Summary

Thanks LHM for his Ancient society [1877].

Summary

CD admires Herbert Spencer’s genius but not his "deductive style" of expression.

Summary

Thanks LHM for concluding chapter [to Systems of consanguinity and affinity of the human family (1871)]. Agrees that it is important to study the habits and institutions of savages.

Summary

Directions to Down.

Summary

Thanks LHM for his introductions for CD’s sons and for his instructions about their route [for their U. S. visit].

Summary

Thanks LHM for his work on consanguinity. [See 7299].

Summary

Criticises Herbert Spencer’s Principles of sociology, particularly for its treatment of the family, for its superficiality, and for its dependence on J. F. McLennan’s views on exogamy. Americans are coming to see Spencer’s ideas as too broad.

Summary

Sends last chapter of his book in press [Systems of consanguinity and affinity of the human family vol. 17 in Smithsonian contributions to knowledge (1871)], which supports CD on man.

Ethnology must study the ages of barbarism as the formative portions of man’s physical and mental history.

Summary

Will call tomorrow.

Summary

John Lubbock’s paper [? "Remarks on stone implements from western Africa", Rep. BAAS 40 (1870): 154–5] opposes some of his best sustained conclusions.

Summary

Sends abstract of a paper on hybridity read by Edward Moore to a natural history club in Rochester, NY. Argues the necessity of hybridity on CD’s theory.