Lost proofs have arrived.

Proposes to append the woodcuts of dog and cat varieties from Brehm [Illustrirtes Thierleben (1864–7)], which he has also translated, to the Russian edition of Variation.

Repeats details of his previous letter [5537] as he was unsure whether CD received it.

Cannot come to Down; John Smith is unwell.

Will go to Paris again at end of month.

Wallace and F. J. H. von Mueller of Victoria are most likely candidates for Royal Society Gold Medal for biology.

Encloses letter from Henry Barkly.

CD’s letter [3992] gave him encouragement in his work [on monstrosities], which, he regrets, is little understood or appreciated in France. Hopes to be able to produce anomalies at will as a result of his experiments. Sends a recent paper ["Rapport sur un veau monstrueux", Arch. Com. Agric. Arrondissement Lille (1867)].

CD is sorry proof-sheets were lost; hopes clean sheets will have arrived.

Offers to send Benoît de Maillet’s Telliamed [1750].

Encloses a letter [16 May 1867] from John Anderson, a nurseryman, giving information on budding of blotched ash at the nursery.

Glad to hear Wallace is contender for Gold Medal. Has highest esteem for his extraordinary talents.

Thanks for H. Barkly’s letter from Mauritius.

Glad to see HB takes same view as CD about bones of deer [see 5395].

Objections to continental extension theory.

Progress [on Variation] very slow.

Discusses his previous criticisms of EH’s Generelle Morphologie. Fears it will make enemies.

Discusses reception of descent theory in England.

Mentions EH’s trip to Canary Islands.

Obliged for case of grafted ash.

Asks about pods of Arabis.

Would like to borrow Maillet [Telliamed (1750)].

Sends a notice on a reptile intermediate between true Triassic reptiles and Devonian fishes ["Sur le reptile (Actinodon)", C. R. Hebd. Acad. Sci. 63 (1866): 341–4].

Expresses his admiration for CD, and his growing sense that transformation of species is probable, though he does not share CD’s explanation of the cause. He avoids the question, since he lacks requisite knowledge and is convinced that there are causes of which God alone knows the secret.

Praises Dareste’s work on teratology; is convinced that it will be highly valued.

Is working on Variation; will send a copy when published.

Acknowledges receipt of £159 11s. 2d.

Glad to hear that the cottages are nearly finished.

Does not share CD’s objection to continental extension, i.e., that it must be extended to every island in every ocean.

Sends paper on domesticated animals by Brian Hodgson [J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal 16 (1847): 1003–26].

Has crossed pods of Arabis blepharophylla larger than normal ones.

Sends Telliamed as gift.

Details of Arabis crosses. Seed-pods of A. blepharophylla and A. soyeri crosses are longer and wider than those of either species.

Thanks for information on sexual differences.

Orchids; self-sterility and difficulty of getting seeds to germinate.

Dimorphism.

It was foolish of him to say a word about continental extensions so briefly that he thinks JDH misunderstood him.

CD has come to think a name better than "Pangenesis" is needed. Asks GHD to get a suggestion from a classics scholar. "Cell-genesis wd be perfect if it cd be put into Greek."

Is much obliged for AG’s two memoirs ["Mémoire sur le reptile découvert par M. Frossard", Nouv. Arch. Mus. Hist. Nat. 3 (1867): 21–40; Bull. Soc. Géol. France 2d ser. 24 (1867): 397–400].

All "inosculating forms" are very interesting to CD.

Agrees with AG on the importance of attempts to affiliate extinct and existing species.

Will send French edition of Variation when published.

Seek permission to produce a translation of Variation.