W.C. Hewitson(?) to W.D. Fox(?) List of insects sent. List of eggs sent and returned. D.

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

Sketch. W.D. Fox drawn by Ellen S. Fox.

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

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

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

Llewelyn Powell and David Thomas Powell, Cedar Lawn, Hampstead Heath, to Alex Pearce, Broadlands, Sandlands, Isle of Wight. The mother of the two boys has sent Alex (the uncle) a clock and now the boys want to send him a bronze for the top of it. They wish their Uncle much love on his wedding.

Rev. W.D. Fox List of eggs for Doubleday; List: “I want which he has”. D.

n.d. Remedy for blistered feet. Illness called “diable au corps and inner achism” devil possessed. “Never to shrink while life retains a spark”. “Narrative of a Pedestrian Journey through Russia and Siberian Tartary.” D.,

Photograph of Darwin.
Photograph of Darwin by Barraud.
Photograph of Darwin by Elliott and Fry.
Photograph of unidentified man.

Photograph - probably of W.D. Fox.

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.

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.

Observations of various birds. D.

Newspaper cutting from the Times on “The Life of Darwin” taken from "Life and Letters of Charles Darwin, with an Autobiographical Chapter", by his son, Francis Darwin, F.R.S. Three Vols. London, Murray, 1887. D.

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

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

Nov. 16, 1872 Caricatures of Darwin from “Fun”. D.

n.d. Notes on medical treatment. D.

n.d. William C. Hewitson Discusses sharing of boxes and letters and the preparations of the specimens for the book. The author is most grateful for the kindness which his correspondents have shown. Discusses insects, eggs, and birds. The comment is made that “where species resemble each other so closely positive evidence must only be at all relied on”.

n.d. W.H. (Probably W. Hoy). “Skins in fine preservation and some birds”.

n.d. Notes of the Medusa. D.

n.d. Godfrey Howitt to Rev. W.D. Fox. Howitt apologizes for not being at home
when Fox called. Thanks Fox for the specimens.

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.

Miscellaneous notes on various subjects, author unknown. 10 sheets.

C. Darwin, c/o H. Wedgwood, Hopedene, Dorking to W. Darwin Fox, Woodlands, Hampstead, London N.W. Darwin shall be here for 42 days in order for him to have a rest. He answers Fox's enquiry about ?, who is very unwell and may never return to Leith Hill. Darwin's son William of Southhampton has had an accident but is recovering slowly; he hopes Mrs. Hughes will go on well.

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

A. Sedgwick, Trinity College, Cambridge. He will be able to meet a commitment for the 22nd at two o'clock. The fine weather has improved his health.

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

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.

Charles Darwin, Down, Beckenham, Kent to Charles W. Fox, Broadlands, Sandown, Isle of Wight. Fox’s father is very ill and Darwin sends his sympathy and recalls how he and the father had been very close at Cambridge and how much he thought of him.

March 24, 18?? Rd . 0wen to ? The need to be well-documented. Recommends reading “Steenstrup on Alternate Generation”.

Erasmus Darwin, 6 Queen Anne St. to Mrs. Hughes. Darwin is unable to help but has sent his nephew George on the Athenaeum and hopes that he may be of some help.

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.

Charles Darwin, Abinger Hall, Dorking to Ch. W. Fox, Broadlands, Sandown, Isle of Wight. He sends his condolences on the death of Charles Fox's father.

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

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.

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”

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.

List of eggs sent and list promised. D.

List of eggs. H. Doubleday

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.

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.

Richard Owen to an unknown woman. Information regarding appointment in the British Museum, in response to her enquiry.

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

Richard Owen to C.W. Fox? Owen will be seeing someone shortly and sends this note to thank the receiver's father for kindness in remembering his work.

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.

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

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