RECORD: Darwin, C. R. [c.1843]. Abstract of Clarke, On the geological phænomena in the vicinity of Cape Town, Southern Africa. CUL-DAR205.2.45. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 4.2022. RN1
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. The volume CUL-DAR205.2 contains notes on means of distribution.
Clarke, W. B. 1842. On the geological phænomena in the vicinity of Cape Town, Southern Africa. Proceedings of the Geological Society of London 3: 418-23.
Darwin cited this in Volcanic islands, p. 159: "The Rev. W. B. Clarke finds proofs of the elevation of the land, to the amount of 400 feet, at the Cape of Good Hope. In the neighbourhood of the Bay of Islands in New Zealand, I observed that the shores were scattered to some height, as at Van Diemen's Land, with sea-shells, which the colonists attribute to the natives." Darwin worked at writing Volcanic islands between 14 October 1842 and 5 January 1844. (Darwin's 'Journal'. CUL-DAR158.1-76.) At about the same time, he also wrote his 1844 species sketch or essay: "1844. Jan 5th sent M.S. of Volcanic Islands to Printers. Feb. 13th. finished correcting. In intervals & previously slowly enlarged & improved pencil sketch in 35 pages (written in midsummer of 1842) of Species Theory."
He used the same phrase "origin of species" in the 1844 species essay (p. 171):
"On the number of species, and of the classes to which they belong in different regions.
The last fact in geographical distribution, which, as far as I can see, in any way concerns the origin of species, relates to the absolute number and nature of the organic beings inhabiting different tracts of land."
Tacking the phrase on the end of this note suggests that Darwin intended to file this note with other documents on the subject of the "Origin of Species".
[45]
Geological Proceeding Vol II p. 423. — Proofs of Elevation 400 ft Mr Clarke says evident that southern Africa was once archipelago of islds — The Rev W. B. Clarke
(Origin of Species)
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 25 September, 2022