Writes, for CD, to thank him for his letter and offer to send Unsere Zeit, but will not trouble him to send it.

Sends photograph of CD.

CD cannot come to London to sit for photograph. Sends one taken by son [Leonard], which family considers the best likeness. CD would be glad to give a sitting at Down.

Is hopeful about Anne after receiving an encouraging message.

Gives her reactions to CD’s reports on Anne’s health.

Discusses Anne’s sickness and her hope.

Thanks CD for his Monday notes about Anne, which are much better than previous ones.

Tells of the hopes raised by CD’s letter of Monday regarding Anne’s health.

Her reactions to Anne’s death; hopes CD may soon return.

Describes her compassion for all his sufferings and writes of her wish that his gratitude could be offered to heaven as well as to herself. To her, the only relief is to try to believe that suffering and illness are from God’s hand "to help us to exalt our minds & to look forward with hope to a future state".

The Darwin family are anxious for FEEW’s and Hensleigh’s opinions of CD’s journal. EW is convinced that Henry Holland is wrong if he thinks it not worth publishing.

Hopes the Darwins in Shrewsbury will help her convince CD that he must not hurry their marriage too greatly. Sarah Elizabeth Wedgwood [II] adds a postscript to the same effect.

CD sends thanks to Mr Noel for allowing him to see article [sent by Alice Bonham-Carter, see 4722]. CD is pleased at Bernhard von Cotta’s remarks on species; very few of the older distinguished geologists have so favourable a view of his work. He was particularly pleased to read Cotta’s remarks on the azoic formations.

ED asks MCS (Lady Derby) if Lord Derby would consider signing petitions from Mr Olmsted.

Thanks for sympathy on death of Erasmus [Alvey Darwin].

Suggests rewording statement concerning source of CD’s views on evolution.

Recalls happy days at Penally.

They are impatient for CD’s arrival.

EW is reading F. Head’s "gallop" [Rapid journeys across the Pampas (1826)] "to get up a little knowledge for him".

CD has nearly settled in favour of living in Cambridge.

CD will not get to Maer that week. The Langtons are leaving and will meet him at Shrewsbury.

Two letters for WED at E. A. Darwin's. G. H. Darwin has been to dentist. Please collect and pay for GHD’s skates.

CD much obliged for specimen and drawings.

Glad to hear of the plant; CD instructs WED to make further observations. If it is a good case he will insist on WED’s sending a communication to the Linnean Society.

CD and ED bequeath an annuity of £50 to J. Parslow [the Darwins’ butler].