Summary

Has replied [in North Am. Rev. 115 (1872): 1–30] to Mivart’s communication to the North American Review [114 (1872): 451–68].

Discusses the degree of fixedness of different characters in organisms.

Summary

Arranges to visit CD at Down.

Summary

Discusses ideas on the development of language; agrees with CD that it is a process governed by unconscious selection; he considers it analogous to unconscious selection of domestic animals by savages. Remarks on the differing views of Max Müller and W. D. Whitney regarding the origin of language and its development. Comments on the extent to which unintentional effects can be ascribed directly to the agency of free intelligent wills.

Summary

Discusses the mental powers and habits of animals and considers that those of man are not separated from those of animals by any sort of fundamental barrier; the gulf seems formidable only from a self-conscious, human point of view. Man’s important distinction is his greater ability to act and respond independently of external stimuli, in consequence of his internal accumulation of personal experience.

Summary

Discusses Mivart’s reply ["Genesis of species", North Am. Rev. 114 (1872): 451–68] to CW’s review and to Huxley.

Asks whether CD knows anyone to whom he could usefully send a copy of his phyllotaxy paper [Mem. Am. Acad. Arts & Sci. n.s. 9 (1867–73): 379–415].

Summary

A review and criticism of Chauncey Wright’s paper on phyllotaxy [Mem. Am. Acad. Arts & Sci. n.s. 9 (1867–73): 379–415]. Does not believe that the "distributive" and "cyclical" properties, which CW claims characterise the existing spiral orders of leaf arrangement, can be shown to be advantageous to plants. CW’s speculations on the origins of the spiral arrangement of leaves are purely hypothetical.

Summary

Has received Expression and will forward it to his brother [Jean-Charles Houzeau de Lehaie].

Summary

Discusses revising his North American Review article [see 7829] for publication as a pamphlet in England.

Plans to publish a further article on phyllotaxy.

Summary

Agrees to close their correspondence. Defends his position against criticisms of Huxley and Chauncey Wright; assures CD of his continuing friendly feelings.

Summary

Suggests CD have Origin [6th ed.] stereotyped.

Will sell out remaining copies of Descent at forthcoming trade sale, print off 500 or 1000 more, and then have the type distributed.

14 copies of C. Wright’s pamphlet have been sold.

Summary

Is using CD’s correspondence with Chauncey Wright in his book on CW [Letters of Chauncey Wright (1878)].

Summary

Sends his reply to Huxley’s criticisms [Contemp. Rev. 19 (1872): 168–97].

Summary

Outlines his theory on the origin of existing orders of leaf arrangement. Believes spiral and whorled orders have evolved from a primitive distichous arrangement. These arrangements permit a compact bud form of small surface area that can withstand external changes in temperature, and in particular can tolerate frost.

Summary

Illustrates, with reference to different species of Gasteria, the role of twisting in the development of leaf arrangement.

Summary

V. O. Kovalevsky has paid for the Expression plates.

Still has 400 copies of Chauncey Wright’s pamphlet

and 450 of Müller’s Facts and arguments for Darwin.

Summary

Has no objection to CD’s alluding to FM’s idea that sexual selection has come into play in mimetic butterflies.

Reports observations on other butterflies and on termites.