Summary

Alarmed that CD did not see what WED saw in Corydalis lutea. Has found buckbean in the New Forest. Will get seeds of Corydalis claviculata.

Summary

Flora of Cameroons shakes JDH’s faith in ability to explain past or present migrations. Sees need for a major novel explanation such as natural selection, glacial cold, or continental connections.

Lyell in a bad way about feud with Falconer.

JDH’s opinion of Wallace, Bates, J. E. Gray, Owen, Asa Gray, Lubbock, and Bentham.

Bentham’s Linnean Society address [see 4118].

Summary

Sends flowers of a variety of Lychnis dioica which has bisexual flowers.

Summary

Spoke on Moulin-Quignon Jaw before Académie des Sciences.

Thanks CD for photograph [of Niata skull].

Controversy on species fixity [at Société d’Anthropologie].

Sends photographs of Mouin-Quignon Jaw.

Summary

Returns CD’s pamphlets.

Wishes CD would work out further what keeps certain species immutable for great periods.

Feels himself a convert, but cannot go all lengths with CD.

Feels some reviewers distort CD’s argument.

Summary

Has forwarded a box of Lychnis plants to CD; gives her observations on the variations in stamen length.

Summary

Supports, in his orchid paper, CD’s view that sterility occurs at random [Trans. Bot. Soc. Edinburgh 7 (1863): 543–50].

Cannot get his Drosera paper published [abstract in Edinburgh New Philos. J. 2d ser. 17 (1863): 317–18].

Summary

Natural selection implies that a form remains unaltered unless an alteration is to its benefit. This is not inconsistent with some forms remaining stable for long periods. Natural selection must at present be grounded entirely on general considerations. Of details we are still greatly ignorant.

Summary

J. H. Balfour has arranged a position for him at a Cinchona nursery. Reluctant to take this position in part because of his experiments for CD.

Asks CD’s advice and solicits his aid in finding a better colonial position. James McNab mistreats him.

Summary

A "quiz" on CD has appeared in the Illustrated Times [2 May 1863, p. 317].

Summary

CD has drawn up a paper from RT’s orchid notes on the fertilisation of Disa grandiflora for the Linnean Society [J. Linn. Soc. Lond. (Bot.) 7 (1863): 144–7].

CD would welcome seeds of any Cape Oxalis for his investigation of dimorphism.

Summary

Seeks advice for John Scott on job offer in India.

Summary

Health has been poor but eczema is improved.

A "squib" about Owen and Huxley on the brain has appeared in Public Opinion [3 (1863): 497–8].

Summary

Gives the results of her observations on Lychnis; lists four different types of flower present and their occurrence.

Summary

Has written to Hooker for his advice about the Darjeeling position. JS should not refuse the position on account of his experiments.

Summary

Thanks for news about fertilisation of Melastomataceae.

Discusses fertilisation of orchids.

Mentions observations by John Scott.

Asks about "bud-variations".

Summary

CD does not think he could be wrong about the stigma of Bolbophyllum.

Will not write up Drosera for years.

Praises JS’s experiments. Invites him to send a paper to Linnean Society.

L. C. Treviranus says all species of Primula present two forms except P. longiflora.

Summary

Sends cheque to pay for photographs.

Summary

Thinks the dark purple anthers are a mass of a Cryptogamic plant, allied to the smut of Wheat. There remains a case of a reversion from a diœcious to a hermaphrodite condition.

Summary

Discusses recent correspondence in the Athenæum: the disagreement between Lyell and Hugh Falconer and Owen’s remarks on heterogeny [see 4110].

Briefly discusses orchids and some problems in phyllotaxy.

Mentions the political situation and the quarrelsome behaviour of the English.