No enclosure in JDH’s last letter.

Would like to be amused "for my stomach & the whole Universe is this day demoniacal in my eyes".

Thanks for Asa Gray’s letter, enclosed.

Knew JDH would not care about omissions but was vexed at his own forgetfulness.

Thanks for WT’s papers, especially ["The present aspect of the doctrine of cellular pathology", Edinburgh Med. J. 8 (1863): 873–97].

Comments on CWvN’s Die Entstehung und Begriff [der Naturhistorischen Art (1864)].

Discussion of beauty of flowers in new edition of Origin not based on CWvN’s article.

Comments on CWvN’s argument that flower structures are not due to natural selection.

Thanks for Geological survey of North Wales [1866]. Longs to return to the mountains with which he was once familiar, but did not understand.

CD believes most strongly in reversion. J. G. Kölreuter’s, K. F. v Gärtner’s, and some of Charles Naudin’s cases leave no doubt in his mind. Forgets whether Herbert gave cases but in conversation he certainly believed in it. Thinks Gärtner is right to say reversion occurs only rarely in plant hybrids which have not been cultivated. [See 5120.]

Variation

Different forms of flowers of Rhamnus.

Polymorphism in Rhamnus.

Polymorphic flowers of Rhamnus [see Forms of flowers, p. 294].

Has heard from B. J. Sulivan about the fossils at Gallegos, Patagonia. Would be a great haul for palaeontology if Duke of Somerset would encourage Capt. Mayne to collect them [on survey of Magellan Strait].

Tells JDH of a new map of world that he might use in his lecture [on "Insular floras", BAAS, 1866, J. Bot. Br. & Foreign 5 (1867): 23–31; Gard. Chron. (1867): 6, 27, 50, 75].

Impressed by H. Spencer’s last number, but each suggestion would require years of work to be of use to science.

Cuttings have arrived. Different flower forms [in Rhamnus?].

Petition earnestly requesting that a ship surveying the Strait of Magellan collect fossil bones in the south of Patagonia.

Requests repayment of loan as FR promised last spring.

Asks help in naming a lupin, enclosed. Nurseryman said parties who make experiments should find the names. He might have added "and not trouble their friends".

His reasons for rejecting Atlantis hypothesis connecting Madeira and Canary Islands.

Has read abstract of JL’s paper ["On the present state of archaeological science", Athenæum 21 July 1866, pp. 79–82] and praises it.

Answers JDH’s questions on connection of SE. England and continent,

on the effect of breaking the Isthmus of Panama,

and on Madeira flora as remnant of Tertiary flora.

Cautionary remarks for JDH on his "Insular floras" speech, designed to strengthen case of "occasional migration" theory.

CD defends his view of land birds on St Helena.

Explains why he would not expect American plants on the Azores.

It makes him miserable that he and JDH look at everything so differently.

Admits that occasional transport is not a well-established hypothesis but believes it more probable than continental extension as an explanation for the stocking of islands.

Will be glad to see JDH at Down.