Summary

Sismondi’s appreciation of CD’s Journal of researches.

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Reference to W. Smellie’s Natural history [1791] requested by CD.

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Questions GNS on remains found in caves on Caldy Island. [CD’s pencilled queries sent via Frances Allen].

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Forwards list of questions from CD relating to GNS’s paper on Caldy [see 576].

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Sends his paper on earthquakes [(1840), Collected papers 1: 53–86]. Now sets less value on theoretical reasoning in geology than when he wrote it.

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Feels he cannot keep the gift of Gould’s "magnificent work" or take out a subscription now that he is a married man.

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Would like further experimentation to confirm report about germination of wheat from Egyptian tombs. Sir G. Wilkinson may have been deceived by the Arabs.

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Recommends that Consul Chatfield’s communication on an earthquake in San Salvador [read 5 Feb 1840; Proc. Geol. Soc. Lond. 3 (1840): 179] not be published in Transactions.

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Sorry that ill health prevented sooner reply. Letter about caves at Caldy was already read by Buckland. Will examine birds’ beaks when better and present to Geological Society of London in Smith’s name.

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Thanks GRG for his gift [A list of the genera of birds (1840)] and trusts that now GRG will be able to finish John Gould’s MS for Zoology.

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Reports on abortive anthers in flowers of thyme sent by CD.

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The second number of part four of the Zoology has now been published. The account of Smith, Elder & Co. is presented.

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Remarks that each of two species of Fagus separated by 1000 miles has a fungus that grows on it; the fungus species are probably closely allied.

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Acknowledges election as Honorary Member of Shropshire and North Wales Natural History and Antiquarian Society.

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Illness has long delayed CD’s thanks for WCR’s meteorological pamphlets and geological reports. Mentions a reference to whirlwinds leaving rotary patterns in desert sand.

Summary

He encloses an unidentified paper received from R. I. Murchison the previous day.

Is unable to provide information about Dr Du Gard.

Appreciates the maps of Glen Roy sent by WB. Would welcome the opinions of WB and Louis Agassiz concerning the parallel roads but cannot give up the idea of their marine origin.