Summary

Hopes to visit CD with Mellersh and Wickham the week after next.

Summary

Inquires whether previous letter was received by CD.

Summary

Although their views differ, HF is glad they can discuss those differences without offending.

Summary

Thinks Max Müller’s Lectures on the science of language [1861–4] will do a real service to CD and natural selection.

Summary

Doubts he has a chance of being elected F.R.S. because he is 58.

Will send a skull.

Summary

Discusses length of pistils, and measuring seeds and pods for botanical work.

Summary

The BAAS meeting at Cambridge was exhausting.

Owen came to attack him but was beaten; his paper fell flat.

A "society for propagation of common honesty in all parts of the world" was established at Cambridge [THH’s "Thorough Club"?].

Summary

Thanks for a contribution ["On the so-called ""auditory-sac"" of cirripedes", Nat. Hist. Rev. (1863): 115–16; Collected papers 2: 85–7]. Is sending a proof.

This year’s lecture to working men to be devoted to CD’s book.

Summary

Sends comments on Lythrum.

Summary

Has sent two Impatiens flowers; curious to know what CD makes of the floral whorls and their vascular bundles.

Cassia is another genus that has different [coloured] anthers in same flower.

Continues to work on Welwitschia.

Feels as CD does about his work, which after a time seems flat and stale. He could never have done what CD did in his Orchids.

CD’s facts about Verbascum have horrible bearing on JDH’s practice of lumping species together.

Summary

If Wickham remains in town and CD is well enough, BJS thinks they might come about the 22d.

Summary

Arranges to come to Down on the 21st if CD is well enough.

Summary

Sends CD the reference for GB’s summary of Targioni-Tozzetti’s work [see 3760].

Hopes for a communication to the Linnean Society from CD "this winter".

Summary

Believes the [Lythrum] seeds have been sent to CD by Stratton [Curator, Cambridge Botanic Garden]. They have none of the others requested.

Summary

Discusses German editions of Origin and Orchids.

Sends publication dealing with leaves.

Relates amusing case of paternity confirmed.

Summary

Still working on book and has completed 620 out of 700 pages.

Rewrote memoir [on mimicry in Amazon Lepidoptera] for Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. [23 (1862): 495–566].

Edwin Brown, HWB’s earliest naturalist friend, will have a hard time classifying Carabi as he is unable to travel.

Summary

Does CD want Masdevallia?

Sends addresses of persons in S. America who would send Melastomataceae seeds.

Has ordered Matthieu Bonafous on maize [Histoire naturelle du maïs (1836)].

Summary

Confirms arrangements for his trip to Down.

Summary

Effect on seed production of differences in distance between Lythrum plants.

Summary

Sends observations on Lythrum. Reports bad health of Maud Atherley.