George Snow, the carrier, now leaves Nag’s Head on Thursday mornings.

Has sent sheets of Expression.

Encloses a letter to Nature [see 8448] correcting Dr Bree, who has accused ARW of "blundering". ARW should tear up CD’s letter if he does not like it or plans to reply himself.

Replies to C. R. Bree’s letter of 27 July [Nature 6 (1872): 260] contending that CD was wrong about early pedigree of man.

Defends the statement of CD’s view in Wallace’s review [Nature 6 (1872): 237–9] of Bree’s book [Exposition of fallacies … of Darwin (1872)].

CD hopes the Times abstract of minutes of Lords of the Treasury will make JDH’s position more comfortable.

The "wretched Lords" make CD indignant, but "nothing equals Owen’s conduct. – I used to be ashamed of hating him so much, but now I will carefully cherish my hatred & contempt to the last day of my life."

Thanks OH for two memoirs on the fossil flora of Bear Island and Spitzbergen [K. Svensk. Vetensk. Akad. Handl. 8 (1869) no. 7; 9 (1870) no. 5].

Discusses a paper JTG wanted to read at a BAAS meeting.

Will see that the error is corrected in the next reprint.

Alteration in the arrangements for the carrier to collect the rabbit from FG and bring it to Down.

Sends proofs and details [concerning VOK’s Russian translation of Expression (1872)].

The carrier will call at University College on Thursday 15 August.

Acknowledges a box of worm-casts from India and a bottle of worms in spirits. There is no memorandum.

His book on expression is finished and includes valuable information from JS.

Cost of plates [for Expression] is greater than expected: £75 per 1000 copies.

Can believe animals communicate together, but does not know how.

Thanks for valuable information [about worms?]. "The more I investigate the extreme amount of work effected, the more perplexed as yet I become."

Rejoices at success [of Naples Zoological Station]. Will send complete set of his books to the library.

If AD is interested, he will send a copy of Expression when it comes out.

Invites AD to visit Down.

CD’s son Leonard of the Royal Engineers has applied to Sir George Biddell Airy to be an observer on the Venus Expedition. Leonard failed to mention his qualifications, which CD now relates with the request that HA draw them to his father’s attention.

Detailed response to reading of Bastian’s Beginnings of life [1872]. On the whole, it seems probable to CD that spontaneous generation is true.

Explains that William Penman Lyon has misquoted CD in Lyon [1871].

Is now at work on Drosera and asks to borrow D. capensis and other species.