RECORD: Darwin, C. R. 1847. The Naturalists' Pocket Almanack for 1847. London: John Van Voorst. With entries by Darwin. CUL-DAR227.8.46. (John van Wyhe ed., 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed and edited by John van Wyhe 11.2025. 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.
In Life and letters, vol. 1, p. 353 Darwin thanked Leonard Jenyns for the gift of this almanack. Jenyns wrote of this: "This letter relates to a small Almanack first published in 1843, under the name of 'The Naturalists' Pocket Almanack,' by Mr. Van Voorst, and which I edited for him. It was intended especially for those who interest themselves in the periodic phenomena of animals and plants, of which a select list was given under each month of the year. The Pocket Almanack contained, moreover, miscellaneous information relating to Zoology and Botany; to Natural History and other scientific societies; to public Museums and Gardens, in addition to the ordinary celestial phenomena found in most other Almanacks. It continued to be issued till 1847, after which year the publication was abandoned."
Darwin made a few annotations and notes which are transcribed here for the first time.[front cover]
[Inside front cover]
[title page]
[page 2]
[page 3]
[page 4]
18 Feb. Roy. Soc. 1/2 past 8
[page 4b]
13th L.n.
27th L'. North
[page 5]
[page 6]
2 March Lin. Soc. 8 Hort. Soc. 3
11 March Roy. Soc. Met J
30 March Chem. Soc. Ann. 8 Vestry 12 oclock
[page 6b]
13 L'. N.
27th L'.N.
29th Agreed to pay 2d per week for 6 boys to E. End School
[page 7]
[page 8]
13 April Zool. Soc.
[page 8b]
13th [illeg] & [illeg] arrived[?]
[page 9]
[page 10]
12 May Geol. Soc.
26 May Geol. Soc
[page 11]
[page 12]
16 June Geol. Soc.
22 Zool. Soc.
[page 12b]
23rd 22nd Brit. Assoc.
[page 13]
[page 14]
{29-31 July
[page 14b]
17th Hort Soc — Cheswick
[{29-31 July] Poultry show
[page 15]
[page 16]
10 August Zool. Soc. —N[?]
16 August Hooker Kew
21-22 August {—
23-24 August {—
25 August
[page 16b]
16th Call to L & N. W. Rail
17th Grate repaired
20 go to Kew
24th Grate to be repaired
25 Hooker to Scotland
[page 17]
[page 18]
[page 19]
[page 20]
8-9 October {—
15 Ocotber [illeg]
22 Ocotber —Lh
25 Ocotber
28 Ocotber
[page 20b]
28. Tithes
[page 21]
[page 22]
3 November Geol. Soc.
17 November Geol. Soc.
[page 22b]
10th Nov. Hooker goes
[page 23]
[page 24]
1 December Geol. Soc.
15 December Geol. Soc.
[page 25]
[page 26]
[page 26b]
[page 27]
[tick make next to Alcedo alcyon]
[page 28]
[page 29]
[page 30]
[page 31]
[page 32]
[inside back cover]
[back cover]
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 6 November, 2025