Since his previous letter, has unexpectedly arranged to go to London next Tuesday.

Hopes to call on recipient.

CD misunderstood Huxley: Henslow is not dead.

Inquires about rabbits.

Sends list of queries on poultry.

WBT’s fowls’ skulls have arrived.

Thanks for correspondent’s Untersuchungen [? Über das Klima und die Vegetationsverhältnisse des Tertiärlandes (1860)]. CD has always considered subject interesting and important.

Comments on FWH’s article ["Some remarks on Mr Darwin’s theory", Geologist (1861): 132–6, 183–8]. Does not adduce direct evidence of species change but believes it because so many phenomena thus explained.

Regrets having troubled SB during his illness. His thanks for the assistance already given.

Returns [an unspecified] enclosure referring to "a most wonderful cure".

Asks about species of Opetiorhynchus.

Lieut. F. W. Hutton’s original review [Geologist 4 (1861): 132–6, 183–8] understands that mutability cannot be directly proved.

CD met Bentham at Linnean Society and asked him to write up his views on mutability.

Opinion of Owen.

Conversation with Lyell on antiquity of man.

Offers to go to Henslow despite his own poor health.

Congratulations on DO’s marriage.

Comments on QdeB’s Unité de l’espèce humaine [1861].

Discusses acceptance of his theory among scientists, especially geologists.

C. V. Naudin did not show how selection applied in nature, but Patrick Matthew clearly anticipated CD’s views.

Asks TD to carry out research on brachiopods to see whether the forms in one formation are intermediate between those above and below.

Describes unpublished study of spirifers by J. W. Salter.

Requests facts concerning the colour of the parents of true dun horses. His interest also in the colour and presence of spinal stripes of dun horses or ponies before they lose their first hair.

Thanks RC for "Ice and water" [in RC’s Edinburgh papers (1861)].

Comments on problem of scientific accuracy.

Discusses views of Thomas Davidson on the genealogy of brachiopods.

Thanks TD for his letter. Difficulties with CD’s theory are many and great, but CD thinks the reason is that we underestimate our ignorance. The imperfection of the geological record counts heavily for CD. His greatest trouble is weighing "the direct effects … of changed conditions of life without any selection, with the action of selection on mere accidental (so to speak) variability. I oscillate much on this head, but generally return to my belief that the direct [effects] … have not been great."

Is surprised that any one, like W. B. Carpenter, can go as far as to believe all birds may have descended from one parent, but will not go further and include all the members of the same great division. Such beliefs make "Divine mockeries" of morphology and embryology, the most important of all subjects.

Thanks JM for bill for £480 and sends receipt. Number of copies differs in note and in receipt (2500 and 2000, respectively). Not surprised sale is slackening; number printed was bold. Reminds JM to advertise "with additions and corrections".

Will consult JM on illustrations for Variation.

Thanks W. H. Fitch for drawing for the Primula paper. Death of experimental plants delays publication.

Has received the shipment of skeletons of fowls. Asks TCE species name of Gungla cock. Mentions other specimens.

Asks how many wild Chillingham cattle are killed each year. Interested in rate of increase.