Summary

Thanks for copy of Descent.

Summary

Asks for a ticket for THH’s lecture at the Royal Institution for WED. With ED’s and HED’s forgeries of CD’s signature.

Summary

Compares Origin to Newton’s Principia and Adam Smith’s Wealth of nations.

His view of CD’s response to Mivart.

On mammae;

gradualism of evolution;

suicide among savages.

Summary

Thanks WBC for offer to examine specimen and for offer of slices of shells, but has no achromatic microscope.

Summary

Informs CD that the "dishonest mollusks" were collected in May 1855 in Porto Santo. Describes some Madeira species. Though believing in "species" more and more, these may be "mere insular modifications".

Summary

Is obliged for the account of the structure of the Pampas specimen and its difference from specimens of the modern calcareous bed of Coquimbo in Chile. If he thinks that J. S. Bowerbank can make out the nature of the specimens, they should be shown to him.

Summary

Local affairs and finances.

Summary

Thinks his private notes failed to convey his ideas. JT wanted CD "to look at the product and express an opinion as to its value".

Summary

On the flourishing sales of their respective books. Mentions reviews of Descent in Pall Mall Gazette [21 Mar 1871] and in the Spectator [11 Mar 1871, pp. 288–9; 18 Mar 1871, pp. 319–20].

Summary

Gives the height of Shrewsbury above sea-level.

Summary

Answers CD’s queries arising from Flora Antarctica.

Would like CD to come to town and go over Galapagos plants with him.

Summary

Encloses extracts from the correspondence of [the Ven. Robert] Clive concerning Erasmus Darwin.

Summary

CD is pleased with the drawings for Fossil Cirripedia but wants a few corrections which he would like very soon.

Summary

Discussion of Mrs Agassiz’s letter [to Mary Lyell, forwarded to CD] regarding S. American glacial action,

with comments on Bunbury’s letter on temperate plants.

Refers to opinions of Agassiz, David Forbes, Hooker, and CD on glacial period and glaciers.

Wishes he had published a long chapter on glacial period [Natural selection, pp. 535–66] written ten years ago.

Tells of death of his sister, Catherine, and other family matters.

Summary

CD grieves over death of Frank’s wife Amy; worries that it will weaken Frank’s determination to pursue his scientific work.

Summary

Argues the antiquity of the human species because natural selection acts differently with respect to men. Changes in man are largely confined to head and brain. Warfare and sex are very uncertain as means of selection.

Gives CD complete credit for theory of natural selection.

Is beginning his narrative of his travels.

Lyell argues against tracing man as far back as Miocene times. R. I. Murchison’s argument that Africa is the oldest existing land implies that Africa is the place to look for early man.

Summary

Letter of introduction to CD for CLB’s friend Robert S. Rowley.

Summary

Praises Orchids.

He has finished his work on Quercus.

H. Lecoq has worked on hybridism,

and P. Duchartre on orchid polymorphism.

Summary

Thanks for Agassiz’s Lectures. Lyell does not believe a word about glacial action of any kind in lowlands of Brazil. Agassiz’s view of glacial movement has been given up by physicists.

Summary

Hopes Richard Owen will have time to do CD’s shells in spirits.

Doubts WJB’s suggestion that moles may play a part in formation of mould.