Describes alterations being made at Down House. Accepts father’s offer to lend him money.

Thanks father for loan. Explains difficulty of acquiring the land through which the approach to Down House now runs.

Thanks SD for some furniture. Describes arrangement of furnishing at Down and work carried out on the grounds. Children are "very full of their approaching lessons".

Sends thanks for money.

Comments on treatment prescribed by his father.

Encloses notes by John Higgins with investment advice. Discusses advisability of investing in farmland in Lincolnshire. Cites advice of Sir John Lubbock concerning purchase of land.

"All about household and money matters." The family is now living on about £1000 per annum. Plans a new walk and additions to the house.

[Valediction only.] CD note on verso: Athenaeum/48/p. 839 "E. Forbes on genera being continuous in time––good––fact".

Commiseration on the death of Anne.

Chronicles the events of February, principally of the family and of a few friends: engagements, marriages, deaths, some visits.

News from Maer and Shrewsbury of family, friends, and reports of reactions to CD’s first letters.

Sedgwick suggests he look for fossils in gravel banks of rivers.

Fanny Owen is married to R. M. Biddulph. Reform Bill prospects.

News of family and friends.

Family news.

Captain Beaufort has offered to get one more letter to CD before the long voyage around the Horn;

SD brings family news up to date.

News of family and friends after skipping June letter: Osmaston and the Foxes, five weeks in London, the Langtons in Shropshire, Fanny Biddulph and daughter, R. W. Darwin, and Charles Hughes.

Mainly news of the family and friends. Their joy at the abolition of slavery.

Writes on CD’s 25th birthday.

Points out "errors in orthography" in his journal.

News of family and friends, visits, and other social events.

News of family and friends.

The Langtons will go to Madeira for the winter. E. A. Darwin and the Hensleigh Wedgwoods enjoyed a stay in Cambridge, where they saw Professors Whewell and Sedgwick. Colonel Leighton has died. The King has dismissed the Whig Ministry; Wellington is Premier, and the country is in a strange state.

Met Capt. Harding who said FitzRoy was promoted to Post-Captain.

News of family and friends. Forthcoming marriages of Robert Wedgwood and Tom Eyton.

Some of CD’s letters were read at Geological Society in London. Professor Sedgwick says of CD, "doing admirably … collection above all praise … will have a great name among the Naturalists of Europe".

Erasmus has taken office of Clerk to a Government Commissioner. Other family news.

Writes of Papa’s disapproval of CD’s practice of picking and choosing only lectures he likes to attend and of his early return home.

News of Erasmus, who is visiting sick poor people in the neighbourhood. Other Shrewsbury news.