Reports his successful interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer [Thomas Spring Rice] about a grant for publishing [Zoology]. Thanks JSH for help with this; "you have been the making of me from the first".

The Chancellor of the Exchequer and their Lordships after receiving numerous representations in support of Mr Darwin’s proposal concur in the opinion that Public Funds in aid of the Expenses should be granted as soon as he is ready to proceed in conformity with the enumerated conditions.

Proof-sheets [of Journal of researches] are tumbling in. Mentions future plans for Zoology and geological works. Has £1000 from Government for illustrations.

Regrets he cannot come to music meeting in Birmingham because he is very busy with the proofs of his book [Journal of researches]. A waste of life to spend a summer in ugly Marlborough Street.

Syenitic granite from Norway carried as far as Osnabruck.

Has met warm reception in Germany.

Leopold von Buch mistaken in believing that granite overlies transition rock in Norway. Granite sends veins into transition and gneiss.

Has been examining fossil shells of Crag with Heinrich Beck. Beck admits some shells are of species still living.

CL still believes Eocene, Miocene, and Pliocene are satisfactory divisions of Tertiary epoch.

The Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty’s Treasury approve CD’s request for £1000 in aid of publication [of Zoology].

Suggestions are presented respecting CD’s proposed publication of his zoological work in accordance with the Government requirement.

Doctors have urged him to knock off all work and go to the country. Arranges proof-reading with JSH, while he is at Shrewsbury.

Encloses a statement [see 377a] from Smith, Elder & Co., which appears to provide the best plan for the expenditure of the grant. Asks that it be presented for their Lordships’ consideration. Also encloses a prospectus.

Thanks WS for a document [see 379]. Promises to send MS and woodcuts before night. Discusses details of printing and correction. Thanks WS and Henry Colburn for assistance.

Proof-reading arrangements for Journal of researches. CD’s difficulty in writing correctly.

Their Lordships communicate their entire approval of the proposal in CD’s letter of 20 September 1837. [See 378a.]

CD’s reasons for his reluctance to take the Secretaryship of the Geological Society.

Report on J. G. Forchhammer’s communications on changes of levels of land in Denmark [Proc. Geol. Soc. Lond. 2 (1838): 554–6].

Sends an abstract made by J. F. Royle of CD’s paper ["On certain areas of elevation and subsidence in the Pacific and Indian Oceans"]. G. B. Greenough will have problems with the altered references in the coral island section.

Has returned from the country, and will superintend the revises [of Journal and remarks].

Can Mr Whiting send slips more often?

CD’s work [on Zoology] is going smoothly. Marvels at finding himself an author [of Journal of researches]. Part so far printed has a good many errata.

Sends information about, and dates of treatment of peaty fields. Marl seems to have sunk to the natural stratum of hard white sand which lies below the peat.

Thanks for "Maer Hypothesis" ["Formation of mould" (1840), Collected papers 1: 49–53].

RF declines to give an opinion on the wording of the preface to CD’s volume [Journal and remarks, vol. 3 of Narrative, published separately as Journal of researches] and refers him to a disinterested third party.

CD’s response [missing] comes from the heart. RF explains that CD’s preface [to Journal and remarks, vol. 3 of Narrative] offended him in not acknowledging the part RF and the other officers had in helping CD. Beagle voyage was the first on which officers could have kept any specimens they collected, but they gave preference to CD.