CD must decline his correspondent’s kind offer [unspecified], but he is out of health and has passed the part about dogs in a work now at the printer’s [Variation].

Can give no information on the separation of the sexes in the guanaco.

Testimonial for James Archer, who leaves CD’s service after six months.

Suggests, if further notice is to be taken of Variation, that the reviewer grapple with the subject of Pangenesis. Thanks him for his fair and friendly spirit.

"My experiment was intended solely to show that colour reappeared, and I choose kinds which breed [true] to colour, as is certainly the case with [sports] and those which I tried . . .

I have recorded an undoubted case of wild rock Pigeons caught in Scotland having bred in confinement …"

Asks correspondent to thank Thomas Laycock for his references. CD has been away from home and has not yet consulted his copy of Laycock’s Mind and brain [1860].

Send information about the bust of himself by Thomas Woolner and suggests applying to the sculptor himself about a cast.

Gives his opinion of Rolla Charles Meadows Rouse, who is tutoring Horace Darwin in mathematics.

Has not heard that Horace has a chance of a minor scholarship.

[A quotation in CD’s hand, signed and dated, from the introduction to Orchids.] "I have never once expressed a wish for aid or for information, which has not been granted, as far as possible, in the most liberal spirit."

Thanks correspondent for sending curious facts about his cats.

Comments on a case of crossing distant plants of Habenaria

and on hermaphroditism in hybrid plants.

Thanks correspondent for sending extracts about the jackal.

CD has already agreed that Julius Victor Carus will translate his next book.

Has given the right of translation [of Descent] to Julius Victor Carus of Leipzig, so the recipient should inform Alexander Duncker to communicate with JVC.

Suggests the recipient catch the 4.12 train.

Declines offer of book on physics.

When CD comes to London in ten days, he will "immediately call on you and explain why I cannot at once answer your question".

Regrets that Hartogh Heijs van Zouteveen has already translated his new book into Dutch.

"If you will apply to any bookseller whatever you will procure a copy.–– Publisher Murray."

Thanks for two reviews of Descent. Second is "most fair, kind and carefully abstracted".