on the 29th. Mrs Ashworth has B.D's receipt and a carbon of her

66

husband's letter, and I have seen both.

She showed me her husband's notes* (MS.) on prints in Charles Darwin's notebook and in the other papers, and also a type-written copy of a MS. of Darwin, 'A zoological walk' (from Edinburgh to Portobello). [CUL-DAR5.A49-A51]

According to a note of Ashworth, the MS. was undated but watermarked 1824. If you would like to have these for your Library she will be glad to give them. Write to her:

Hillbank

West Grange Loan

Edinburgh, 10

*fairly full.

67

[57]

[date stamped: 27 JAN.1949]

Beattie thinks that it may interest you to know that Edinburgh University Library possesses a set of C. Darwin's class-cards – i.e. the cards which the student has (or may be called upon) to produce to be admitted to the lecture-room, bearing the student's name and that of the class (= course of lectures).

I apologise for all this explanation, but you may not be acquainted with the habits and terminology of Scottish universities.

If you don't want Mrs. Ashworth's stuff, let her or me know.

Yours sincerely

Mr Dobie

68

[58]

11/S/Y                    29 January 1949

The Librarian,

National Library of Scotland,

Edinburgh.

Dear Dobie,

The precise information in your letter of the 26th January was more than we had hoped to get and I am most grateful to you. I am writing to Mrs Ashworth to thank her and to let her know that we should be most grateful for a sight of the notes in her possession. Will you please thank Beattie for his part in the matter and say that I look forward to an occasion of being helpful to you in Cambridge in return.

Yours sincerely,

Secretary of the Library

69

[59]

182/S/Y                  29 January 1949

Mrs Ashworth,

Hillbank,

West Grange Loan,

Edinburgh 10.

Dear Mrs Ashworth,

The Librarian of the National University of Scotland has been kind enough to write to me with information about the Darwin notes in your possession. When we consulted him, needing help to trace Charles Darwin's Edinburgh notebook, I little hoped that he would be able to give such precise information about its return to Mr Bernard Darwin. This is in large part due to you and I write to convey my warm gratitude for your help.

Mr Dobie tells me that you have some notes on points in the notebook and in the other papers and also a typewritten copy of "Zoological Walk" which you would give to the Library. If you would be kind enough to send them to us we will compare them with what papers we have and I do not doubt that the Librarian will be most grateful for them for the University Library.

Yours sincerely,

Secretary of the Library

70

HILLBANK,

GRANGE LOAN,

EDINBURGH 9

3rd February 1949.

Dear Mr Creswick

I enclose the copy of the 'Zoological Walk" & the extracts my husband made from Charles Darwin's Note-book, which you may keep if they are of interest.

Also the letters about the Note-book which I think it is well that you should see. I am exceedingly sorry that the notebook has been misplaced & hope it may soon be found. If Catherine Ritchie mentioned in the first letter is still in charge of the Charles Darwin collections she may know where the note book was placed

71

when it was returned.

Yours sincerely

Clara Ashworth

72

[61]

31/S/Y                    3 February 1949

Bernard Darwin, Esq.,

Gorringes,

Downe,

Kent.

Dear Mr Darwin,

I am glad to say that we have identified the Scottish user of the Edinburgh notebook. It was Professor Ashworth who returned it to you by registered post on the 28th August 1935. Professor Ashworth's widow has your letter of the 29th August acknowledging the safe receipt of the notebook and accompanying papers.

All we can say is that we have not got the notebook now, so that at some time between August 1935 and autumn of 1948 it disappeared. If by any chance any further recollections occur to you I should be glad to be able to record them here. Needless to say, if the notebook does turn up, everybody will be delighted.

Yours sincerely,

Secretary of the Library

73

[62]

[date stamped: 7 FEB.1949]

GORRINGES, DOWNE, KENT.

4.2.49

Dear Mr. Creswick,

The evidence against me is now overwhelming & I stand corrected. The blessed book must be in this house somewhere. I last open a drawer the other day thinking it might be there but it wasn't. I'll have another go & do hope it will turn up

With much contrition

Yours sincerely

Bernard Darwin

74

[63]

31/S/Y                    5 February 1949

Bernard Darwin, Esq.,

Gorringes,

Downe,

Kent.

Dear Mr Darwin,

Mrs Ashworth has now sent the correspondence of 1935 about the Edinburgh notebook. From these letters I see that originally you did not know you had it, but that Sir Charles Darwin remembered seeing it and a Miss Catherine Ritchie found it. Is it too much to hope that Miss Ritchie may still be available and that she might remember what happened to it when it went back?

I feel most uncomfortable at thus bothering you again and again were it not for the fact that for the sake of the Library and the completeness of the collection, I feel I ought to leave nothing to chance.

Yours very sincerely,

Secretary of the Library

75

[64]

182/S/Y                  5 February 1949

Mrs Ashworth,

Hillbank,

West Grange Loan,

Edinburgh, 10.

Dear Mrs Ashworth,

Your registered letter reached me safely this morning. I am most grateful for the sight of the correspondence between Darwin and the late Prof. Ashworth. I see that then also Mr Bernard Darwin could not find the Edinburgh notebook and that eventually it was found for him by a Miss Catherine Ritchie. I think I shall write again to Mr Darwin asking if Miss Ritchie can be prevailed upon to go and look for it! I will return the correspondence next week.

With many thanks,

Yours sincerely,

Secretary of the Library

76

[65]

32/S/Y                    7 February 1949

O.J.R, Howarth, Esq.,

Down House,

Downe,

Kent.

