Summary

Thanks for Edward Forbes’s letter. Botanical evidence conflicts with parts of his theory but supports others. Is becoming more of a migrationist.

Bentham agrees with JDH on polymorphism.

Summary

Answers CD’s objections with botanical and geological arguments supporting the existence of an ancient post-Miocene land extending over what is now the Mediterranean and past the Azores in the Atlantic [EF’s "Atlantis" theory in "On the connexion between the distribution of the existing fauna and flora of the British Isles and the geological changes which have affected their area", Mem. Geol. Surv. G. B. 1 (1846): 336–432].

Summary

Goes on the assumption that each species has one origin, is immutable, and migrates.

Disagrees with Gaudichaud[-Beaupré] that volcanic island species are polymorphous.

Some mundane genera vary, others do not (Senecio vs Gnaphalium).

John Lindley’s doctrine of longevity of trees is amazing.

Edward Forbes’s health is better.

Summary

JDH recognises the existence of "altered states" of continental species in island floras. The botanists’ difficulty in determining a new species is no grounds for dismissing the important question of altered forms.

Will look for Ascension plants for Ehrenberg.

French Galapagos collections confirm JDH’s view that plants arrived from north.

Cannot agree with Forbes on North Atlantic flora.

Botanical definition of "highness" and "lowness" usually means complexity and simplicity.

Some plants, such as aquatic ones, are cleistogamous. Cannot see why they should not be.

Summary

Disappointed with Webb and Berthelot.

Delighted to hear of more species from the Galapagos, surprised to hear W. Indian character of flora.

Summary

Regrets he cannot visit JDH.

Has been talking with Lyell about coal, which he finds utterly perplexing.

Is delighted with the generalisations in latest numbers of Flora Antarctica.

Summary

Cannot come to Down to meet B. J. Sulivan as W. H. Harvey is calling.

Plant distribution and soil nature.

Forbes’s modification of Watson’s types of vegetation.

JDH will write comparison of representative plant species of the N. and S. Hemispheres.

Summary

Has done Edmondston’s Galapagos plants.

Dispute between Edward Forbes and H. C. Watson.

Summary

J. D. Hooker has described Capt. King’s Tierra del Fuego plants and CD’s Galapagos plants [in Flora Antarctica, pt 2 (1847)] which have extraordinary interest and novelty.

A malicious person has sent George Grey, Governor of New Zealand, a letter CD had written to J. L. Stokes, containing a derogatory statement likening Grey’s expedition to "a set of school boys".

Summary

Sends specimens of grasses from Ascension Island for CD to forward to Christian Gottfried Ehrenberg.

Includes list of indigenous flowering plants of Ascension Island.

Summary

Interested in sterility of alpine plants in lowland and sterility of some plants in cultivation.

Curious to see Galapagos paper.

Summary

Has nearly finished South America.

Pleased to hear JDH has worked out identical and representative species of N. Temperate and Antarctic regions.

Geoffroy Saint Hilaire’s "loi du balancement" as applied to plants.

CD jaded by, but has nearly completed, South America.

Summary

Comments on forthcoming edition [7th (1847)] of CL’s Principles. Mentions other books relevant to CL’s needs by Hooker, H. G. Bronn, Edward Forbes, and J. G. Kölreuter. Discusses his own books on volcanoes and the geology of S. America.

Mentions expected visit to Down by the Lyells.

Summary

Hopes to start looking over his species notes in about a year.

Very much enjoyed Southampton [meeting of BAAS, 9–12 Sept].

Summary

Has read JDH’s paper ["Plants of the Galapagos Archipelago", Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 20 (1851): 116–233] and thinks it the best essay on geographical distribution he has ever met with. Comments on the paper.

Summary

CD’s suggestions for improving a paragraph by JDH.

On distribution of certain species and their variation relative to a central, typical form.

Summary

Has completed descriptions of S. American fossil shells [for South America]. Proposes to name a Nautilus after A. D. d’Orbigny.

Summary

Agrees with JDH about Forbes’s views.

Discusses A. Saint-Hilaire’s lectures and asks on what grounds botanists judge the relative "highness" of plants.

Summary

Is pleased JDH will attend to polymorphism and also with the botanical relation, as stated by JDH, between Africa and Java.

Would welcome any information on impregnation in the bud.

Summary

Thanks for reading paper. Accepts CD’s criticisms; discussion of some points.