Has had some misgivings about the memorial but now thinks his fears were vain and cowardly. Regrets R. I. Murchison was not told in advance. His low opinion of the Government and B. Disraeli.

Examining JDH’s list. CD struck by how many plants are common to Europe, S. America, and Australia.

Sends receipt for £250 6s. 2d.

Approves of WED’s moving into CD’s old rooms [at Christ’s College]. Gives fatherly advice on Cambridge’s temptation to idleness. Christmas plans.

Health poor of late.

Thanks WE for an oriental treatise on pigeons, a paper on poultry, and specimens.

Asks about stripes on shoulders and legs of horses and donkeys.

K. E. von Baer’s view of the air bladder of fishes.

Would appreciate loan of CD’s chapter on transmigration across tropics, which may help with the difficulties of Australian distribution.

Still regards plant types as older than animal types.

The Cape of Good Hope and Australian temperate floras cannot be connected by the highlands of Abyssinia.

Thanks for some poultry breeds.

Wide-ranging species more "improved" than relics in small areas because they exist in large numbers and thus are subject to intense competition.

His abstract is 330 folio pages long so far.

JDH cannot abide CD’s connection of wide-ranging species and "highness". Australian flora contradicts this in many ways.

Responds to CD’s queries about the thickness of various geological formations. [See Origin, p. 284.]

Replies at length to JDH’s worried reaction to his comments on lowness of Australian plants. CD distinguishes between "competitive highness", i.e., which fauna would be exterminated and which survive if two faunas were placed in competition, and ordinary "highness" of classification.

Asks JP to remember him if anything occurs to him "in regard to inheritance at corresponding or rather earlier ages". Sends JP a few examples for his "Chronometry of life". CD is sure he often met with striking facts but he disregarded them. "Deviations alone would have struck me."

Effects of different climates on breeding periods.

If only one observer is assigned to Peking, observations could not be conducted. Describes staff and expenses at other magnetic observatories. Edward Sabine's plan to adapt all instruments to photographic self-registering instruments.

Asks JH to review R.S.L.'s reply to Prince Albert regarding extension of B.A.A.S. magnetic and meteorological observations. RO enjoyed photo[micro]graphs of aquatic animalcules; these give clear insight into 'the spontaneous production of the species....'

[Marked 'Private.'] Treasury replied unfavorably to request for extension of magnetic observations. C. E. Trevelyan suggests that joint letter from JH and presidents of R.S.L. and B.A.A.S. proposing only one observer (no observatory) at Peking would be acceptable, if estimated cost is included. No other locations will be approved. This concession was made possible by influence of Prince Albert.

The Treasury has, with great reluctance, agreed to establish one magnetic observatory at Peking, rather than the extensive plans proposed [see Edward Sabine's 1858-6-26].

Asks GA to help in determining cost of one observation station in Peking [see Richard Owen's 1858-12-18].

Given the Treasury stance [see Richard Owen's 1858-12-18], GA sees little point in setting up one station [see JH's 1858-12-18].

Sends Mathematical Monthly. Asks for a list of JH's publications. Would also like a photograph and biographical sketch.