Returns and sends comments on Clarke Hawkshaw’s essay ‘The persistence of forms of life in the depths of the sea’.

Although he formed a high opinion of one of the correspondent’s papers, regrets that he could not presume to give an opinion of the merits of a candidate in chemistry.

Requests help for George Darwin’s investigation of marriages of first cousins. Seeks to determine proportion of first-cousin offspring among the insane, deaf and dumb, blind, etc.

Thanks JDH for Asa Gray’s interesting letter.

Would like JDH’s copy of Coral reefs. Needs it for corrections for a new edition. Cannot buy one.

CD is glad Horace has done "pretty well" in his examination.

Smith and Elder will publish new edition of Coral reefs [1874]; thanks HD for aid.

Reports on a séance. "The Lord have mercy on us all if we have to believe in such rubbish."

Asks JDH to vote for his nephew, Henry Parker, for Athenaeum membership.

[Valediction and signature only.]