"I have received a very large box full of beautiful tea from Russia yesterday … my life is as regular & monotonous as a clock.

I make sure, but wofully slow progress, with my new book."

Suggests time for AA to visit.

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

Thanks for drawing. ‘The "Woolnerian tip" is worth anything to me.’

Asks for figures of embryos by A. Ecker and T. L. W. Bischoff to copy [for Descent, ch. 1].

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

Sends a cheque to clear FD’s debts. Hopes he will be more careful in the future.

Horace Darwin wishes to have private tuition to help him pass the "Little Go" and so CD wonders if he might be excused College lectures for the present, to prevent undue strain.

Wants to keep "The origin of man" as first part of title of book.

The Zoological Garden has only one old adult male of Limulus. When there were females, eggs were never observed.

Encloses a separate letter [formerly 7071] about AD’s scheme [for a zoological station].

Suggests AD be cautious [in his work]. "Caution is almost the soul of science."

Thanks ADB for Limulus.

Does Callithrix sciureus wrinkle the skin around its eyes when it screams? Do the eyes become suffused with moisture?

Has received [read?] CB’s two works [Chamois hunting in the mountains of Bavaria (2d ed., 1860) and Forest creatures (1871)] and has made use of them in his present book [Descent].

CB’s descriptions of the Tyrol make CD long to be "strong and young again to ramble over the mountains".

Delighted with proofs of illustrations [for Descent]. Hopes AG is pleased with them, as they illustrate facts given on his authority.

Thanks AR for specimens of fruit.

Invites AG to Down for a weekend with A. Newton, R. Swinhoe, and Hooker.

Requests the return of some plates sent in error.

Thanks CB for Transylvania [1865].

CD’s health has declined steadily. He must now be content to read about nature as described by CB and others.

Response to ARW’s MS on geological time ["The measurement of geological time", Nature 1 (1870): 399–401, 452–5].

Groans over [what is said about] man.

Suggests the recipient catch the 4.12 train.

Asks JC-B to return copy of Duchenne [Mécanisme de la physionomie humaine (1862)] and sends some notes "as your former notes were of such extreme interest to me".