Summary

Asks anyone who possesses a treatise on gardening, or an almanac, one or two centuries old, to look up what date is given as the proper period for sowing scarlet runners or dwarf French beans. CD wants to ascertain whether these plants can now be sown earlier than was formerly the case.

Summary

Huxley has answered Kölliker in Natural History Review [(1864): 566–80].

CD is correcting two of Scott’s papers; is convinced primrose and cowslip are two good species.

Summary

Can understand EH’s feelings on death of his wife.

CD was impressed by manner in which species in South America are replaced by closely allied ones, by affinity of species inhabiting islands near S. America, and by relation of living Edentata and Rodentia to extinct species. When he read Malthus On population, the idea of natural selection flashed on him.

Agrees with EH’s remarks on Kölliker ["Darwin’sche Schöpfungstheorie", Z. Wiss. Zool. 14 (1864): 174–86].

Asks EH to thank Carl Gegenbaur [for Vergleichende Anatomie der Wirbelthiere (1864)].

Summary

Has heard that the yeast in CB’s brewery has failed. Asks for confirmation and answers to some questions.

Summary

Thanks for letter and memoirs.

Suggests a "rather hopeless experiment" of introducing poisons into tissues of plants on the chance that monstrous growths may be produced.

Summary

To Lyell’s chagrin, CD has come round again to A. C. Ramsay’s glacial theory.

On primrose and cowslip, CD maintains they are good species, notwithstanding Scott’s work.

CD defines species by power of remaining constant for a good long time and showing appreciable amount of difference from close species.

Summary

Sends question [missing] for an ornithologist.

Is plodding on at Variation.

Has added to Climbing plants.

Summary

Wishes AM success in undertaking his work on geographical distribution [The geographical distribution of mammals (1866)]. CD has no suggestions to make as he has not recently attended to the subject.

He is still weak after his long illness and supposes he will ever remain so.

Summary

Asks JDH to verify an observation on Dicentra – what CD thought was a branch in the young plant now looks like a gigantic leaf in the old.

Concurs on Spencer’s clever emptiness.

Ramsay exaggerates role of ice. Sorry to hear that Tyndall grows dogmatic.

Admits difficulty of making case for Wallace’s Royal Medal at this time.

Will soon finish the first draft of Variation.

Summary

"Read a letter from Mr Darwin suggesting the Translation of Gaertner’s work [Bastarderzeugung im Pflanzenreich (1849)]."

Summary

[Copley] Medal very great honour. Cordial thanks.

Chuckled over [Gaspard-Auguste] Brullé and pupils.

Splendid converts in Rudolf Leuckart and Carl Gegenbaur.

Summary

Thanks ES in connection with award [of Copley Medal].

Summary

Appreciates THH’s note more than Medal.

Encourages THH to write a popular treatise on zoology.

Sends Mrs Huxley a quotation from Tennyson, with sarcastic comment.

Summary

Thanks for congratulations on award of Copley Medal by the Royal Society.

Discusses his long period of ill health.

Summary

Gratified to receive Copley Medal. Cannot attend anniversary [of Royal Society]. Would HF receive medal for him?

Summary

About buying shares.

Summary

Sends Living Cirripedia [vol. 2].

Has employed translator for Fritz Müller’s book [Für Darwin (1864)].

Thanks for paper and speech.

Summary

CD sends [to the Linnean Society] a paper "On one of the most curious orchids in the world" [read J. Linn. Soc. Lond. (Bot.) 9 (1865): 156–62]. [See 4680].

Summary

Has forwarded RT’s paper on Bonatea to the Linnean Society [J. Linn. Soc. Lond. (Bot.) 9 (1865): 156–60].

The Oxalis sent by RT flowered but CD has made out only two forms; he thinks there ought to be three, so would welcome more seed.

Summary

CD’s Lythrum paper has given him as much satisfaction as working out complemental males in cirripedes.

Response to award of Copley Medal.

Letters from Germany and France support natural selection.

Now that climbing plants are done, CD asks for Drosera.