Congratulations on CD’s engagement.

In answer to CD’s request, tells him how to locate an artist who made excellent sketches of Scotland, and probably of Glen Roy. AW himself made a sketch of the Glen which he offers to CD [Collected papers 1: 88].

On his 15th wedding anniversary JSH writes to CD wishing him happiness as great as JSH has had in his marriage, and adds some advice.

Extract of a letter from Sir Robert Heron to WY, copied for CD, about the crossing of solid- and divided-hoofed pigs, and Angora rabbits of different colours.

A "Zoological memorandum" for CD with an extract from L. Hindmarsh, "On the wild cattle of Chillingham Park" [Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. 2 (1838): 274–84].

Sends John Blackwall’s book [Researches in zoology (1834)]. Discusses his reasons for doubting that there are any marsupials in Java or Sumatra.

Sends congratulations on CD’s engagement, with a gift.

Writes to CD as "Brother Benedick" and sends hearty good wishes for health and happiness in marriage. They are sending a little silver candlestick for a wax taper.

Sends his congratulations and best wishes on CD’s marriage.

Has objected to loading Narrative with advertisements, but thinks CD’s Zoology and Geology might be advertised. Mentions other details of the final stages of publication.

Sends a book [his translation of Goethe’s Hermann u. Dorothea] as a wedding gift.

[Note forwarding 503.]

Lord Fitzwilliam’s gardener does not believe in hybrid ferns.

Answers to [Questions about breeding].

Has not yet had time to read CD’s Journal of researches attentively. He is sure there is no expression referring to himself personally that he could wish were not in it.

Acknowledges receipt of Journal of researches.

Thanks CD effusively [for Journal of researches] – "the most delightful book in my collection".

Thanks CD for Journal of researches. Praises its "want of pretension"; "the Geology seems … to be excellent – and a good part of it new".

Acknowledges Journal of researches.

Robert Brown has mistreated Capt. P. P. King by holding back for nine years the plants collected on King’s voyage of the Adventure and Beagle.

Rejects necessity of outbreeding and any general law of reversion.

Describes further experiments with Hippeastrum showing greater fertility with foreign pollen than with individual’s own pollen or with pollen from another individual of same species.

Does not believe CD’s questions about reversion can be answered in present state of knowledge.

Acknowledges Journal of researches and in return sends the first volume of his History of British birds [1839–43].