Summary

CD’s father has given him £200 to settle his debts.

He is delighted by a magnificent anonymous gift of a microscope.

Sees a good deal of the Henslows who are expecting a child soon.

CD still talks of the "Canary scheme"; he is learning Spanish.

Summary

Thanks CD for Insectivorous plants.

Is coming to London and hopes to visit Down.

Summary

Poverty keeps him at Shrewsbury.

The Canary scheme still goes, CD is studying Spanish and geology.

Jenyns has started CD on Diptera.

Summary

Can WDF recall the sex of the deaf white cats.

Summary

Will send his insects and two or three from Henslow.

The Canary scheme takes place next June.

Is grieved WDF thinks him capable of telling falsehoods.

Summary

Caroline [Wedgwood] has been ill for the last 20 months.

James Paget to be consulted about William Darwin’s brain concussion.

Summary

Reports on upward projection of Pulmonaria flowers.

Summary

Congratulates W. E. Darwin, who is about to be married,

and CD for the LL.D. conferred upon him by Cambridge.

Summary

Working hard on physiology of plants.

His son George sees no reason to change his view on marriage of cousins.

George’s astronomical work is too deep for CD.

Summary

Congratulates CD on his birthday.

WDF has been suffering from bronchitis.

Summary

CD and Frank Darwin hard at work on physiology of plants.

Summary

Letter of condolence on reading Times report of death of WDF’s daughter.

Summary

Thanks CD for his condolences. Reminisces about their youth.

On the death of his naturalist friend, W. C. Hewitson.

Summary

Informs CD that in his experience with peas he has never found the seed to deteriorate.

Summary

Sends family news;

describes what remains of his "menagerie" and tells of his interest in the framework of his son’s German badger-hound.

Summary

Fears he cannot give much information for CD’s book [Erasmus Darwin]. Recounts how his mother’s health was improved by Erasmus Darwin’s treatment. Remembers being attacked as a boy by an angry lady whose beautiful teeth were extracted by Dr Darwin "to cure some nervous spasms".

Summary

Received offer of post as naturalist in the Beagle in the same mail as WDF’s last letter. Outlines details of prospective voyage. Not certain, but thinks he probably will go.

Expresses pleasure that all is well with their friendship, which he prizes.

Summary

Has no letters or papers [of Erasmus Darwin].

Suggests CD cite some of Erasmus Darwin’s poems to answer the charge of atheism [see Erasmus Darwin, p. 44].

Recounts a story of a remarkable cure by Dr Darwin, showing his sagacity and daring.

Summary

His memory of his recently deceased father is a treasure to him.

Thanks WDF for information on the water-cure. Dislikes the thought of it.

Reports results of his experiments with tied-up fruit-trees.

Summary

Reports progress with water-cure. Describes the treatment.