Thanks JF again for his Essays, which he has now read.

WSD sent MS of his translation of Erasmus Darwin on 6 August. Hopes CD received all of it.

CD is relieved by EK’s response to his criticisms. Will attend to all his instructions and will not print his preface until EK has seen it.

CD expresses the pleasure the Darwins had in the courtesies extended them by the Marshalls at Coniston.

Thanks for essay. Doubts AAWH’s theory concerning modifications in first- and last-born offspring.

Sends proofs [of "The shell mounds of Omori, Japan", Tokyo Univ. Mem. 1 (1879)], which may interest CD for the changes between ancient and modern forms.

He has no cause to complain at CD’s suppression of parts of his translation. Will do his best to correct and improve the proofs.

Requests a letter of introduction to Prof. Jowett for his son, who is entering Balliol College.

CD is honoured to receive the magnificent work Finska Kranier (1878).

What should CD do with the geese? One gander chases and frightens his grandchild. Does FBG intend to publish his results?

Accepts invitation to visit Down.

Describes travel plans in Scotland.

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JDH writes that he encloses: a cheque for Asa Gray, & Mr Brown's account of the sale of Gray's books etc [enclosures not present]. Asks about 'Mr Millar's check'. JDH's niece Willielma Campbell died after giving birth to still born child. JDH attended the funeral in Glasgow, his wife [Hyacinth Hooker] accompanied him to comfort Isabella Hooker, Willielma's mother. JDH's sister Bessy [Elizabeth Evans-Lombe nee Hooker] is staying with him at Kew on her way to visit their Aunt Brightwen in Norfolk. JDH wishes he had been with Gray in the Alleghenies. JDH asks Gray if he should send Hayden the ATHENAEUM &c for the Survey library. JDH asks what has become of his & Gray's report. George Bentham is visiting Munro. JDH & Bentham are printing the next volume of GENERA PLANTARUM, incl. Chenopodiaceae. JDH criticises Muller's article NATIVE PLANTS OF VICTORIA, particularly his intercalation of monosplanes with Choripetaleae, description of Nyctagineae & figure of Boerhavia. Mentions George Henslow's 'weeds'. Encourages Gray to come to England. JDH would like to make another trip to America but does not want to abandon Bentham as they are working on monocots for GENERA PLANTARUM. JDH praises Bentham's skill & productivity. JDH recommends that Gray work on North American Flora, new edition of his text book & Hayden's report. He suggests Gray read Bales' Royal Geographical Society lecture on alpine floras in GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. Charles Darwin is in the Lake District. Mentions Engelmann's work on differentiating Pinus species. JDH is impatient for the continuation of Watson's bibliography to simplify referencing American botany. Comments on Gray building a library & herbarium [at Harvard] & on narrow minded attitudes towards Sargent. Mentions Clarke. JDH's book TOUR IN MAROCCO [Morocco] is making a loss. Charles Paget Hooker is trying again to pass at the Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons, Edinburgh. The glass houses at RBG Kew have been damaged by a hail storm.

JDH informs Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer [WTTD] that he has located a C.O. [Colonial Office?] paper previously thought lost. He had shown it to Sir [William Fullerton?] Elphinstone & some Cingalese visitors. JDH also informs WTTD that he has written to Palgrave, Reid, Spottiswoode & Syme. JDH advises that Callender should be told about 'the article' that appeared in the GARDENERS' CHRONICLE regarding rotten beams in the Victoria House & Fern House at RBG Kew. JDH does not approve of the article but as the beams were clearly visible to visitors he is not surprised. JDH asks WTTD to reply to Taylor & Wilkie on his behalf. JDH discusses niceties to avoid offending Oliver when not sending plants through his officer: Baker. Sending the plants can be delayed until JDH returns except in the in the case of Asa Gray's plants.

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JDH writes to Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer [WTTD] about attending a cattle sale at Dunmore with [James] Colvile. He describes his rooms at Tullyallan [Tulliallan] Castle near Kincardine in Fife. He mentions that Lord Keith filled the house with pictures of Naval engagements & mezzotints of [George] Romney, [Sir Joshua] Reynolds & [John Singleton] Copley & [Francesco] Bartollzzi's things. He describes the house's current owner, Lord William Osborne, who served at the Siege of Bhurtpore & under Colvile's uncle Lord Auckland. He came to Tulliallan through his wife, 'Lady William' [Georgina Augusta Henrietta Keith], & now lives a life of leisure. JDH also describes 'Lady William'. Other people at Tulliallan were: Lady Julia Wombwell, Lord Moreton who is Lord Ducie's son & a Cattle breeder, & a Parson from Ross in Hereford. He describes the cattle sale & the prices fetched. JDH has received letters from WTTD & approves of all his suggestions & his improved letter regarding a grant. JDH is concerned about [John] Smith's health & recommends that WTTD consult Dr Laurence & refer to the kindness of Cundale, for example in the rolling machine accident, & the mischief of a previous doctor called Davis. Mentions the contract for the 'T' [Temperate?] House & potential appintments to natural history positions in Scotland for [E. Ray?] Lankester, [Henry Alleyne] Nicholson of St Andrews & William Carmichael McIntosh. Also mentions: memo to [Algernon Freeman]-Mitford & the board regarding Wilkie, Smith & the management of Kew's buildings by the Clerk of Works; letter about Ceylon [Sri Lanka] forests; [Mordecai Cubitt] Cooke's work on fungi; & [John] Macoun's Canadian plants. Discusses the housing of [John] Peacock's succulents, he would prefer an annex be built on the succulent house to continuing the displacement of the Australian plants from the Octagon. JDH sends his regards to the Brightwen family. He approves of the dismissal of Taylor based on 'neglect of orders'.

JDH addresses a series of points raised in a recent letter from Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer. the subjects are as follows: Indian Museum Collections coming from the India Office to RBG Kew, a potential site for [Marianne North's] Gallery, the colour of the glass houses, letters from Gerard Noel [First Commisioner of Works], arranging for Marianne North to visit Kew, JDH's return from Scotland in time to catch Morris, 'the Works' affair', a letter to Wilson & Cadder, & a matter that prompts JDH to feel sorry for 'Wall'. JDH adds that he is working on Williamson's supplement to his Royal Society paper on Tranquairia, which he claims is the sporange of Lepidonotus & Anellides & that they are macrospores.