Has not answered CD’s former letters. Has been ill. Will look up fish business as soon as he is square again.

Dining arrangements.

Will observe fertilisation of melastomads as CD requests.

Observations on fertilisation by ants.

Detailed observations on sexes in Catasetum, which were made before he received Orchids and which differ from CD’s findings.

Owen’s cutting critique of Lyell’s book [Antiquity of man] in Athenæum [21 Feb 1863, pp. 262–3]. JDH despises Owen’s mind too much to hate his individuality.

Pleads guilty to both criticisms of "Miss Henrietta Minor Rhadamanthus Darwin" [see 3896] of points in his Lectures [to working men].

Discusses the deposition of coal and considers the possibility of coal aggregating into seams after deposition.

Criticism of Antiquity of man; its public reception.

A diploma. CD is elected a corresponding member.

Identifies flies sent to him by CD. [CD note states that these were found with orchid pollinia adhering to them.]

Answers CD’s query on Primula longiflora and P. scotica.

Would like abstract of CD’s paper ["Two forms of Linum", Collected papers 2: 93–105] for Natural History Review.

Regrets he did not make the statement [unspecified] referred to by CD.

Believes the Origin has been very valuable, even among those not disposed to agree with transmutation, in giving a great check to "species manufacture".

Will come to dine on Monday unless he hears to the contrary.

John Lubbock’s lecture on man a success [Not. Proc. R. Inst. G. B. 4 (1863): 29–40].

JDH on the effect of the Civil War on Asa Gray.

JDH’s opinion of Lyell on glaciers is improving.

JS criticises natural selection as based on an innate "continuously watchful selective principle".

Seeks seed of wild Rocky Mountain maize.

What is CD’s view on origin of maize?

Seeks information on self-sterility of Passiflora and Lobelia.

Weeping habit of trees.

Intended to say bisexual plants presented more established varieties than unisexual, not that they are more variable.

Explains his opinion that homomorphically fertilised Primula will produce only their own form. Is trying homomorphic crosses with different coloured Primula varieties.

Asks to read Asa Gray’s 2d review of Orchids.

Has finally successfully fertilised Gongora, but it was done by unnatural means.

Sum due to CD is £11 13s 1d. Offer £5 for remaining stock of South America and Volcanic islands.

At CD’s request HBD has traced the quotation; it is on regeneration from Charles White in W. B. Carpenter’s Comparative physiology (1854), p. 480.

Is gratified that CD thinks some of the arguments in his book [Lectures on the germs of disease (1861)] are satisfactory.

Sends copy of his December letter [see 3851], which he fears is lost.

Has been in the Southern Alps and has discovered a wonderful pass.

Lyell’s position on mutability.

Directions for care of hothouse plants.

Falconer hostile to Lyell’s book.

JDH’s Wedgwood ware collection.

Refers to paper by F. Smith on the distribution of ARW's Hymenoptera.

Thanks CD for his review [of H. W. Bates’s paper on mimetic butterflies, Collected papers 2: 87–92].

Is glad Hooker approved of his [JL’s] lecture.