[page] 67

930 DARWIN (CHARLES, 1809-1882). Famous Scientist.

AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED TO CAPT. SMYTH. 2 1/2 pp., 4to. Upper Gower Street, 7th August, 1839. £7 10s

[To W. H. Smyth 7 August [1839]]

Requesting information for his account of the Coral formations of the Pacific and Indian Seas upon which he was then engaged.

"...I am engaged in drawing up an account of the Coral formations of the Pacific and Indian Seas, and I observe it is said in Kruserstern's Memoir, that you were in the Cornwallis, when Smyth's Isld in the Northern Pacific was discovered. I am particularly anxious to know whether the low islets & reefs, of which the group is composed, form a ring surrounding a lagoon, like so many other islds in the Pacific and the atolls in the Indian Ocean: or if it has not left a lagoon, then is one central island of greater height, & apparently of different constitution from the other low islets on the reef, & surrounded by a channel of deepish water." Etc. [This letter was earlier for sale at Maggs Bros. in 1926.]

931 DARWIN (CHARLES).

LETTER SIGNED TO GEORGE CUPPLES,

4 pp., vo. Kent, 7th June, 1869.

[unrecorded letter]

Also two Autograph Postcripts. 4 pp., 8vo.

And a Letter in another hand from Darwin to Cupples. £5 15s

Relating to his work in obtaining true records of the births of racehorses, sheep, lambs, etc., and asking Cupples if he can obtain further information.

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"…There is a wide difference between a conclusion based on the particulars of statistical data & one founded upon even the best average estimate. I feel sure of this, from the interest shewn in the Office of the Registrar General in London when I told the officers that I had above 25,000 tabulated births of racehorses.

"It is also desirable to ascertain the fluctuations in the proportions of the sexes during succesive years. Until a beginning is made the subject will never be worked out. For instance, if I publish accurate data with respect to sheep &c. when my book appears in the Russian language, it is quite possible that some one may be led to investigate whether the males of the domestic animals exceed the females in the same way as occurs with man; for in England for every 100 female births there are 104.5 male births; whilst in Russia there are 108.9 male births. Mr. Elliot wd. perhaps not be willing to take the trouble to give me the number of births each year, if indeed he has kept any record, though I should be glad of such materials. But there is one point on which I should be very grateful for more information; he says 'more male lambs die than females;' now I want to know does this happen independently of castration.

"Possibly Mr. Elliot may be able to tell you whether any of the gentlemen whose addresses he gives, are likely to have kept an actual record of the number of sexes born; if so I shd. be very much obliged if you will apply to a few.'' Etc.

932 DARWIN (CHARLES).

AUTOGRAPH LETTER. SIGNED TO DR. R. C. ALEXANDER.

3 pp., 8vo. Down, 10th July, 1855. With addressed envelope. £4 10s

[unrecorded letter]

An exceedingly interesting letter.

"Though the fact does not turn out so curious as anticipated, I have been very glad to see Miss Morris' letter, and the fact to which she alludes as being seen, viz., spawn adhering to bettles' legs is valuable, for it has been shown that the ova in a damp atmosphere will survive for several days out of water. I wish the Fates had so ordered it that one had adhered to the identical beetle which flew into the window.'' Etc. [This letter was earlier for sale at Maggs Bros. in 1926.]

933 DARWIN (CHARLES).

AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED TO GEORGE CUPPLES.

1 page, 8vo. Kent, 18th April, 1869: £2 10s

[unrecorded letter]

"I heard this morning from the Field Office the results of all the births of Greyhounds in their vols. for 1857-1868.

"6878 births are recorded, of which 3605 are males and 3273 females—so not great inequality."