JDH writes to Asa Gray about his taxonomic work on the Rubiaceae family, he mentions the classification of Hedyotis, Gardeniae & Gouldia. JDH regrets the number of specimens, especially African ones, in the herbarium that remain unexamined. He is working on [William Henry] Harvey's book on Cape Genera: he will do the ferns & Lycopods but not the lower Cryptogams, [William] Munro is doing the grasses. Gay's herbarium has arrived. JDH apologises for trouble with a case of [Francis] Boott's Carices [Carex] sent to Gray. Cannot answer [Charles] Wright's letters on Rubiaceae until he has finished his systematic work on the order. Is critical of [August Heinrich Rudolf] Grisebach's work, especially on Melastoma, also mentions Wright's Cuban Melastoma. Suggests the Smithsonian Institute would undertake a particular publication[?] for Gray. Thanks Gray for seeds incl. Picea amabilis & Pera. Discusses the fact that the United States of America & the United Kingdom have different systems of Government. Asks if Gray has read [Charles] Darwin's last book [THE VARIATION OF ANIMALS AND PLANTS UNDER DOMESTICATION [?]] & gives his opinion, at length, on the chapters on heredity through Pangenesis - he considers heredity self evident from observation of propagation & inherent in the acceptance of the theory of natural selection. In a post script JDH adds that he has for sale all the sets of Boott's Carices & reduced rate copies of his book [ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE GENUS CAREX]. Proceeds of books sold through JDH will go to Boott's grandmother, who will have the care of his children. Discusses Gray publishing a supplemental part to Boott's book, comprised of additional drawings lithographed by Walter Hood Fitch's nephew, John Fitch, & outlines potential cost.
He and Lizzie [Elizabeth Darwin] will come to Kew on Saturday.
No summary available.
Defers visit [to Kew] because of ill health.
Asks for [John?] Smith’s exact count of seeds of the crossed and self-fertilised Victoria water-lily. Similar question on Euryale seed and seedlings.
JDH’s coming [BAAS] Presidential Address.
Goes to N. Wales with Huxley.
Wishes to borrow Duke of Argyll’s Reign of law.
The BAAS Presidential Address [Rep. BAAS 38 (1868): lviii–lxxv] – his unhappiness about it; history of botany requires too much reading.
Smith will supply notes on Euryale.
No summary available.
No summary available.
Trip with Huxley was perfect.
At Torquay later he had a lecture on "Kent’s hole" from Joseph Pengelly.
George Bentham acknowledges himself unreservedly a convert to Darwinism. Many will still cling to a "rag of protection, but will eventually haul it down".
A. Murray’s later parts better than first [? Geographical distribution of mammals (1866)].
Wallace’s paper shows great ability.
Disgusted with [Duke of Argyll’s] Reign of law.
His depression and exhaustion.
Encloses grass from locust dung sent from Natal. Asks for name of grass.
Hooker enquires what Darwin makes of ARW's paper on bird's nests and how he struck by ARW's great ability.
No summary available.
JDH too severe on Duke of Argyll.
Pities JDH on [BAAS] address [see 6099]; Huxley feels JDH will do well and will not pity him.
Thinks Huxley will give an excellent and original lecture on geographical distribution of birds.
Has been working hard on sexual selection and correspondence about it.
Mignonette is sterile with its own pollen but any two distinct plants are fertile together. It is utterly mysterious and not even Pangenesis will explain it.
On Lyell’s book [Principles, 10th ed.].
Wallace’s wonderful cleverness, but he is not cautious enough. CD differs from Wallace on birds’ nests and protection.
A. Murray’s miserable criticism of Wallace [J. Travel & Nat. Hist. 1 (1868): 137–45].
No summary available.
Horrified to find he has forgotten to announce birth of daughter.
Congratulations on birth of daughter. CD used to dread birth-time.
Sexual selection has turned out to be a large subject.
Sends second lot of grass grown from locust dung pellets from Natal.
Will get name of grass [see 6243] from Gen. William Munro.
Has heard from Charles Wheatstone that CD has Prussian Order of Merit. Rejoices because it is the only distinction worth a fig.
Went to Handel festival; heard Messiah.
Went to poor old N. B. Ward’s funeral.
On Pour le Mérite; JDH has made him think more highly of it.
Messiah is the one thing he would like to hear again, but thinks his soul might be too dried up now to appreciate it. Sometimes hates science for making him "a withered leaf" for everything else.
Frank [Darwin] now doing botany seriously.
The grass [see 6243] is Sporobolus elongatus, common in the tropics.
Visit to Oxford with X Club.
On his forthcoming address.