Dear Mr Howarth,

I return herewith the typescript of original letters, papers, etc., relating to Charles Darwin which you so kindly lent us in December last year. You will be interested to know that your reference to Prof. J.H. Ashworth has put us hot on the track of the Edinburgh notebook, though I am sorry it has not turned up yet. We have traced it back to Mr Bernard Darwin after Ashworth had used it, and only this morning I have had a letter from Mr Darwin agreeing that in all probability it is in his house but mislaid for the time being.

The Librarian asks me to send you the Address book, the list of Silver, the paper "Revised directions March 17, 1882" and C. Darwin's account of Down. In your letter of 29 December 1948 you stated that the B.A. Council would probably be glad to receive these. The Librarian, on his part, considers that they are papers which should have gone to Down in the first place.

Yours sincerely,

Secretary of the Library

77

[66]

[date stamped: 9 FEB.1949]

GORRINGES, DOWNE, KENT.

FARNBOROUGH, KENT 611

Feb 7 1949

Dear Mr Creswick,

Hurrah! Here's the blessed thing – tucked away in a locked drawer when I ought to have looked before. And what is more is a bit more. My wife hunting for the Edinburgh book (which I found in my room) unearthed something else in another room from one of the boxes – called "Beagle notes" and all in CD's writing apparently. I don't

78

know how it never got [illeg] its box – anyhow here it now is & I hope it may partially compensate for all the bother you've had and my scandalous slowness in finding the note book

Yours sincerely

Bernard Darwin

79

[67]

7 February 1949

Mrs C. Ashworth,

Hillbank,

Grange Loan,

Edinburgh, 9.

Dear Mrs Ashworth,

I return by registered post the papers and letters relating to Charles Darwin's Edinburgh notebook. It was most fortunate that I was able to learn these precise details from you because they have now convinced Mr Bernard Darwin that the missing notebook must be lost sight of somewhere in his house. When it turns up we shall undoubtedly get it.

With most grateful thanks,

Yours sincerely,

Secretary of the Library

80

[68]

[date stamped: 10 FEB.1949]

British Association for the Advancement of Science.

DOWN HOUSE,

DOWNE, FARNBOROUGH, KENT.

Feb. 9. 1949

Dear Mr. Creswick,

On behalf of this Council I acknowledge with many thanks the receipt of Darwin's address book, list of silver, & account of Down, and the doctor's 'revised directions.'

Yours very sincerely,

O.J. R. Howarth

Curator

81

[69]

31/S/Y                    9 February 1949

Bernard Darwin, Esq.,

Gorringes,

Downe,

Kent.

Dear Mr Darwin,

Very many thanks for the parcel which arrived this morning containing the Notebook (marked C.1 in your manuscript catalogue of 1932) and Observations made during the Beagle Voyage (C.76.VIII). It really is a triumph to have found them and we are very grateful indeed to you for allowing me to keep on at you in the way I have done.

But this find, C.76.VIII Observations during Beagle Voyage, impels me to send you a list of the other items in the manuscript catalogue which we have not got.

They are:

C.21      Notebook for experiments 1855-56.

C.34      Full material used in 'Power of Movement of plants', (pubd 1880)including                           photographs.

C40a-j  Collections of notes on particular subjects collected over a number of years.

C41b-g Miscellaneous undatable scientific notes.

D1      Memorandum book in form of letters to a friend 1822, history notes at school, and   other early fragments.

D5      Personal journal 1809-, started 1838.

If you and Mrs Darwin will be so kind as to keep an eye open for these in case they may have got into some unsuspected place since 1932, we shall be deeply indebted to you.

Yours sincerely,

Secretary of the Library

82

[70]

182/S/Y                  9 February 1949

Mrs Ashworth,

Hillbank, Grange Loan,

Edinburgh.

Dear Mrs Ashworth,

I feel that I must write and let you know that the conclusion of all my enquiries about the Edinburgh notebook is complete success. This is to a large extent due to your kindness in allowing me to see the papers relating to the use of the Notebook, and its return, in 1935.

My letter to Mr Darwin was so convincing that he made a further search and found it together with a great bundle of other papers all in Charles Darwin's own hand. We have therefor as good reason to be grateful to you as if you had presented us with a valuable manuscript for the Library.

Yours very truly,

Secretary of the Library

83

[71]

[date stamped: 18 FEB.1949]

HILLBANK,

GRANGE LAON,

EDINBURGH 9

17th February 1949.

Dear Mr Creswick

Thank you very much for your kind letter. I am delighted to know that the precious Notebook has been found.

Yours sincerely,

Clara Ashworth.

84

Sent between 2 friends

Cardboard & REGISTER

Perhaps these 2 letters (one incomplete) might be sent to Down House. They describe Down in 1842.

(CD to Catherine July' 42)

ULC has copies of them.

85

 

86

[73]

32/L/Y                    22 July 1949

O. J. R. Howarth, Esq.,

British Association,

Down House,

Farnborough,

Kent.

Dear Sir,

In Sir Alan Barlow's letter informing me that the Pilgrim Trust wished to present Charles Darwin's MS remains to Cambridge it was explained that certain MSS relating to Down House and to intimate family matters were to be retained at Down.

While sorting the collection we have come across two letters (one imperfect) describing the house in 1842, and it seems to us that these should by right be returned to you. I am therefore sending them herewith, duly registered, and will ask you to be kind enough to acknowledge their receipt.

Your truly,

Librarian

87

[74]

[date stamped: 26 JUL.1949]

British Association for the Advancement of Science

DOWN HOUSE,

DOWNE FARNBOROUGH, KENT.

July 23, 1949

The Librarian

University Library

Cambridge.

Dear Sir,

I have to acknowledge with very many thanks the receipt of the two letters of Charles Darwin from 1842. I know of these from the Life and Letters but not of their whereabouts.

Yours very faithfully

O.J.R Howarth

Curator

88

OJR Howarth

Downe

Kent