The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online

RECORD: Darwin, C. R. to William Allport Leighton 2 letters- 1858 & 1862. (1880s copy). CUL-DAR112.B97-B98. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

NOTE: See record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here. Reproduced with permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library and William Huxley Darwin.

Letters like these were gathered by Francis Darwin from the recipients or their families to provide material for The life and letters of Charles Darwin (Text) where extracts from some of them were published. William Allport Leighton (1805-1899) was a shoolfellow of Darwin's at Mr Case's school, Shrewsbury and later an Anglican clergyman and lichenologist. See his recollections of Darwin in CUL-DAR112.B94-B98.

B97

regret to say I have given away all except two to collectors of autographs at home & abroad. Of those I have I send you copies: —

[The text of the letters are, of course, available fully edited in the Correspondence.]

Down, Bromley, Kent

Nov. 21 [1858]

My dear Sir

It is remarkably kind of you to take such great trouble in sending me the specimens & so full & precise an account of your observations. I have been particularly glad to see your specimens. I am utterly perplexed at present whether to put the graduated changes in your specimens to simple variation or to crossing. Your specimens have recalled to my mind some statements of Gärtner of the great amount of difference in purchased seed

97v

of Leguminous plants reported to be pure. have received from a Gardener some very curious specimens of common Beans apparently crossed. There is an article, I see, in today's Chronicle.—

Thank you much for your permission to use anyhow your information. I hardly know what I shall do, & shall anyhow wait at present & see if any other cases turn up. I am so busy that I rather grudge the time for another article in the Chronicle. But your information will not be wasted, as I shall have ultimately to come to some conclusion on the subject, which has long perplexed me.

[note by Leighton:] (My remarks alluded to in this letter relate to some curious variations I had noticed in Scarlet Runner Beans)

How many years have rolled over our heads since we were at school together, &

how little we then thought we should correspond on scientific subjects!

With my cordial thanks, pray believe me

My dear Sir

Yours sincerely

C. Darwin.

Down, Bromley, Kent

Nov. 26th [1862]

My dear Sir

Will you forgive me troubling you.— Prof. Oliver has called my attention to your papers published so long ago as 1842 on Epilobium angustifolium.— He suggests as possible that these forms may be reciprocally connected like the two forms of Primula. I much doubt this fact; but as I am working on Dimorphism, I sh. very much like to grow the two forms to experiment on.— Is there any chance of your being able to anyhow procure & send me roots of the

98v

two forms; it would be a great kindness if you could.— Anyhow pray excuse me venturing to trouble you.—

With my hopes that your health is good, I beg leave to remain,

My dear Sir

Yours very faithfully

Ch. Darwin

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