Will not be inclined to challenge Pangenesis.

Admits CD’s victory over JDH’s continental hypothesis (but will not give up Greenland).

Relation of variation to circumstances is shown by discovery of endemic St Helena umbellifer having same palm-like habit as an endemic Madeiran species.

Has completed Boott’s Carices [Illustrations of the genus Carex, pt 4 (1867)],

is printing W. H. Harvey’s work [Genera of South African plants, 2d ed. (1868)],

and is revising English edition of Alphonse de Candolle’s Laws of botanical nomenclature [trans. H. A. Weddell (1868)].

Arrangements at Kew. Gardener [John Smith] is very ill; Oliver reigns supreme in the Herbarium.

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].

Woolner’s bust.

Smith’s health.

St Helena Umbelliferae.

Brambles.