Origin will be published 22 Nov. Fears correspondent will find the conclusions "abominable".

August Laugel has sent him a copy of his review [of Origin] in Revue des Deux-Mondes [26 (1860): 644–71].

He has sent the list of seeds to J. H. Hooker at Kew. There has been no agreement about a French edition [of Origin]. There is little chance of his being at the BAAS meeting at Oxford.

Orders one copy of the issue of the Atlantic Monthly for last August (but not worth sending to America for) and two copies of the issue for next October.

Sends photograph in case recipient collects them.

Thanks correspondent for book on old bones.

CD is obliged for the offer, but he is "too much occupied to contribute to any periodicals".

CD regrets he has to turn down an invitation because of his ill health.

Declines invitation to dine at Downing College because of influenza.

Thanks for monstrous floral specimen, but it is a common one.

Asks for information about cases for stove-plants. [Answers recorded in another hand.]

Encloses a dialogue on species from a New Zealand newspaper [S. Butler’s First dialogue on evolution, from the Christchurch Press].

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].

Sends a photograph of himself.

Requests that correspondent take some action regarding the state of horses on his farm. Robert Ainslie of Tromer Lodge, Down, was fined in 1852 following CD’s complaints.

The apparent difference in arm lengths of compositors is due to a drooping shoulder. File-makers stand in a peculiar position and call one of their legs the hind leg.

A letter of reference for Syms Covington.

Has not seen K. E. von Baer’s paper ["Über Papuas und Alfuren", Mem. Acad. Imp. Sci. St.-Pétersbourg (Sci. Nat.) 8 (1859): 269–346], but has read extract.

Knew of case of hairy and toothless family through John Crawfurd, Journal of an embassy from the Governor-General of India [2d ed. (1834)].

Working on causes of variability.

Gives information about obtaining the most recent (4th) edition of Origin.

Is glad to hear that his correspondent is interested in the subject.

Thanks for their kind feelings towards him.