Has broken up school a few days early to avoid danger. Hopes CD’s son is nearly recovered.

Sends sermon he preached at the BAAS Nottingham meeting ["The continuity of the schemes of nature and revelation" (1866)], in which he disagrees with CD on the gradual genesis of the human eye by natural selection.

Responds to CP’s sermon. Corrects CP’s confusion of what CD said about eyes of the Articulata with human eye,

and questions applicability of CP’s mathematical arguments about length of geological time needed for evolution.

Agrees he was foolish about the Wealden, now struck from later editions [Origin, pp. 285–7].

Congratulations on success of CD’s son [George].

JH is busy correcting first proofs of pages on double stars. Thanks for binding JH's star [allineations?]. CP's suggestion [see CP's 1867-3-27] to JH's son Alexander, to collect and edit William Herschel's papers, entails too much work for one editor. JH dreads thought of such work. Doubts CP's claim that WH observed fixed star in Corona.

Informal request for JH to write biography of W. R. Dawes for R.A.S. Recent marriages in CP's family.

Thanks CP and R.A.S. Council for funds to help with JH's catalogue of William Herschel's double stars. Alexander Herschel will begin work soon on the project.

Asks if JH anticipated the results of W. L. Newman's work on lens curvature.

Informs JH, Charles Babbage, and James South that they are the surviving original members of the R.A S. Requests JH write an account of the R.A.S.'s founding. Discusses the evidence of the 'personal will' of God in creation.

Solar spectrum observations of John Herschel (son of JH) may have produced detection of the photosphere and corona at a time other than a total solar eclipse.

Requests JH's reflections on the deceased Wilhelm Struve. Discusses making of telescope object glass. Continues work on the optical tables.

Warren de La Rue observes 'willow leaves' [mottling on solar surface]. Diagonal solar eyepiece works with great success. Praises de La Rue's work as having astounding accuracy.

Praises JH's Iliad. Asks R.S.L. for funds to cover expenses incurred by spherical observations. Details information to be included in optical tables.

Suggests remedy for bronchitis problem in JH family. Young John Herschel's work on nebulae pleases CP. Comments on William Huggins's work on solar spectra.

R.S.L. approves of CP's optical work, believing it will be helpful at observatories abroad. CP comments on Alexander Herschel's prism experiments.

R.A.S. wants JH to direct the preparation of William Herschel's catalogue of double stars for publication. CP suggests Alexander Herschel prepare the catalogue with JH's supervision. G. B. Airy observes the 'willow leaves.'

Compares observations of meteor shower in Orion with JH. Describes methods and observations in detail.

Asks JH for information on the Beaufoy Clock owned by R.A.S., which is now missing. Requests JH to read R.A.S. Annual Report.

Discusses opinions of Charles Darwin's theories. Doubtful that the day has shortened due to tidal forces since the earth's beginning. Alexander Herschel helps in the revision of William Herschel's double star catalogue. Alex is preparing to lecture at Glasgow University.

Has discovered William Herschel's memoirs in R.A.S. library; arranged and read them. Asks JH whether any copies exist so the originals can be checked for completion before binding. Questions JH on William Herschel's opinion of the nature of nebulae and boundaries of the galaxy.