II - Chronology

Summary

This appendix contains a transcription of Darwin's ‘Journal’ for the year 1876. Darwin commenced his ‘Journal’ in August 1838 and continued to maintain it until December 1881. In this small notebook, measuring 3 inches by 4 1 2 inches, Darwin recorded the periods he was away from home, the progress and publication of his work, and important events in his family life.

The version published by Sir Gavin de Beer as ‘Darwin's Journal’ (de Beer ed. 1959) was edited before the original ‘Journal’ had been found and relied upon a transcription made by an unknown copyist. The original, now in the Darwin Archive in Cambridge University Library (DAR 158), reveals that the copyist did not clearly distinguish between the various types of entries it contains and that the transcription made was incomplete.

From 1845 onward, Darwin recorded all that pertained to his work (including his illnesses, since these accounted for time lost from work) on the left-hand pages of the ‘Journal’, while the periods he was away from home, and family events, were noted on the right-hand pages. In order to show clearly Darwin's deliberate separation of the types of entries he made in his ‘Journal’, the transcription has the left- and right-hand pages labelled.

All alterations, interlineations, additions, and the use of a different ink or pencil have been noted. In addition, the editors have inserted additional information relevant to Darwin's correspondence throughout this transcription of the ‘Journal’ for 1876. These interpolations are enclosed in square brackets to distinguish them from Darwin's own entries, the source of the information being given in the footnotes.