Asks AG to identify the species of Triton Mr Ford has drawn.

AG’s help has turned CD’s chapter on fishes and reptiles from "much the worst" into "one of the best" [in Descent].

The Census Bill is down on the paper for tomorrow; will CD restate how he wants to put the question [on cousin marriages]?

Sends CD some seeds.

Has been experimenting with Oxalis crosses.

Discusses the Census Bill and CD’s attempt to get questions on consanguineous marriage added to the census.

CD would like questions on consanguineous marriages inserted in the Census to ascertain effects, if any, on fertility.

Writes concerning the questions on consanguineous marriages which CD wishes to have inserted into the Census. Discusses the form the questions might take and the value of the information that would be gained from them.

CD lost first round of nominations at the Académie Française to Jean-Frédéric de Brandt. QdeB and Milne-Edwards continue the battle, but CD is fiercely attacked.

Asks for complete citation of CD’s geological work on South America because it has to be shown he did more than collect objects.

Supplies names of moths and references.

Describes his breeding experiments with butterflies to test effects of reduced light.

Sends list of his publications.

Is grateful for interest QdeB has taken in his election [to Académie Française].

Thanks Quatrefages for his work on species. Explains that he received the Wollaston Medal for his three geological works.

Thanks JL for his book [Origin of civilization (1870)], which he has read with "extreme interest". Wishes JL had published four or five months earlier as CD would have "so profited & saved so much work". CD will have to modify some of what he has written [in Descent]. Sees they differ a good deal about moral sense "but hardly two men ever do agree on this perplexing subject".

JL’s note of the 16th [see 7277] about the Census arrived too late for CD to answer.

Brought forward the "cousin question" in the House; read most of CD’s letter to the House.

Some good men spoke for CD’s amendment, but in vain.

Sends five papers from J. P. M. Weale for consideration by the Linnean Society.

Has forwarded JPMW’s papers to the Linnean Society [four articles by J. P. M. Weale, J. Linn. Soc. Lond. (Bot.) 13 (1870–2): 42–58].

Comments on JPMW’s findings concerning flowers and their fertilisation.

Would much like CD to contribute a note for insertion after his paper on Aymara Indians.

Thanks DF for proofs of his paper on Aymara Indians.

Sending a work intended for publication on the common force of the universe. Would be glad of JH's comments.

About a title change for the Astronomer Royal's chief assistant.

Thanks for many works, especially double star catalogs, about which JH requests further information, and which will help JH's attempt to compile digest of all measures of all known double stars.