Summary

Mystified by the origin of coal-plants.

Milne’s Glen Roy theory is absurd but, oddly, it has staggered CD in favour of Agassiz’s ice-lake theory.

Summary

Supposition that glaciers made Glen Roy is a dream. Has received three letters from CD on river terraces. Reports on trip to terraces at Belleville. Comparison with Glen Roy.

Summary

Flattered by JBJ’s discussion of coral reefs [in Voyage of H.M.S. "Fly" 1 (1847): 347–8]. CD has always thought his Coral reefs "too bold and speculative", so he is gratified "when anyone who has had opportunities of observation does not give his verdict against it".

Summary

Discusses enclosed figures on elevation of terraces in several Scottish glens as surveyed by William Kemp and David Stevenson. Comments on Robert Chambers’ view of the terraces. Mentions a letter on the terraces, originally written for publication, which he has asked Robert Jameson [editor of the Edinburgh New Philos. J.] to destroy.

Summary

Difficulty of scheduling visit before JDH departs on Himalayan expedition.

Summary

Thanks for a suite of male and female specimens of Lepidoptera. Lack of difference in size of wings surprises CD; the female’s being smaller than male’s in early growth is new to him. Will ask a friend in India for comparable facts.

Summary

On scheduling farewell meeting.

Summary

Continued problems in scheduling farewell meeting.

Summary

CD very ill; tries to arrange departure meeting with JDH.

CD’s guess at composition of Maldive flora.

Summary

Now plans to come to Kew for an hour’s farewell if his stomach permits.

Congratulations on JDH’s Flora Antarctica [1847].

Summary

CD too unwell to see JDH. Encloses Emma’s farewell note.

Summary

Responding to GG’s offer to aid CD’s natural history researches on New Zealand, CD suggests that limestone caverns should be examined for fossils and that observations on the presence and range of erratic boulders in New Zealand would be very valuable.

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

Accepts AC’s offer to conduct hybridisation experiments, and offers suggestions.

Sends book [Journal of researches, 2d ed. (1845)].

Summary

Discusses account. Glad that all is prosperous.

Summary

Seeks permission from the Trustees of the British Museum to borrow the cirripede specimens in the public collection. Explains his intention to produce a monograph of the Cirripedia.

Summary

Asks JCR to collect cirripedes for him on forthcoming expedition [to the Arctic in search of Sir John Franklin].

Summary

Discusses loan of cirripede specimens from the British Museum.

Summary

Reorders six 2–oz bottles with corks.

Summary

Replies to note from CL asking about views of glaciers.