Summary

CD has saved an enormous amount of labour since he replaced the chain on his deep well with wire rope. He now asks readers whether they have had experience of saving on the weight of the bucket by using some material other than oak.

Summary

As an author of some scientific works CD is of the opinion that each bookseller should settle, each for himself, the retail price.

Summary

Sends an enclosure forwarded from Down.

Summary

HS put the case of selection strikingly and clearly in his article [Anonymous, "A theory of population, deduced from the general law of animal fertility", Westminster Rev. 57 (1852): 468–501]. Of CD’s numerous private critics only HS has rendered the philosophy fairly: his argument is an hypothesis that explains groups of facts.

Summary

Sends an allotment of shares which he presumes are Emma’s.

Summary

CD has caused a great change in HS’s views, in showing how a great proportion of adaptation should be explained by natural selection not direct adaptation to changing conditions. HS had remarked on the survival of the best individuals as a cause of improvement in man, but he "& every one" overlooked selection of spontaneous variation. Believes so many kinds of indirect evidence must add up to a conclusive demonstration of the doctrine.

Summary

Comments on Hooker’s introductory essay [in Flora Tasmaniae].

Cites C. V. Naudin’s article ["Considérations philosophiques sur l’espèce et la variété", Rev. Hortic. 4th ser. 1 (1852): 102–9].

Mentions letter from William Jardine criticising discussion of the Galapagos in the Origin.

Summary

Discusses attachment of antennae in larvae of cirripedes.

Asks for information about how parasitic cirripedes are attached to host.

Summary

Thanks DS for writing about his research on foliation and cleavage. Discusses nature of slate and metamorphic schists.

Makes suggestions for the paper DS is preparing for the Royal Society and raises questions for his consideration; CD hopes he can attend the Society meeting when the paper is read ["On foliation and cleavage of Scotland", Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. 142 (1852): 445–62].

Summary

Reports on the standing of James Torbitt: "the opinion of the Public is that he is rich and highly respectable".

Summary

Is concerned about the education of his boys and is undecided between Rugby and Bruce Castle schools; is inclined toward the latter, but afraid to experiment on so important a subject.

Reports on his pear-trees.

Summary

Received JDH’s introduction to Flora Tasmaniae.

Criticism of C. V. Naudin’s descent theory.

Asks that Lyell be allowed to see letter.

Summary

JDH’s work on Gnetum: a living fossil.

Orchid anatomy.

Encloses lists of orchids and other specimens he would be interested in seeing.

Summary

Mentions William Clift ["Report in regard to the fossil bones found in New Holland", Edinburgh New Philos. J. 10 (1830–1): 394–6].

Discusses relations between fossil and living types.

Discusses Hooker’s introductory essay [in Flora Tasmaniae]. Criticises Hooker’s views on flora of rising and sinking islands.

Summary

Pleased by what THH says on cement glands and organs in higher Crustacea. Content to be moderately right.

Hopes THH will dissect the Conchoderma.

Asks for cases of organs in which there is no apparent transition from other organs or in which transition can be shown in an unexpected way and for instances of odd and inexplicable connections between parts, such that if one part varies the other varies also.

Summary

Orchid anatomy. Wind as agent of self-fertilisation in orchids.

Summary

Admires JDD’s work on Crustacea, corals, and geology.

Commends young John Lubbock to his attention. Hopes JDD can give him encouragement; if he can resist his "great wealth, business, and rank, he may do good work in Natural History".

Summary

Offers HM-E some specimens of Lernaea, a crustacean parasite on Balanus elongatus.

Mentions opinion of Harry Goodsir about a form CD believes to be the larva of Lernaea.

Summary

Is glad WED has made a good beginning [at Rugby?].