Acknowledges receipt of two letters from CD and a box of specimens.
Mentions attendance at BAAS meeting and a gift to him of a small living near Oxford. Some political news.
Congratulates CD on the work he has done – the specimens are of great interest. Gives advice on packing, labelling, and future collecting and suggests that – as a precaution – CD send home a copy of his notes on the specimens.
News of family and friends.
The [Megatherium] fossils were extremely interesting and were shown at the Geological Section of the BAAS meeting at Cambridge [1833].
The plants delight him; will work them out with W. J. Hooker.
CD should send every fossil he can find; minute insects will be nearly all new. Delighted with descriptions of the few animals alluded to.
On fossils ([Megatherium], etc.), plants, shells sent and new ones found; geological observations. Asks for help in understanding cleavage and planes of deposition.
A new species of ostrich. Cites differences in size, colour, nidification, and geographical distribution.
A letter full of news of Cambridge and friends: the BAAS meeting at Cambridge; charges of corruption in the University; the Cambridge petition on behalf of Dissenters.
Would welcome hearing Cambridge news. Impossible not to regret friends and pleasures in England, but
has much solid enjoyment and never-failing interest in geology. Tells of his first sight of a savage.
Reports his successful interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer [Thomas Spring Rice] about a grant for publishing [Zoology]. Thanks JSH for help with this; "you have been the making of me from the first".
Syenitic granite from Norway carried as far as Osnabruck.
Has met warm reception in Germany.
Leopold von Buch mistaken in believing that granite overlies transition rock in Norway. Granite sends veins into transition and gneiss.
Has been examining fossil shells of Crag with Heinrich Beck. Beck admits some shells are of species still living.
CL still believes Eocene, Miocene, and Pliocene are satisfactory divisions of Tertiary epoch.
Doctors have urged him to knock off all work and go to the country. Arranges proof-reading with JSH, while he is at Shrewsbury.
Treasures recollections of old friends but seldom sees any. Has turned "a complete scribbler".
His scientific activities.
No wife in sight so far.
Darwin Correspondence Project
darwin@lib.cam.ac.uk
© University of Cambridge 2022
Website by Surface Impression
© 2024 University of Cambridge
