CD grieves over death of Frank’s wife Amy; worries that it will weaken Frank’s determination to pursue his scientific work.

CD thanks JDH for his condolences. Amy’s baby will live with the Darwins.

Can JDH come to 7 Park St. on Wednesday?

Frank, who has been reclusive and very hardworking, is returning from Wales after a period of mourning for Amy.

Asks JDH to find young imperfect flowers of Hoya. CD has observed seed set although there was no trace of anthers.

Illness has delayed his departure. Will try to call on JDH on Thursday.

Thanks for JDH’s notes on species sketch. Proposes to drive to Kew to discuss them with him.

Plants received from JDH.

Requests he verify an identification by Fritz Müller.

JDH has sent a short-styled Forsythia from Kew. CD surmises that all Forsythia at Kew may be short-styled, hence he is curious to know whether they set seed.

Health permitting, proposes to visit Kew on Friday.

Health bad, cannot get to Kew.

Will send Nulliporae to [L. A.?] Reeve.

JDH’s proposed India trip.

Will sorely miss discussions with JDH on species theory.

CD is getting on wretchedly with cirripedes.

[Copy made by CD’s amanuensis.] Discusses the rarity of intermediate forms.

Must look after his wife, so is unable to come to visit.

CD notes growth of Royal Society may force it to hire officers.

Speculates on cold resistance of bacterial germs.

Will communicate to Royal Society Frank’s paper on the ingestion of solid particles by the protoplasmic protrusions of Dipsacus glands.

CD working on plant dimorphism.

CD thinks A. Günther’s tortoises are relics of closely allied forms, once widely distributed. Expressed this view to AG a few months ago. Cannot explain their restriction to volcanic islands.

Thanks for H. C. Watson’s interesting letter. Disagrees with him on intermediate varieties.

CD has read latest numbers of JDH’s The botany of the Antarctic voyage [pt I, Flora Antarctica (1844–7)]; notes several sentences against "us Transmutationists".

Delighted that Brongniart thinks Sigillaria aquatic, and that E. W. Binney thinks coal is a sort of submarine peat. Thinks coal-plants will prove to be aquatic, though JDH will sneer at this.

Has acquired a new microscope.

CD defends his position on submarine coal formation and coal-plants against JDH’s strong objections.

Thinks JDH should arrange his facts against the aquatic formation of coal.