Botanical evidence is against F. B. White’s origin of St Helena fauna. JDH holds flora is S. African. Since plants must arrive before insects, if fauna is Palearctic then flora survived glacial period. Flora not Miocene since old and relic orders are absent. Suggests S. African west coastal mountains as insects’ origin.

Thanks for JDH’s description of CD’s work in Nature.

Anthony Rich to bequeath his property (over £1100 a year) to CD.

Congratulates CD on the Anthony Rich bequest.

Sad but relieved to retire as President of the Royal Society.

Describes battle with Treasury over use of an empty house at Kew.

Waiting for frost to go so experiments can start again.