Plans to write a book on expression. Questions WB on orbicular muscle in screaming infant and function of muscle contractions in looking at a distant object.

Thanks for reply to queries. Spectroscope an instance of unimagined glorious prospects of science.

Made aware by Asa Gray of error with respect to Cypripedium. Does not doubt it is self-fertilised.

Sends Fritz Müller’s address;

disagrees on Mary Barton.

Seeks name of the Mimulus on which he has experimented [see Variation 2: 128].

Requests flowers of yellow variety of Mirabilis jalapa.

Hopes JTM’s health will improve.

Asks for information about crosses of peas.

CD wishes his son Leonard to try for University this winter and intends sending Horace to a private tutor.

Has finished last revise of his book [Variation].

Is curious to know what JDH thinks of Pangenesis. It is fearfully imperfect, yet satisfying, for it connects large groups of facts by an intelligible thread.

Thomas Woolner is coming [to do a bust of CD].

Sends WED £200.

Woolner’s bust.

Smith’s health.

St Helena Umbelliferae.

Brambles.

Thanks for copy of HS’s First principles [? 2d ed. (1867)].

Comments on HS’s Principles of biology [1864, 1867].

Asks her to observe whether her dog exposes his teeth when barking and to think of any facts about expression in her birds.

Asks FD to check whether a Latin sentence is correct.

No summary available.

Discusses the Duke of Argyll’s book [Reign of law (1867)].

Cites his own views on diversity of structure and beauty.

Encloses letter from Wallace. Sexual selection: evidence advanced by Wallace.

Discusses correlation of growth.

Comments on article in the North British Review [by Fleeming Jenkin].

Discusses the evidence from physics on the age of the earth.

[Four pages of the final letter are missing, but the draft is complete.]