Summary

Returns copy [of J. Hortic. Soc. Lond.]. Mentions article by William Herbert ["Local habitation and wants of plants", J. Hortic. Soc. Lond. 1 (1846): 44–9].

Summary

Tells RH that he has secured an introduction to Lady Elizabeth Finch through a friend of his father’s. Thanks RH for his efforts.

Summary

Will speak to Richard Owen, Henry De la Beche, and Robert Hutton concerning appointment for EC.

Leaving for sea-side on Saturday.

Summary

Is pleased JDH will attend to polymorphism and also with the botanical relation, as stated by JDH, between Africa and Java.

Would welcome any information on impregnation in the bud.

Summary

Encloses note from William Buckland [1190], stating that no appointment of surveyor is to be made. Thinks further recommendation would be unwise, but will write to Sir Henry De la Beche and [Robert?] Hutton if EC wishes.

Summary

Reports catching a landrail on board ship.

Encloses drawings of insects caught at sea.

Summary

CD defends his position on submarine coal formation and coal-plants against JDH’s strong objections.

Summary

Thanks for paper on Linum [Collected papers 2: 93–105].

One of his gardeners [John Scott] is also studying such fertilisation and appreciates CD’s encouragement; Scott has paper to read for Edinburgh Botanical Society.

Summary

TH believes that the progeny of hybrid crosses, in which a domesticated or "artificial" race is involved, tend to resemble the more "natural" of their parents [see Natural selection, p. 486].

Provides some information on local hybrid domestic geese [see Natural selection, p. 439] and pigeons.

Summary

Inquires which nurserymen near Edinburgh cultivate coloured primroses and cowslips. Wants to repeat John Scott’s remarkable experiments.

Summary

Thanks for Primula paper [Collected papers 2: 45–63]; will examine some [Edinburgh] Botanic Garden samples in its light.

Huxley visiting Edinburgh and spoke on man’s zoological relations with monkeys [see Man’s place in nature (1863)]. JHB disagrees with his views.

Summary

Thanks Balfour for Corydalis seed

and sends a photo of himself.

Summary

Regrets he has no notes on periods when albatrosses were abundant off Cape Horn.

Summary

Does not know an Edinburgh nurseryman who can supply the cowslips and primroses CD wants; will try to get them from the Botanic Garden.

Hears from Hooker that CD is also examining Lythrum.

Summary

Comments on FWH’s article ["Some remarks on Mr Darwin’s theory", Geologist (1861): 132–6, 183–8]. Does not adduce direct evidence of species change but believes it because so many phenomena thus explained.

Summary

Thanks JHB for specimen of Corallorrhiza;

would like some seeds of Corydalis claviculata.

Summary

Comments on various figures [in Duchenne’s Mécanisme].

Summary

Sorry to hear about condition of JDH’s grandfather.

Sends proofs of Galapagos chapter of Journal of researches.

Grieves to hear labels are displaced on his plants.

May he annotate [F. Gérard’s] L’espèce [(1844), extracted from Dictionnaire universel d’histoire naturelle, ed. C. D. d’Orbigny (1839–49)]?