Previous letter [missing] on Edinburgh position was ill-tempered. Friends assure him that he ought to be thankful for opportunity to try for professorship.

Reports meeting with Humboldt in Paris.

Comments on G. B. Sowerby’s identifications of South American fossil shells [812]. [Notes from more than one original memorandum].

Comments on a compass diagram designed to show the dip, strike, and anticlinal lines of a geological formation.

Discusses cleavage planes of mineralogical specimens.

Regrets J. D. Hooker did not visit Berlin.

Describes legal difficulties of Ernst Dieffenbach.

Lists species of Infusoria found in dust samples. Discusses origin of Atlantic dust. Discusses Infusoria in cosmetic paint from Tierra del Fuego and Patagonian earth. Thanks CD for samples. Would like samples from sea-bed.

Discusses chemical reaction involving common salt and carbonate of lime.

Reports that he has an offer of an estate of about 325 acres that CD may find suitable.

Would like to borrow the pamphlet on variation [Frédéric Gérard, "De l’espèce dans les corps organisés" (1844), extract from Dictionnaire universel d’histoire naturelle, ed. C. D. d’Orbigny].

Glad to hear Humboldt’s views on migration. CD believes we cannot "put any limit to the possible and even probable migration of plants".

Wants good book on plant morphology.

JDH recommends Augustin de Saint-Hilaire’s Leçons de botanique [1841]. Relates opinions of European botanists on migration and plant distribution.

Has received pamphlet from JDH [John Murray, Strictures on morphology (1845)].

Hopes JDH will enjoy Edinburgh.

Has just finished Isidore Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire on animal monsters [Anomalies de l’organisation chez l’homme et les animaux (1832–7)], "and a nasty curious subject it is".

Thanks for information about books.

Murray is publishing CD’s Journal of researches. Would be grateful for a sentence on Galapagos plants.

A Tasmanian Cyttaria is same species as CD’s Fuegian fungus. Did the species originate on the beeches of Fuegia or of Tasmania?

JDH gives interpretation of Vestiges.

John McCulloch, J. F. Schouw, and Lamarck on the species question.

Returns specimens and drawings of Confervae with many thanks. Would appreciate any corrections for second edition of Journal of researches.

First part of "Galapagos flora" ["Plants of the Galapagos Archipelago", Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 20 (1851): 163–233] finished but not printed.

Details of distribution of Galapagos flora. Peculiarity of island floras.

Leaves for Edinburgh on Wednesday.

Returns notes on Confervae.

Has had information from Ehrenberg on organic forms in Atlantic dust.

Thanks for sketch of Galapagos flora.

JDH’s books have arrived safely.

Is sending him corrected MS of first part of Journal of researches [2d ed.].

Lyells have just visited.

Discusses the microscopic structure of rock samples from Chile and the Pampas. Describes organic remains found in the samples.

Has marked probable depths of the specimens on CD’s list of S. American shells. Asks for details which would provide more precise conclusions. [See South America, p. 226.]

Is about to send his paper on Galapagos beetles to press. Has written some introductory material on which he invites CD’s comments.