alternatehistory.com

29 November

An article by Charles Darwin is published by the Royal Society. The title is "An Examination of the Problem of Heredity and the Flaws of the Blending Inheritance, and Implications for Natural Selection".
In the article, Darwin summarizes both the current state of science on inheritance and why it cannot be true - using examples from his own life as an example - and laments the lack of any alternative interpretation. He also explores why this is important for evolution (specifically that even any beneficial change will blend into the population with barely a ripple).
The article is translated into several languages, including French and German, as Darwin's summation is considered a good look at the modern understanding on inheritance.


2 December

Ortega accepts the position of imperial advisor to Emperor Maximilien. At his own insistence, the position carries no salary beyond a stipend to keep him in moderate comfort in a small hacienda - still guilty over his actions, he wants the burdens without the Imperial rewards.

The first topic he has to discuss with his new superior is the proposed electoral system. Maximilien feels strongly that the system that previously prevailed in Mexico is not workable as it has sparked off two wars inside a decade, and wants alternatives - for his part, Ortega is no election expert, but he has seen the Republic's old system working from the inside.

Among the ideas discussed are some where each of the states elects a number of delegates proportional to the population, and where each delegate is selected based on one of a variety of arcane formulae that make both men's heads hurt. (The aim is to ensure that divergent viewpoints are respected without allowing disproportionate influence to a fringe view.)


3 December

Saxon and Hanoverian troops undergo mobilization, in preparation for enforcing the resolution of the German Confederation with regards to Holstein.
Frederick III raises a possibility for a new resolution to the German Confederation, one which would allow for the invasion of the Danish Union and to bring their armies to battle with the aim of enforcing a peace in which Holstein is separated from the Danish Union as a component duchy of the German Confederation and Schleswig remains Danish.
The King of Prussia has more than one aim here - first, he is playing politics in that he is signalling a limited intention to war to the Danish, in the hope of earning an easier peace; second, he is making clear that any Prussian annexation of Holstein would be a matter for peacetime, not war; thirdly, he is attempting to show the world that this is not an expansionist move on the part of the Germans and thus mitigate any possible intervention.

5 December

The Mayor of Chicago asks if there is still a chance his city is being considered as the new capital of the United States.

The article Eine Untersuchung des Problems der Vererbung und der Fehler der Blending Vererbung, und Implikationen für die natürliche Auswahl arrives in Brno.