Denmark Rd., Camberwell, Surrey to Rev. Wm. D. Fox? Instructions on how to catch vipers and extract their oil.

The collection is comprised of family records of the Darwin Fox family. Most of the collection consists of letters and observations, with a few photographs and newspaper clippings. The dates range between 1821 and 1935. There is a great variety of content and correspondents. The principal correspondents are William Darwin Fox (1805-1880) and his cousin Charles Robert Darwin (1809-1882). Others include the Rev. W.D. Fox, Henry Doubleday, William C. Hewitson and Richard Owen. Many of the letters are detailed accounts of supplies the various men have and need in their pursuit of “natural history”. Much of the discussions in the correspondence and the written observations concern insects, birds and eggs. In addition, there is correspondence relating to familial matters between family members.

Duke of Norfold, Farnham, to Samuel Fox, Osmaston Hall, Derby. The Duke of Norfolk accepts and thanks Mr. Fox for the honor extended to him, that is, of being President of the Derbyshire ? for the ensuing year - understanding that-his attendance may be dispensed with

Dr. Hasper, Leipzig to Dr. Kennedy, Glasgow. Dr. Hasper thanks Dr. Kennedy for the friendship that was shown to him during his short stay in Glasgow and introduces a friend, Dr. Kind, who will also be visiting England and Scotland.

August 29, 1827 Notes on Craniology. D.

Aug. 16, 1830 Nature notes [author unknown] Someone caught some birds while on a walk with Professor Henslowe.

Aug. 23, 1830 Discusses the Cinerions (?) Falcon and the Hen Harrier (?); also another bird. Gives hints on how to capture wasps, was with Baker (?).

Aug. 24, 1830 Talking about insects.

Aug. 25, 1830 The pieman brought samples too.

June 28, 1831 Observations of caterpillars.

July 23, 1831 Listing of species.

July 25, 26, 1831 Listing of species. Found a lizard and visually compared it with a written description by Fleming.

Aug. 15, 1831 Gathering samples.

Aug. 16, 1831 Gathering samples and also saw an unfamiliar animal, perhaps a mole.

Aug. 23, 1831 Recording of sightings.

Aug. 29, 1831 Sighting as of the 23 April.

Sept.12, 1831 Description of insect laying eggs.

William C. Hewitson, 32 Collingwood St., [Newcastle?] to
William D. Fox, Osmaston near Derby. Hewitson is having a book published, it has been delayed and hopefully will be available March 1. One must be very strict
in believing identifications of birds.

Spurzheim, Johann Kaspar, 1776-1852, Derby to Dr. Kennedy, Ashby de-la-Zouch. Spurzheim has examined the head of an eagle. He is not able to inspect the head of a woodcock and thus cannot say “how the spot, share inhabitionery lies”

William C. Hewitson, Newcastle on Tyne to Rev. W.D. Fox,
Osmaston Hall near Derby. Friendship, “a sort of Freemasonry” among naturalists. Hewitson greatly enjoys his work. Lengthy discussion of his desiderata and comments on a variety of birds, eggs and insects. Also discusses procedure for exchanging boxes of
specimens.

Willaim C. Hewitson, Newcastle to Rev. W.D. Fox, Epperstone, Nottingham [c/o Strutt] . Hewitson apologizes for not sending Fox samples, especially in view of Fox's generosity in this regard. He promises to send something soon.

Epperstone near Nottingham, to Hewitson, (William Chapman, 1806-1878). Sharing insects, also a bird's nest and some other “desiderata”. A listing of what, where found and when. L

William C. Hewitson to Rev. W.D. Fox, Epperstone, Nottingham.
Hewitson is sorry that the package of specimens which he had sent to Rev. Fox did not arrive safely. He discusses his eggs and thoughts on types of birds. Discusses various places and their type of bird and insect populations.

Henry Doubleday, 1808-1875, to [Rev. Wm. Darwin Fox?]. Sending a description of the eggs along with them.

William C. Hewitson, Newcastle to Rev. W. Darwin Fox, Hamphall Stubbs, Yorks. Hewitson had tried to call upon Fox, who was not home, and had thereby seen large numbers of birds. Hewitson cannot remember what specimens he promised to send to Fox. He hopes that he can visit Norway, around Trondheim, next spring. Tells Fox what he has been finding for his collection. Hewitson has spent very little time lately on his insect observation and collection. He is a member of a newly formed Field Naturalist Club.

Emma Darwin [née Wedgwood], Derby, to Revd. W.D. Fox, Harrowgate. This letter is filled with social pleasantries and chitchat. Many names are mentioned.

Duke of Devonshire, London.
Accepts position as Patron of the Society for the Encouragement of Horticultural Pursuits and offers the services of his gardener.

William C. Hewitson, Newcastle to Rev. W.D. Fox, Osmaston Hall, Derby. Fox had previously written asking for Hewitson to identify some bird's eggs. Hewitson is also sending some specimens along to Fox and his wife.

John D. Salmon, Thetford to W.D. Fox, Esquire, Osmaston Hall, near Derby. Various men involved in nomenclature and identification and the interest of the Magazine of Natural History in this information. The author is sorry he was not able to accompany Hewitson to Norway.

List of eggs. H. Doubleday

Henry Doubleday, Epping to Rev. W.D. Fox, Osmaston . Fox has written asking Doubleday's assistance in Ornithology and/or Entomology. During last six or seven years Doubleday has assembled quite a collection of British Birds. Fox is welcome to any duplicates. Doubleday's similarly interested friends, Hewitson, Salmon, Gould, Wm. Yarrell. Doubleday includes a listing of his specimens.

