My dear Sir

How very kind you are to write me at such length!—¹ The Linn: Soc^y . will pay M^r. Fitch. His bill amounts only to 10/.—² It is curious about the Primrose ovules. I have repeated the obs. with same result & got the boy downstairs who knows nothing which I thought largest to compare bud of one with open flower of other & he wholly confirms me.³ However it must be variable & I ought to delete its mention or modify it in the M.S.S. which I send you by this post?⁴ that the No. of seeds matured may vary relatively in individual capsules tho’ as you shew more in the short-styled on the whole.— So with the ovules?

The whole paper however you may think so stupid & obscure & devoid of interest that I may have to burn it.— It is what I have hastily sketched out for N.H.R. You understand these things so infinitely better than I that you perhaps think me very foolish. You see it is anonymous!— Pray tell me if you think it worth putting in;—that is if you can find time to look at it. If you do not burn it w^d. you kindly post it again to me.— The Atlantis Paper did not satisfy me.⁵ But with regard to greater prominence to early migration during warm period I merely must have taken it for granted that no body could have thought of any thing else.—unless it be plurality-of-centres-of-creation people.⁶

To write popularly I must learn how.— I am so stupid with a pen, that I believe one ought to sit down & attempt not to “write a paper”—but to “talk one”

The Corydalis with hole bit in at top we thought might be C. Marschalliana, but it was a doubtful plant rather. I shall write about the Primula farinosa.⁷

The Campanula I mention in the M.S.S.— as Brongiart had previously described similar structure I shall not write about it to Linn. Soc.⁸ The closed membrane was new to me over the sexual organs where I found it & extremely interesting. You see I have stopped at 2 kinds of dimorphism   doubtless this may be my ignorance. The thing is difficult to put in words—defining the kinds.—⁹ Now I must beg you excuse all this trouble.

I am not clear that I wholly apprehend your observatⁿ. about water plants just yet.—¹⁰ I must read again.

Very sincerely Yours | Da^l. Oliver