Determined to make GRW a geologist. Sends copy of C. Lyell [?Elements of geology (1838)].
Responds to report of the referee [on his paper "The formation of mould"]. Strikes out a paragraph and wants to add a note. Asks WL’s advice about a sentence.
Has not been well.
Plans a geological trip to Glen Roy in Scotland.
Thanks WDF for remembering the crossing of animals, CD’s "prime hobby". "I really think some day I shall be able to do something on that most intricate subject species and varieties."
Would like to arrange a meeting about CD’s collection of shells [from the Beagle voyage].
His [first] railway journey was disappointing.
Comments on receiving copy of Lyell’s Elements [of geology]. Much is new to CD, and he is copying out notes and references.
Criticises geological work of John Phillips.
Describes expedition to Glen Roy, about which he is writing a paper ["Parallel roads of Glen Roy" (1839), Collected papers 1: 87–137].
Enjoys the Athenaeum Club.
Criticises entomological work of F. W. Hope.
Asks Lyell to obtain for him a copy of barometric readings made at Leith.
Asks him to ascertain altitude of several Scottish lochs.
Comments on FitzRoy’s character.
Notification of submission of Smith, Elder & Co. accounts (enclosed) for first numbers of part II and part III of the Zoology, which are now published.
Report on R. A. C. Austen’s paper on the origin of limestone in Devonshire [Proc. Geol. Soc. Lond. 2 (1838): 669–70]. CD deems it not worthy of publication in Transactions.
Seeks permission to make another visit to Addiscombe [Military College] to see again the model of St Helena. He needs to correct proportion of some geological sections in his Geology [see Volcanic islands, ch. 4].
Comments on an article in Edinburgh Review [by David Brewster, 67 (1838): 271–308] on Comte’s Philosophie positive.
Discusses falsity of Élie de Beaumont’s views of contemporaneous parallel lines of elevation and subsidence.
Owen’s views of relationship of reptiles to birds.
On "question of species" CD has filled notebook after notebook with facts, "which begin to group themselves clearly under sub-laws".
Submits the account of Smith, Elder & Co. for the second number of the second part of the Zoology.
Relates plan for an appendix to his Journal of researches which will include facts of species of birds’ being different in different islands of the Galápagos and also of the lizards and tortoises on the islands. Asks JSH whether he can supply parallels in the plant life.
Requests information for W. S. Macleay on JFWH’s method of catching pelagic animals while ship is under way.
Announces his engagement to Emma Wedgwood.
In his first letter after their engagement, CD reports on the happy reception of the news by his family. He hopes she will not find life with him solitary and dull after the lively social life of Maer.
Recounts his misadventures on the train journey back to London. Tells of a visit to the FitzRoys and a friendly letter from Lyell. Whether CD and Emma should live in central London or in the suburbs is a perplexing problem, much discussed by relatives and friends.
Announces his engagement.
Glad CW wondered at Glen Roy. "I saw nothing in my peregrinations to the Antipodes nearly so curious in physical geography."
CD and Erasmus continue to search for a house in central London. They have tea with the Carlyles.
His search for a London house. He visits the Lyells, who give solemn advice to choose their London acquaintances carefully.
Sends GRG a few pages of proofs [of Birds]. Asks him to make any observations that might occur to him and to check passages in French and Latin.