Summary

Suggests CD use the common origin of the French "chef" and the English "head" or "évêque" and "bishop" to illustrate the parallels between extinction and transitional forms in language and palaeontology [see Natural selection, p. 384].

Summary

Answers CD’s letter [7560], on points of agreement between them, the chief one being the sympathy which man has with his fellows. Disagrees however with CD’s "principle" of the painful feelings of dissatisfied instinct.

Summary

Expression: derivation of the term "brown study".

Summary

A fragment that may contain information for Expression.

Summary

Agrees that social instinct or love for fellows is the beginning of moral feeling. Responds to CD’s letter [7537].

Summary

On origin of hand-shaking.

Summary

Seeks to clarify his and HW’s views on the causes of repentance or shame.

Summary

Describes CD’s visit to Maer on his return from Beagle voyage.

Summary

Has returned CD’s Beagle journal MS. Thinks it would be an interesting account even if they did not know CD, and that it will be successful if published; the less it is mixed up with FitzRoy’s journal, the better.

Summary

Copy of and note on a picture of Noah’s daughter averting her eyes in shame.

Summary

On the expression of disagreeable surprise.

Summary

Prepared to think world infinitely old, but not that life originated with a single cell. Questions whether geological evidence supports gradual progress in organisation. HW thought scientific opinion during Vestiges debate was against this hypothesis. Argues that presence of same senses in lower animals and vertebrates does not imply descent; assumes resemblance is due to living in same world and thus having organs for the same purposes. Wants CD to know how others may see these questions.

Summary

Admits pointer illustration is faulty.

Discusses shame, remorse, social instincts, approbation, and other topics discussed in Descent, ch. 4. "But as yet I nail my colours to the mast."

Summary

Gives an account of his father’s illness.

Summary

Development of complex language does not require an early civilisation. [See Descent 1: 56ff.]

Summary

HW has confirmed the report in the Times of a shower of fish (minnows and sticklebacks) that fell on the Wedgwood colliery.

Summary

Errata in first edition of Insectivorous plants.

Summary

On "moral sense" in Descent.