Summary

CD’s attempts to get support for Lankester among Fellows of the Linnean Society. He has encountered opposition to the Council.

Summary

Comments on JSH’s botanical work with his parishioners. Lyell will be pleased that he has done some fossil botanical work.

Describes a Geological Society meeting about Edward Charlesworth’s complaints.

Summary

Believes "absurd letter" hastily read at last Geological Society Council meeting was from Charlesworth’s solicitor. Suggests that it may have been sent to entrap the Council and that it should be read over carefully.

Summary

Gives an account of his father’s illness.

Summary

Discusses relationship of subsidence to the formation of coral reefs.

Summary

Important issue at stake with new flora calculations: evidence that species are only strongly marked varieties. Planning large-scale survey.

Summary

Sends thanks for recent specimen, which gave him conclusive evidence that Verruca acts only on calcareous rocks.

Asks for a reference on carbonic acid.

Is glad CSB progresses in research on spider-like Crustacea.

Summary

Emma recovering well from birth of third child, Mary Eleanor.

Sorry to hear Leonard Horner has been ill.

Has received high praise of Coral reefs from Lyell.

Summary

For his work on dimorphism, CD asks WAL if he can send roots of two forms of Epilobium angustifolium. He doubts that they are reciprocally connected like the two forms of Primula, but will try the experiment.

Summary

Has made an offer for house at Down, renting having been refused. Discusses price, risks involved, and Edward Cresy’s advice.

Summary

He is no longer able to answer any of the correspondent’s questions concerning corals.

Places "much trust" in J. D. Dana.

Summary

CD saw Andrew Smith, who is interested in the subject [of zoological nomenclature], but CD thinks he differs from HES on some points. Sends Smith’s address.

Summary

Thanks WL for his MS on coral and suggests that it be sent to the Geological Society for printing or preserving in the archives.

Comments on his and WL’s bad health and recalls WL’s past kindness to him.

Summary

Gives the height of Shrewsbury above sea-level.

Summary

Sends a specimen of rusty wheat from the banks of the Plata.

Asks for bits of peat he collected

and a bit of the paint used by Fuegians to colour themselves.

He will send these to C. G. Ehrenberg for analysis.

Summary

Sends "2 pods ¼ gr each" to tide CD over.

Summary

Thanks JDH for his objections; will respond by sending fair copy of MS when written.

Summary

Thanks WDF for writing so soon after his misfortunes, and again expresses sympathy.

Summary

Criticises at length the concept of submerged continents attaching islands to the mainland in the recent period. Notes drastic alteration of geography required, the dissimilar species on opposite shores of continents, and differences between volcanic islands and mountains of mainland areas. Admits sea-bed subsidence, but not enough to engulf continents. Denies that theory can explain island flora and fauna.

Considers Edward Forbes’s idea a check on study of dissemination of species.