The CD–Wallace paper has gone to press.

JDH’s tabulation of variable species from Bentham was done in haste.

Busy with introductory essay to [The botany of the Antarctic voyage, pt III] Flora Tasmaniae [printed separately as On the flora of Australia (1859)].

Now explains greater abundance of European species in Tasmania than in Fuegia by CD’s "refrigeration" hypothesis.

At work on the introductory essay to Flora Tasmaniae.

Discusses the effects of climate and geography on "vegetable strife".

Would appreciate loan of CD’s chapter on transmigration across tropics, which may help with the difficulties of Australian distribution.

Still regards plant types as older than animal types.

The Cape of Good Hope and Australian temperate floras cannot be connected by the highlands of Abyssinia.

JDH cannot abide CD’s connection of wide-ranging species and "highness". Australian flora contradicts this in many ways.

Relieved by Wallace’s letter.

At work on introductory essay to Flora Tasmaniae.

European plants naturalised in Australia are almost all adapted to invading disturbed ground.

JDH supports Asa Gray against Alphonse de Candolle as foreign member of Royal Society.

Outlines the basic categories of phanerogams.

Places Gymnospermae in the dicotyledons.

Evaluates the variable utility of embryological characters in plant classification.

Lyell has been strongly urging John Murray to publish CD’s book [Origin]. JDH feels Lyell overestimates the public interest in such works.

Gives examples of plants showing most marked varieties on the edge of their range.

JDH’s congratulations on Origin.

Lyell believes S. P. Woodward wrote review in Athenæum.

Lyell’s and Huxley’s positive responses.

JDH has only plunged into a few chapters.

JDH half through Origin. High praise for facts and reasoning.

Lyell told JDH his criticisms: small matters JDH did not appreciate.

Reactions of G. Bentham, J. S. Henslow, and C. C. Babington.

Forwards letter from Asa Gray.

Bentham is very agitated by Origin. CD over-emphasises natural selection. His theory accounts for too much and would be improved by unburdening it of natural selection.

JH's letter of resignation was read at a full meeting of the [R.S.L.] club last evening and it was the unanimous wish of those present that JH should not resign.

JDH on his way to Calcutta [Kolkata] to ask Lord Dalhousie & Jung Bahadur together for permission to travel in Nepaul [Nepal]. Resting with cousin of Brian [Houghton] Hodgson's. Discusses Lobb & his collecting: Lobb has a Ward's case full of young Argenteum. Discusses Sikkim incident, Lushington & the General in detail. JDH has arranged & parcelled vast collections, some hundred men's loads. [Hugh] Falconer [HF] has informed JDH of the dispatch of some of his collections by the ship 'Queen' under Captain McLeod. The shipment incl. all of the 1848 collection & part of the 1847 collection incl. the leaf bellows, guns, wood cups & vast chest of museum articles. JDH has sent all his drawings of c.300 species & sketches, incl.fungi. Has drawn around 500 species & plants in total. Also sends a few dried plants chiefly Compositae from 17 to 19 ,000 feet. Tchuka rhubarb is amongst the drawings. Hopes WJH will publish Rhododendron series consecutively in 3 folios fascicules. Has descriptions ready for Apr Southampton mail. The Hodgsonia plate WJH sent is magnificent. If he goes to Nepal JDH hopes to send the desired anther drawing. Discusses telescope, actinometer & compass. Knows nothing of Boott & has not received his Ward's cases. Thomson is collecting Rhododendron dalhousiae, R. argenteum, R. punctatum[?], Orchideae & sundries. At JDH's request HF planted a few seeds of nearly all the Rhododendrons in Ward's cases for RBG Kew. Lord Hardinge writes craving Rhododendron & alpine seeds but JDH has none. Courtenay has left Lord Dalhousie. Also mentions Grey, G.G. [George Gardner], [Archibald] Campbell & Welby Jackson[?]. Discusses the reasons for & against going to Nepal incl. credit of being the greatest Himalayan traveller if he goes in by Sikkim & out by Kumaon. Would not go to Bhotan [Bhutan] without 500 men in front & behind him. Is overloaded with Sikkim politics.

