The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online

RECORD: Darwin, C. R. 1878.10.19-22. Oxalis corniculata / Declaration against war. [in Russia (offprint)]. CUL-DAR209.9.51. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 7.2022. RN2

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.

See the earlier version of the memorial in The Times (1 May): 10, F2449. This offprint is F2449b. As the editors of the Correspondence noted: "CD had been working on movement in cotyledons (seed-leaves) of plants, later published in Movement in plants. Following the decisive Russian victory in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–8 and the signing of the Treaty of San Stefano, other European states were alarmed by the increase of Russian influence in the region. Britain had threatened to go to war, but a crisis was averted by the convening of the Congress of Berlin in mid-May 1878 (Mackenzie 1993, pp. 240–2). See also letter to R. A. T. Gascoyne-Cecil, [18 May 1878]." Correspondence vol. 26, p. 180. Darwin apparently received several of these offprints and sometimes used the versos for note taking (there is another variant with slight differences and fewer signatories, including Darwin's name absent, e.g. CUL-DAR209.8.35, CUL-DAR209.8.90 and CUL-DAR209.11.82).

[51]

Oxalis corniculata

Oct 19' to 22d 1878

Circumnutation of Cotyledon

Young seedling

Tracing very greatly magnified

[data not transcribed]

As pot round twice

This Tracing not trustworthy as a whole & can only be trusted for each day separately

[51v]

[Printed offprint:]

DECLARATION AGAINST WAR.

"We believe that there has not existed during the past twelve months, and that there does not exist now, any justification whatsoever for a war between Russia and Great Britain, and we should hold our Government guilty of the greatest crime towards this nation should they lead us or allow us to drift into war."
— (Signed) WESTMINSTER, BATH, DUDLEY, SHARFTSBURY, CAMOYS, GIBRALTAR, COLERIDGE.

The following gentlemen will receive the names and addresses of all persons willing to sign this declaration. They will also receive contributions towards the necessary expenses:—

JOSEPH ARCH.

GEORGE ANDERSON, M.P., 13, Longridge Road, Earl's Court Road, S.W.

JACOB BRIGHT, M.P., 61, Onslow Square, S.W.

JOHN BROWNING, 63, Strand.

T. BURT, M.P., 2, Markham Square, Chelsea, S.W.

JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN, M.P., 30, Wilton Place, S.W.

Rev. H. CROSSKEY, Birmingham.

Rev. R. W. DALE, Birmingham.

CHARLES DARWIN, F.R.S., Down, Beckenham.

Rev. W. DENTON, 22, Westbourne Square, W.

HENRY DUNCKLEY, Manchester.

J. A. FROUDE, M.A., 5, Onslow Gardens, S.W.

Rev. NEWMAN HALL, LL.B.

AUBERON HERBERT, 81, Queen's Gate, S.W.

T. HUGHES, Q.C., 80, Park Street, W.

BURNE JONES, The Grange, North End Road, Fulham.

HUGH MASON, Ashton-under-Lyne.

JOHN MORLEY, Brighton.

SAMUEL MORLEY, M.P.

W. MORRIS, 26, Queen Square, Bloomsbury.

HODGSON PARTT, 8, Lancaster Terrace, North Gate, Regent's Park.

FREDERICK PENNINGTON, M.P., 17, Hyde Park Terrace, W.

HENRY RICHARD, M.P., 22 Bolton Gardens, S.W.

Professor ROLLESTON, Oxford.

PETER RYLANDS, M.P., 78 St. George's Square, S.W.

Hon. C. WOOD, 10, Belgrave Square, S.W.

NAME.	ADDRESS.	OCCUPATION.

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