William Hewitson, Newcastle to Rev. W. D. Fox, Osmaston Hall, Derby. Hewitson is writing for some bits of information that he needs to finish another section of his book and ready it for printing. Discusses some of his problems with the production. Hewitson is considering accepting the position of secretary to the Royal Institution in Manchester. Ends with a bit of political discussion.

John D. Salmon, Thetford to the Revd. W.D. Fox, Capel Carig, Bangor, North Wales. More sharing and discussion of collections Hewitson and W. Hoy mentioned. The author still retains the egg collection of the Norfolk and Norwich Museum and he hopes to add a few items.

W.C. Hewitson, Oatlands, to Rev. Fox. General discussion of Hewitson's poor health and his acquisition of 100 new butterflies for his collection.

Samuel Fox, No.11 Melville St., Edinburgh to Rev. William Darwin Fox. Discusses William's acute rheumatism; Fox is disappointed that Dr. Darwin was of little help (though admits that he is clever) and comments on the expense of medical treatment.

Basil Geo. Woodd, New Bond St., to (W. Darwin) Fox at Ryde, Isle of Wight. This is a note concerning an overpayment of money. Shipping wine requested by Fox.

Henry Doubleday, Epping? to Rev. Wm. Darwin Fox, York House, Ryde, Isle of Wight. Discusses sharing of specimens and Doubleday's observances of multitudes of birds and their nesting. Other names involved in similar observations - Temminck, Gould, Jenyns, J. Marshall?, Wm. Yarrell, J.S. Hay of Stoke. Close observation to differentiate species. Discusses specimen gathering and sharing in Natural History.

Dawson Turner, Yarmouth, to Elizabeth. Note of what is being sent.

William C. Hewitson, Bristol to Rev. W.D. Fox, Wood's Esq., Hampstead. There seems to have been a long silence between these two.
Hewitson discusses the numbers of his book which he is working on. Other men are involved in the identification of birds, etc. and they sometimes disagree with these collector's opinions. Hewitson has the job with the Royal Institution but he is disappointed with it and hopes to leave.

E. Bickersteth, Walton Rectory,Herts, to Rev. Prebendary Townsend, Vicarage, North Allerton. Concern over the salvation of the multitude from the evil days at hand. Discussion of publishing a religious book. Townsend is about to write a preface to Fox's Book of Martyrs.

J. Howard Galton? to Revd. Wm. Darwin Fox, Delamere Rectory, Chester. The author of the letter discusses his breeding of dogs.

W. Hoy, Stoke, (Nayland?), to Wm. D. Fox. More sharing of specimens, with a list of eggs

W. Hoy, Stoke, (Nayland?) to Wm. Darwin Fox (?) Short note on receipt of letter. [Second page has been used to list eggs by someone else (?) Fox]

C. Wheatstone, 20 Conduit Street, to Mrs. Davenport. Declines an invitation; he is off to Paris.

Rd. Owen to ? Helpful criticisms of book being published, the “Prospectus”.

Edward Forbes, 6 Gray's Court, Ch. N. Woodd, Esq. Setting up of dinner date.

The Phrenological and Mesmeric Chart, J.S. Butterworth,
Hulme, Manchester. Lecturer on Mesmerism and Teacher of Practical Phrenology. Attached analysis of character of Fanny Fox dated June (?), 1856. (?Phrenological examination) A. D.

Lyon Playfair, Baron, 1818-1898, to Miss Fox. The writer has to decline any engagements at the present time - he is too busy with the French exhibition.

Lichfield to Rev. William Darwin Fox. Thanks Fox for sending elder plants and would like to revisit Delamere Rectory to see his blue elder.

Ch. Darwin, Down to W. Darwin Fox, Old Parsonage, High Harrowgate. He is sorry Fox is unwell; Darwin has been working very hard lately and at the moment is most interested in domestic rabbits and ducks. Because of the doubt about origins, he is more interested in pigeons and ducks than poultry. Sir C. Lyell has urged Darwin to write a Preliminary Essay and he has begun but is full of doubt about the work; asks if he may quote Fox about never having seen or heard of a blueish-grey cat that was not deaf

N. Cardinal Wiseman, Leydon N.E. (?) to Rev. W. Darwin Fox, Delamere Rectory, Northwich. Wiseman has just finished a course of Vichy waters for his health and is feeling better; he hopes to completely regain his strength. Newspaper accounts of his illness were exaggerated.

C. Darwin, Down, to Wm. Darwin Fox. Thanks Fox for his second letter; there has been some illness in the house but the crisis is over and he hopes no one else will become ill. They are to go to Elizabeth Wedgwood's and then to the sea but does not know just where because the house they take must be very near the sea for Etty's sake.

Charles. Babbage to Mrs. Frances J. Hughes, 4 Kensington Park Gardens. Babbage tries to clear up confusion regarding the “Diff Engine”, a computing machine.

Richard Owen, Manchester, to Mr. Price. Owen is leaving Manchester; the situation has not been good.

Revd. W. Darwin Fox. “Delemare” Rectory, Cheshire. 1862, aged 57. Also 2 envelopes and illustration of Darwin arms.

Charles Darwin, to Rev. W.D. Fox, Delamere Rectory, Northwich, Cheshire

Benjamin Disraeli, Downing Street, to Basil T. Woodd, Eq.,
M.P., Conyngham Hall, Knaresborough. The meeting of Parliament will be considering business of the highest importance and Disraeli earnestly requests the presence of Woodd at that time.

Jno. O. Westwood, Walton Manor Change of appointment time.

July 22, 1871 Caricatures on Darwin from “Fun”. D.

“Notes of a Mesmeric Performance” entry dated Thursday, March 14, 1872