Summary

Discusses law versus engineering and business as a career.

Supposes ARW will have "squashed" GHD’s criticisms of his notes on sterility.

Summary

Sends news of his and Frank’s doings at Cambridge.

Summary

Asks GHD to look in William Thomson’s book [W. Thomson and P. G. Tait, Treatise on natural philosophy, vol. 1 (1867)] to see how many million years ago Thomson says earth’s crust solidified. CD is troubled by "brevity of the world", because pre-Silurian creatures must have lived during endless ages "else my views wd be wrong, which is impossible – Q.E.D.".

Summary

CD relays the advice of Sir W. R. Grove on the dismal prospects of a law career.

Summary

Congratulations on GHD’s brilliant tripos success.

Summary

Gratified by CD’s approval of his articles, which the public has not much liked.

Clarifies the obscure sentence CD criticised – forms having a different genesis can be similar.

Calls CD’s attention to Kovalevsky’s memoir on Amphioxus [Mem. Acad. Imp. Sci. St.-Pétersbourg 7th ser. 11 (1868) no.4]. K’s views are all in favour of CD’s and against GHL’s.

Summary

Is engaged on an article for Fortnightly Review on Variation ["Mr Darwin’s hypotheses", n.s. 9: 353–73, 611–28; n.s. 10: 61–80, 492–509]. Asks CD some questions.

While he agrees with natural selection, he believes many "organic details" develop irrespective of advantage.

Summary

He and another Bencher of Lincoln’s Inn have signed the necessary certificates for admission of CD’s son [George].

Summary

In consideration of CD’s health, withdraws his request for notes on GHL’s articles.

While in Freiburg, heard that August Weismann’s inaugural address on CD’s views [Über die Berechtigung der Darwin’schen Theorie (1868)] created a sensation.

Summary

Asks CD to propose him for Linnean Society.

Would like to have Lyell put his objections to GHL’s papers [Fortn. Rev. 9 (1868): 353–73, 611–28; 10 (1868): 61–80, 492–509] in the form of notes, so he can have them before him when he recasts his papers into a book.

Summary

Disappointed that he missed CD. Hopes still to see him in the flesh.

Has CD seen August Weismann’s inaugural address [see 6297]?

Summary

Thanks GHL for his support of Pangenesis.

Summary

Replies to CD’s letter [missing]. He does intend to treat of Pangenesis "as the most remarkable hypothesis yet put forth".

His articles in Fortnightly Review have grown in number so that he plans to make a book of them. Asks CD to send him notes of his objections.

Summary

Encloses Queries about expression.

Summary

Arranges to call on GHL.

Summary

Thanks GHKT and S. O. Glenie for information about fowls.

Summary

Asks GHKT about eyes of screaming elephants.

Summary

Asks whether mane in male of Macacus silenus protects it from bites or is merely ornamental.

Summary

Discusses experiments in breeding fowls.

Comments on letter from S. O. Glenie [see 6440] concerning the eyes of trumpeting elephants.

Summary

On local black-boned fowls,

CD’s new book [Variation], and Pangenesis.