Urges CD to return to the Beagle early in November. Conrad Martens arrives to succeed Augustus Earle as artist for the expedition.
Mainly news of the family and friends. Their joy at the abolition of slavery.
News of Fanny Biddulph and other Owens; Susan Darwin has declined a marriage offer. Other gossip about Shrewsbury acquaintances.
Writes of his ride from Rio Negro to Bahia Blanca and Buenos Aires, which he undertook in order to learn the geology of the land, so full of bones of large extinct quadrupeds.
Urges CD to visit Flores Island near Montevideo if he has not already done so. Describes formation of greenstone and the granite formations on small islands in the Uruguay channel.
Sends specimens from Pôrto Alegre [Brazil] for identification by CD.
Tierra del Fuego and the barren coasts of Patagonia are "singularly unfavourable to the insect world". In the tropics, however, CD captured minute Coleoptera by the hundreds – which should result in his bringing home many undescribed species.
Has been working hard on collecting English and foreign birds. Yarrell has written of new birds discovered in England.
News of work in progress by Leonard Jenyns, P. J. Selby, and John Gould.
Cautions CD to beware of insects when he sends any birds’ skins – otherwise there will be only feathers, beaks, and legs remaining when he returns.
Is sending a cargo of specimens – birds’ skins, small quadrupeds, and fossil bones.
Describes his overland trip from Rio Negro to Buenos Aires and his expedition to Santa Fé.
Asks for mineralogical works to help him with the volcanic rocks of the west coast.
Sending shot or powder is illegal, but all CD’s goods and chattels have been sent. EL’s services to CD are what any Englishman should do for his country.
Has had to draw bills totalling £217 in seven months.
Is glad the Captain has decided to winter in Tierra del Fuego, because this will facilitate "glorious excursions" into the Andes.
Has obtained fragments of fossil bones and part of a Megatherium head.
Their long delay occurred because the charts were not complete for sending home.
CD is now on shore because of seasickness.
The family may not hear from him for a year.
Acknowledges CD’s letter about alpine entomology of Tierra del Fuego; discusses geographical distribution; urges CD to make a chart of vegetable and geological distribution of insects. Advises him on species to collect and assures him of all assistance in describing his captures on his return.
Tells of founding of Entomological Society, and enrolls CD.
News of J. F. Stephens’ lawsuit and continuation of his Illustrations of British entomology [1827–46]. Praises general state of zoological science in England.
Writes on CD’s 25th birthday.
Points out "errors in orthography" in his journal.
News of family and friends, visits, and other social events.
On fossils ([Megatherium], etc.), plants, shells sent and new ones found; geological observations. Asks for help in understanding cleavage and planes of deposition.
A new species of ostrich. Cites differences in size, colour, nidification, and geographical distribution.
A letter full of news of Cambridge and friends: the BAAS meeting at Cambridge; charges of corruption in the University; the Cambridge petition on behalf of Dissenters.
CD asks the time of shipment and vessel in which the [Megatherium] bones were conveyed.
Patagonia swarms with guanaco, but few other creatures.
Hopes to be able to draw up a tolerable sketch of the geology of the east side of S. America.
Saw Jemmy Button, who is married and will stay in Tierra del Fuego. Mentions Falkland uprising.
Writes a cordial letter with family and local news. Hopes CD will see his two sons in India.
P.S. by Catherine Darwin says no letter was written this month as all is well at home.
Responds to CD’s queries: the bones were received from Mr Keen and shipped to Henslow; expects another collection which he will forward.
Adds news that has arrived at Buenos Aires since CD left.
News of family and friends.
Sends some historical data to illustrate the elevation of the coast at Valparaiso in recent times.
CD’s cargo is safe; the fossils have been sent to William Clift.
JSH asks for dried plants (those sent were all of greatest interest).
Sends news of Cambridge and mutual friends.