HES’s arguments are of great weight, but CD cannot yet bring himself to reject well-known names for obscure ones. Sends four cases that he thinks will stagger HES. Cites his problems in classifying cirripedes. CD cannot bear to give new names, yet may do wrong to attach old ones. Not one species is correctly defined. The harm done by "species mongers".

Sends details of the progress of erecting the equatorial. William Mann is engaged on the Simon's Bay tide observations. The Madras Observatory post was offered to Mann but he declined it for health reasons. Comments on the affairs of [George Smalley], who is in financial difficulties. Not much news from the Cape. Comments on some of the educational news.