JDH has Nathaniel Wallich's [NW's] letter of 2 Feb recd via Dr Cantor. Came to Calcutta [Kolkata] to persuade Jung Bahadur [JB] to grant permission for Nepaul [Nepal] expedition. Thanks NW for friendly anxiety during his imprisonment. Highly gratified by Mr Grove's letter as Secretary to the Philosophical Club. All Calcutta is talking about the Sikkim fracas, JDH has been questioned by Lord Dalhousie, Sir H. Elliott, Halliday & Grey. Has endeavoured to place conduct of Mr L. [Lushington] & General in as favourable light as possible. [Charles] Thoresby, Political Resident to the Court of the Rajah of Nepal, arrives today. The huge bubble of Chinese jealousy & interference has blown away. JDH describes his visit to JB this morning. JB proposed JDH join an expedition to 'lick the Chinese' & make the 'Tsamper Yarroo', or Brahmuputra, the boundary of British & Ghurka power. JDH could see the 'barbarian' would like nothing better than another plunder of Shigatzi [Shigatse] & Teshoo Loombo. Thanks NW for account of the honours recently paid to Brown. Von Martius' letter is beautiful. NW's Amherstia now flowering at Sir Lawrence Peel's & at the botanic gardens. JDH has not yet seen [Hugh] Falconer. Lady Dalhousie left yesterday for Simlah [Shimla] via the Trunk Road. Lord Dalhousie brought JDH two polished tables made of various woods, from Malacca, & insisted they must not go to the museum. Only the Governor General & Aides de Camp, Metcalfe & Bowie, are at Government House. JDH has given up buggy driving & taken up a palkee gharry [palanquin]. Asks NW to give regards to Madden & Grant. Does not know Strachey. Left Thomas [Thomson] at Darjeeling to await news of Nepal negotiations. Sends regards to Mrs NW & family & Dr Boott.

JDH writes to present General Jung Bahadur Rahan [Rana] Prime Minister of Nepaul [Nepal], his brothers, & other members of the Nepaul mission. JDH is indebted to JB for his 1848 Nepal trip. JB is also a friend to [Brian Houghton] Hodgson, [Archibald] Campbell & [Charles] Thoresby. JDH asks that they are shown the Himalayan plants [at RBG Kew] & that WJH takes a drive with them from Kew Gardens to Richmond Hill. Captain Kavanagh accompanies the gentlemen & can make arrangements. JDH suggests Dr [Nathaniel] Wallich & Royle meet the party at the Gardens.

Charles Darwin [CD] has not been absent from JDH's thoughts during the long break in their correspondence. He probably spoke too strongly about CD's species work & barnacles. speculates that CD was once prone to theoretical considerations about species & unaware of certain difficulties which JDH thought a more intimate acquaintance with species might clear up. Hence was pleased CD took up a difficult group like barnacles. CD's theories have progressed but JDH is not converted. He thought the transitions from one form to another in Sikkim would be more apparent. CD reasons rightly about JDH's Yangma valley; it is undoubtedly a vast moraine. He rejects the Himalayas as an independent chain of mountains & seeks the axis of the great mountain system between the Yarou river & the plains of India. He considers the glaciers of the Himalayan range unrivalled & is convinced they are receding. Explains that it is a double chain likes CD's Andes. [Thomas] Thomson [TT] & [Hugh] Falconer [HF] both regard the greatest Asiatic axis as a sub meridional one. The whole mountain system is incredibly complicated & he exceedingly doubt's Humboldt's system of six Mountain chains. Letter continues under date of 7 Apr. JDH now with HF at Honorable East India Company Botanic Gardens. HF had kept all his letters & overland parcels for five months due to insane procrastination but is now forgiven. HF's society is as ever delightful. HF no longer associates with the Asiatic Society. JDH received CD's Feb letter today & learned that the cold water system has done him much good but is not a cure, JDH sends congratulations on the Darwins' seventh child. JDH came to Calcutta [Kolkata] to persuade Jung Bahadur [JB] to let him travel in Nepal but JB cannot guarantee his safety while absent in England. JDH will therefore go instead to Sylhet then the Khassya [Khasia] Hills & Munnipore [Manipur] with [TT].

JDH writes to his Father, William Jackson Hooker, about plans for the coming year & proposed trip to Nepal. Jung Bahadur [JB], Prime Minister of Nepal, & Thoresby will travel to England & bring letters. JDH plans to leave Calcutta [Kolkata] for Dorjiling [Darjeeling] on 9 Apr with [Thomas]Thomson & travel by water to Sylhet the Khassya & Munnepore. Comments on the work of Falconer & Griffiths in the Calcutta Botanic garden. Describes affect on resources from selling the garden's timber cheaply. Describes work to replace turpentine paths with leading walks as at RBG Kew, to replant the wilderness, & to construct a Palmetum, Pandanetum, & Arboretum. They are restoring Wallich’s summer house in the Nepal Garden. Falconer is getting on well with orchideae. Thoresby & General JB will advise on proposed trip to Nepal. Lord Dalhousie, Colvile & others encourage the trip, & advise JDH to seek permission from the Woods & Forests Department. JDH asks WJH to consult Prof. Henslow, Mr Phillipps & Frances Henslow on subject. He would not be able to leave Nepal until 18 Nov 1851. He would leave Ceylon [Sri Lanka], go to Bombay [Mumbai] & catch a steamer in Jan. Asks WJH to speak to Sir H. Willock, Royle & Wallich regarding Thomson’s furlough. Reminds WJH to thank Cecil Beadon for opium things. JDH criticises Bellenden Ker. Reports the Larch & Rhododendrons are successful but many died in the heat. His map of Calcutta is at the Surveyor General's & will then be sent to WJH. JDH's collections will be sent in Jan. He is angry not to be on the Athenaeum committee & will join the Oriental instead. Reports safe arrival of copies of RHODODENDRONS OF THE SIKKIM HIMALAYA & his Journal.

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