A note to inform CD that ELY has sent his earlier letter [7324] to the Athenaeum, being unsure of CD’s address.

Outlines the evidence for his view that ascidian larvae are true vertebrates presented in his paper ["Weitere Studien über die Entwicklung der einfachen Ascidien", Arch. Mikrosk. Anat. 7 (1871): 101–302]. CD can cite this as confirmation of AOK’s earlier claims.

Wants sheets [of Descent] for foreign editions. Asks JM to determine price to be charged for the stereotypes of 62 cuts. Dallas would be excellent for the index but must be "civilly warned" not to delay. Encloses memo on the index.

Comments on JDH’s report of Liverpool meeting.

Huxley’s address.

Sir Roderick [Murchison]’s "apotheosis".

Tyndall’s lecture is "grand" except for egotistical beginning. Some Frenchmen have pitched into CD for using the "as if" reasoning, which Tyndall shows is justified.

Has just read George Rolleston’s address in Nature.

Anton Dohrn says German public have high opinion of Lyell.

Various arrangements concerning the publication of Descent. "It will cause men to prick up [their] ears – & to elevate their eyebrows." JM thinks he will venture to print 2500 copies.

Suggests CD tone down as possibly indelicate a passage on proportion of advances made by the two sexes in animals.

Thanks HS for a copy of his book [? Die Thierzucht (1868)].

CD did not promise Appleton stereotypes of text [of Descent]; only of cuts.

Wishes to know which passage JM thought "coarse". Remembers only a quotation from John Hunter on courtship of female being required "to give her desires" [Descent 1: 273]. He fancied a quotation rendered the sentence less coarse.

Is grateful for JH's note. Agrees with him about the mystery of the sunspots. Is awaiting some heliographs from Ely. Is inquiring from Kew as to any recent magnetic disturbances that may coincide with the appearance of the sunspots. Is grateful for Alexander Hershel's information.

Has had a letter from Cleveland Abbe inquiring when JH's Catalogue of Double Stars can be expected. Howard and Thomas Grubb have just erected his telescope but the eye end is not finished. Instrument will be very 'handy.'

JH is preparing a digest of all double star observations; also comments on sunspot activity.

Has been away from home, which accounts for the delay in replying to JH's note. Send the manuscript to NM. Hopes for an article from JH.

Sends some remeasured double star positions from the Radcliffe Observatory, together with comments about other double star observations.

Will send manuscript of article by JH's daughter [?] on history of Alsace and Lorraine for publication in NM's Good Words. JH is busy compiling general catalog of all known double stars.

B.A.A.S. in Liverpool approved £50 grant to G. A. Erman, to be administered by Erman and JH, for computation of Gaussian constant for 1839.

In commenting on a paper on actinometric measurements varying with depth of atmosphere, JH questions the accuracy of the equipment used.

Thanks for grant of £50 from B.A.A.S. for calculations related to request from Georg Erman [see JH's 1870-5-6].

Comments on JH's concerns about actinometric measurements [see JH's 1870-9-20]; recommends the study of periodicity of waves on Atlantic Coast.

Has received, through the good offices of the Smithsonian Institution, a number of back issues as well as current issues of the Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society of Philadelphia. The best way to send these volumes is by way of the Smithsonian.

Sends packet from [John] Hennessey to JH for his perusal. Discusses recent weather. Wants JH's opinion of self-recording meteorological instruments. Mentions wreck of the Hansa.

Sends telegram from the Germania. Discusses crew of Hansa [see 15.292]. Asks if JH wants certain experiments done at Kew. Troubled by [W. A.] Miller's sudden illness.