Praises WG’s Creed of science.

He disagrees that the existence of natural laws implies purpose, but his "inmost conviction" is that "the Universe is not the result of chance". But then has horrid doubt whether convictions of man’s mind, which has been developed from lower animals, are at all trustworthy.

Believes natural selection is doing more for progress of civilisation than WG admits.

Thanks Fd’AF for his interesting letter. CD suggests observations it would be worth making [in the Azores] although he is too old to make any direct use of them. Fauna and flora of different islands should be compared and the plants and animals from all high mountain summits collected. Suggests Fd’AF investigate the presence of glacial deposits and fossils on the islands. Survival of eggs in salt-water should be tested, as the wide distribution of lizards, land molluscs, and earthworms is a perplexing problem.

Will be very glad to read the essays Fd’AF sent.