Abstract
WE understand that the trustees of Charles Darwin are considering disposing of original MSS. of Darwin's which are in their care. These include the manuscript journal kept by Darwin during the voyage of the Beagle (1831-36) on which was based his “Journal of Researches into the Natural History and Geology of the various countries visited by H.M.S. Beagle...”, Darwin's autobiography in his own handwriting with alterations made or suggested by Mrs. Darwin, the omanuscript of “The Effects of Cross- and Self-Fertilization in the Vegetable Kingdom”, the 1844 sketch of “The Origin of Species”, and' a large number of letters and miscellaneous material most of which has been published. Although this material may contain little of strictly scientific value, it has an obvious interest to the historian of science as revealing the workings of Darwin's mind at different periods of his life, and it would be unfortunate if the material should be dispersed. Such documents should be preserved in a library where access to them can be had by students, and it is to be hoped that some benefactor of science, aided perhaps by the Friends of the National Libraries, or some similar body, may be able to secure them for that purpose.
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Manuscripts of Charles Darwin. Nature 149, 465 (1942). https://doi.org/10.1038/149465a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/149465a0