Comments on ACR’s "The old glaciers [of Switzerland and N. Wales", in Peaks, passes, and glaciers: a series of excursions by members of the Alpine Club, ed. J. Ball (1859)]. Discusses erratic blocks in the Jura. Notes views of Lyell.

THH should understand that CD’s hypothesis [natural selection] has as many flaws and holes as sound parts. The question is whether CD’s rag of a hypothesis is worth anything. A poor rag is better than nothing to carry one’s fruit to market.

Reports events at Down.

Is busy with proofs [of Origin];

is anxious to hear how WED does in his examinations.

Finds style [of Origin] incredibly bad; corrections are very heavy. Supposes it was due to his attention being fixed on general lines of argument and not on detail. Wishes to share expense of corrections.

Extended discussion of their respective difficulties with the definition and status of species and with the extent to which the theory of transmutation may be applied.

Has rediscovered S. S. Haldeman’s 1844 paper defending the transmutation theory with great skill.

Asks for reference to Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire’s first enunciation of the progressive development and transmutation theory.

Provides requested information about certain railway shares.

Acknowledges receipt of £244 15s. 11d.

Discusses S. S. Haldeman’s paper ["Enumeration of the recent freshwater Mollusca", Boston J. Nat. Hist. 4 (1844): 468–84].

Centres of species origin.

Describes his corrections of Origin.

CD making extensive corrections on proofs of Origin. Worries that style is too dry.

Doubts about Joseph Prestwich’s discovery [of flint tools].

Report on three rare beetles they have recently taken in Down parish.

Thanks CL for copy of his paper ["Structure of lavas", Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. 148 (1858): 703–86].

Promises him a copy of Origin.

Has finished ACR’s article ["The old glaciers of Switzerland and N. Wales" in Peaks, passes, and glaciers, ed. J. Ball (1859)]. Asks the authority for glacial drifts in Siberia. Wishes ACR would examine the Glen Roy parallel roads and settle the problem.

Asks if it is certain that traces of organic remains have been found in Long Mynd beds.

No doubt about worm-holes in the Long Mynd, and they are certainly lower than J. Barrande’s primordial zone. Fossils in Laurentian gneiss.

Thanks for JH's article on Physical Geography from the new edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica. Comments on this and gives details of some of his own researches into the causes of ocean currents.

Sending two volumes of his own Cosmos. Regrets he did not visit him in 1857.

Unable to attend the most recent meeting of the Society of Arts, where the idea of having a fixed musical pitch was discussed. As a committee has been struck to study this, JH sends in his thoughts on the topic.

Makes arrangements for TM's visit.

Pointing out an error in JH's statement in an encyclopaedia that there are no serpents in Borneo.

Was pleased to receive JH's note. Further regarding the existence of serpents in Borneo. Suggests form of correction in encyclopaedia.

Responds to same request as JH identifies in his 1859-6-11.