Delighted with mechanisms of Salvia and Viola. How can anyone who compares structure of Viola cornuta and common violet still suppose them to be separate creations?

Suggests THF write a paper on violets. Asa Gray, once a sceptic, now declares he is convinced whole structure of a flower is adapted for a cross with another individual.

Urges THF not to give up Pangenesis lightly. "It has thrown light on my mind in regard [to] a great series of complex phenomena."

The conversion of Asa Gray must be a pleasure.

CD’s doctrine accounts for and gives a vera causa of structures.

Discusses F. Hildebrand’s book.

Thinks CD’s views of insect agency and crossing might explain structure and variations of papilionaceous flowers. Lists five points. Asks CD’s opinion.

Advises THF that best plan is to investigate the part certain structures play with all plants or orders, instead of describing means of fertilisation in particular plants. Naturalists value observations far more than reasoning.

Thanks CD for advice to watch the action and not only the structure [of plants].

Red tape leaves no time for botany.

New ministry laudably attempting economies.

Justifies his use of term "degraded" by comparing contrivances for cross-fertilisation in different species of Viola.

Dislikes the use of the term "degradation" as applied to the closed flowers of Viola species. Species with such self-fertilising flowers also have flowers adapted for crossing. The development of closed flowers adapted to ensure a sufficient stock of seed is progressive.

Thanks CD for lesson that it is wrong to call any plant which lives and thrives "degraded".

Speculates on the function of the separate stamen of papilionaceous flowers.

THF’s view, if confirmed, pleases CD in that what appears a mere morphological character is found to be of use. Carl Nägeli has been attacking him on this head.

Will work on papilionaceous flowers since CD encourages it. Discusses function of hairs in certain plants.

Asks CD’s opinion of a paper he has written on papilionaceous flowers.

Federico Delpino’s book has very nearly all that THF has found and a great deal more.

Sympathises with THF at being forestalled by Delpino, but urges him to publish confirmation.

On the fertilisation of Tacsonia and Passiflora.

Encloses a poem, "The Biological Teleologist", written after reading Delpino.

Sends notes on observations of Passiflora and Tacsonia; Hooker thinks they would be worth reading at Linnean Society.

Comments on notes made by THF on Passiflora and Tacsonia. Suggests he examine more species. Recalls his own observations on P. princeps and Tacsonia.

Observations on Passiflora.

Hildebrand on geraniums.