Thanks CD for his gracious and instructive reply to the Baron de Villa Franca; his letter will be forwarded to Brazil.
Regrets the pretentious tone of his 5 Aug letter [12678].
Arrangements for the Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union to present a memorial address to CD at Down. Deputation will include H. C. Sorby and W. C. Williamson.
Comments on STP’s article on women ["Evolution and female education", Nature 22 (1880): 485–6].
His intent in quoting Descent on the law of equal hereditary transmission to both sexes in his article "Evolution and female education" was to support female education.
Further arrangements for visit of Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union to Down.
The Philadelphus CD sent is flourishing and appears to attract a particular kind of fly.
Science and the law as professions. Lawyers in politics.
Does not believe any organic being is evidence of design; refers GEM to the last pages of Variation for his reasons. Even if no organism shows evidence of design, this does not preclude faith in the existence of a loving creator; evidence of such a creator must be looked for outside the limits of physical science.
Thanks him for the volume on the philosophy of medicine,
and asks him to convey to the Scuola Italica thanks for the great honour they have done him.
Extremely grateful for CD’s reply. He continues in his faith in God and his devotion to CD.
"Your secret shall be inviolable, and to make sure in case of my illness or death I have now burnt your letter."
Wishes JT success in commercial venture.
With reference to CD’s account of the subterranean habits of the tucutuco [Journal of researches, p. 58], sends her personal experience of having seen them come out of their burrows. One which she caught was not blind.
Invites FG to lunch.
Requests a volume of Zoologist with an article dated Oct 1849.
Is dedicating his Foundations of ethics to CD.
Has talked to Lubbock and Huxley about pension for Wallace. Asks for help in getting information about Wallace’s circumstances.
No summary available.
No summary available.
JDH asks Gray for a reference to General Alvord's first account of the Compass plant [Silphium laciniatum], alluded to by Gray in Silliman's Journal [AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SCIENCE AND ARTS]. JDH has a drawing of the Compass plant to be published in the Jan number of CURTIS'S BOTANICAL MAGAZINE. JDH has had lunch with George Thurber. JDH has received a collection of plants, mostly Cape types, from the plateau of the African Lakes. They were collected by a Mr Thomson, companion of the unfortunate Keith Johnstone. JDH praises Alfred Russel Wallace's book on island distribution [ISLAND LIFE]. JDH writes that he is sending books to Gray, he lists prices for the following publications based on a catalogue: a work by Nees von Essenbeck & Weihe, HISTOIRE PARTICULERE ORCHIDEES RECUEILLIES AUSTRALES by Petit-Thouars, a work by Delile, PLANTES USUÉLLES DES BRÉSILIENS by Saint-Hilaire, a book about ferns of the Antilles, FLORA SARDOA by Moris & FLORA ESPAGÑOLA Ó HISTORIA DE LAS PLANTAS QUE SE CRIAN EN ESPAGÑA by Martinez. JDH suggests that Gray pay £8 for the full 28 volumes he wants. Gray is missed at Kew. The health of JDH's sister Elizabeth Evans-Lombe is improving. JDH & his wife Hyacinth Hooker are both keen to get away for a holiday. [John] Smith is incapacitated by sciatica & it is causing problems with garden duties which may prevent JDH going to Italy.
JDH thanks Gray for sending him notes on the Compass plant [Silphium laciniatum]. Discusses payment for books purchased for Gray. JDH subscribed to Leighton's Lichen Flora so that Leighton would leave his collections to RBG Kew, he is sending a copy of the new edition to Gray. Mrs Bentham has broken her femur. JDH's son Charles Paget Hooker's has been burnt out of his house, the fire killed some livestock & pets. John Smith is incapacitated by sciatica & the garden work is falling to JDH & William Thiselton-Dyer. JDH is relieved it will be his last year on The Royal Society Council, after a total of 16 years duty. He recounts some internal affairs of the Linnean Society, George Bentham resigned due to the appointment of Marie to Kippist's place on the Linnean Council. JDH is disappointed at the appointment of non-scientists as librarian & secretary to the Linnean Society. The Hooker family are well. JDH wishes he could join Gray in Spain but his duties will not allow it. He is busy with the BOTANICAL MAGAZINE. Bentham is upset with JDH's slow progress on palms [for GENERA PLANTARUM].
No summary available.