Summary

CD’s health has been poor.

Appreciates JBI’s letter and his expression of friendship.

In the opinion of a Q.C., Horsman has no case.

Summary

Family and local news, and memories of old times.

CD’s youngest son, Horace, is too delicate to go to school.

CD has had a bad summer, is still ill, can do very little work – "Botany … is all that I am good for".

Summary

JBI’s "barnacles" would have been extraordinary, but they are hard lichens.

Has revisited Cambridge.

Summary

Quiz has had to be killed because he became vicious.

Horace Darwin strangely ill.

Summary

Much concerned by death of JBI’s mother.

Summary

CD thanks JBI for contribution to Down school.

George [Darwin] has passed his examination at Cambridge;

Henrietta has been poorly.

Summary

News of Etty’s health and of neighbours.

Pleased that JBI likes Origin.

CD never expected to convert people in less than 20 years, though now convinced he is "in the main right". Bishop of Oxford’s review made "splendid fun" of him.

Summary

CD’s opinion of a specimen sent by JBI from an unknown tree, and the Ross-shire tale about it.

Summary

Quiz arrived safely.

CD’s three sons are in bed with bad colds.

Summary

On colour changes in rabbits. Suspects JBI’s is of impure origin.

Is correcting proof of Insectivorous plants.

Summary

Has heard of mules of canary and other finches breeding occasionally, but it is rare, and there is hardly one authenticated case of two such mules breeding together.

Sixteen of the household at Down are sick with influenza.

Summary

Surprised and pleased JBI liked his "big book" [Variation].

Luckily, naturalists do not seem to think he has committed suicide with the work.

CD wants to turn over the school accounts to John Robinson [curate of Down]. Writes of other parish news.

Will vote in person for Sir John Lubbock.

Summary

Family and local news.

Summary

Has received JBI’s two letters; agrees with him, but does not know what to do about [the alleged misconduct of] John Robinson. Reports in a long postscript on vain efforts to confirm rumours. Suggests JBI come to Down to see how affairs stand.

Summary

Hopes Miss [Sarah Elizabeth] Wedgwood will sell part of her land for a parsonage at Down. Recounts his futile efforts to obtain land in the past.

Encloses news item about the supposed hybrid [of cow and deer].

Summary

Writes about difficulties in which S. J. O. Horsman, curate at Down, has involved himself and others. Horsman has said he would resign. JBI offers to give up his interests in the living at Down.

Summary

Recommends a tutor for CD’s son.

Summary

Reports on a bird, offspring of a male mule between a canary and greenfinch, and a hen canary.

Family news.

Summary

Sends school subscription to CD as treasurer. Hopes Henrietta will assist in teaching there.

Summary

"Barnacles" [from rocks in Scottish mountains, identified as lichens],

burglar alarms,

and family news.