Seeks information and observations on the contraction of the orbicular muscles as a consequence of skin irritation.
CD apologises for having thought that StGJM’s religious feelings had led him to feel personal animosity towards him. [See 7454.]
He remembers having thought and written that belief in evolution is infinitely more important for science than belief in Natural Selection. For his own part he would have felt little interest in evolution apart from the explanation "in a general manner" of how each organism is so adapted to its conditions.
Response to [vol. 1 of] CD’s Descent.
Not yet convinced on sexual selection and protection, though their differences are not so great as CD thinks.
On man, he does not think CD has accounted for every step of his development by "ascertained laws".
Obliged for specimens [of Paritium?].
Discusses difference between sport and parent tree.
Accepts the proposed corrections of his spelling except for "chloèn". [WSD was preparing the index for Descent, vol. 2.]
Thanks RM for information on case of hexadactyly [see RM’s paper, "Hexadactylism", Land and Water, 11 March 1871, p. 179.
He has found passage on false belief, Variation 2: 414, and does not think the whole with context is dogmatic. [Encloses copy of the passage.]
Has received all the proof-sheets of first volume and of second volume to p. 168 [Descent].
Leaves for Paris tomorrow.
Responds to ARW’s comments on CD’s argument about protection in Descent.
Comments on St G. Mivart’s criticism [Genesis of species (1871)]. "The pendulum will now swing against us."
Thanks JVC for his corrections. Will send other errata. Hopes to send remainder of vol. 2 [of Descent] in a fortnight.
Asks that review copy [of Descent] be sent to F. P. Cobbe.
Discusses mailing of presentation copies.
Thanks CD for the second volume of Descent.
Thinks G. H. Lewes will review Descent in Pall Mall Gazette.
On "moral sense" in Descent.
Returns pamphlets.
B. T. Lowne’s observation [Mon. Microsc. J. 4 (1870): 326–30] that boiling does not kill certain moulds is curious, but then how account for absence of all living things in Pasteur’s experiment?
Always delighted to see a word in favour of Pangenesis.
Thiselton-Dyer’s paper ["On spontaneous generation and evolution", Q. J. Microsc. Sci. 10 (1870): 333–54] is Spencerian.
The chemical conditions for first production of life are said to exist at present, but in some warm little pond today such matter would be absorbed or devoured, which would not have been the case before living creatures were formed.
Has left Paris because of the war.
J. J. Moulinié and Carl Vogt are at work on Descent, which CR plans to publish in Paris.
Sir Andrew Smith says Hottentots and Kaffirs laugh till they cry.
Encloses a letter [missing] from C. Reinwald, publisher of the French edition of Descent [1872].
Vincenzi [of Unione, Turin – publisher of Italian translation] has not yet paid the account.
On irritation of cutaneous nerves exciting responses in unconnected skin muscles.
Sends questions on expressions of Laura Bridgman.
Has finished Descent. Believes that parts, like that on moral sense, will aggravate AG.
Working on an essay on expression.