Cannot find his Chalk or Gault formation Pollicipes. Inquires how CD sent these back.

Spent two days watching Epipactis palustris in a bog. Never saw a moth.

Thinks "Suddenism" and not "Graduality" is the great Law of Nature.

Sends a photograph of himself.

Thanks CD for loan of £10.

Replies to CD’s queries on climbing plants.

A minute black beetle visits the flowers of Epipactis grandiflora.

JDH’s visit stimulates CD’s interest in his own work. Encloses list of queries on climbing plants. [Missing]

Sends photographs of himself and his late wife [Anna Sethe]. Describes death of his wife.

Plans trip to the Alps.

Thanks CD for biographical information about himself.

Mentions Goethe as early evolutionist.

Cites Kant as early supporter of epigenesis.

Mentions criticism of CD’s theory by R. A. von Kölliker ["Über die Darwin’sche Schöpfungstheorie", Z. Wiss. Zool. 14 (1864): 174–86].

CD’s support in JBJ’s controversy with Hugh Falconer is welcome. R. I. Murchison supports Falconer, and Lyell does not support their side strongly enough. Falconer and Jukes remain friends in private.

Can understand EH’s feelings on death of his wife.

CD was impressed by manner in which species in South America are replaced by closely allied ones, by affinity of species inhabiting islands near S. America, and by relation of living Edentata and Rodentia to extinct species. When he read Malthus On population, the idea of natural selection flashed on him.

Agrees with EH’s remarks on Kölliker ["Darwin’sche Schöpfungstheorie", Z. Wiss. Zool. 14 (1864): 174–86].

Asks EH to thank Carl Gegenbaur [for Vergleichende Anatomie der Wirbelthiere (1864)].

Clarifies queries on climbing plants.

CD’s urine sample was probably alkaline when passed. The deposit was phosphate of lime. Prescribes a new antacid and continuation of podophyllin. He can judge CD’s state as described by his letter.

Replies to queries on climbing plants.

JDH meets Scott and finds him an intelligent and superior-looking man. Scott wishes to come to Down before leaving England.

Horace Darwin making progress, but tires easily and does not like drudgery.

Scott would be very welcome at Down for a short visit.

Asks JDH to name a Bignonia.

Coming to end of climbing plants paper.

R. I. Murchison has criticised ACR’s glacial lake theory in his Presidential Address to Royal Geographical Society [J. R. Geogr. Soc. 34 (1864): cix–cxcii].

ACR has finished his Geology of N. Wales.

Is sending CD an article which he hopes will make him see that there are more causes than ice to account for the structure and wearing away of rocks. [Possibly "On the relative powers of glaciers and floating ice-bergs in modifying the surface of the earth", Can. Nat. 2 (1865): 21–33.] [J. of R. Geog. Soc. London 34 (1864)]

First draft of climbing plants paper is completed.

Nepenthes is a true climber.

Scott has visited Down.

Believes he gave JDH wrong address.