Wishes AM success in undertaking his work on geographical distribution [The geographical distribution of mammals (1866)]. CD has no suggestions to make as he has not recently attended to the subject.

He is still weak after his long illness and supposes he will ever remain so.

Darwin remarks on his recommending ARW as a candidate for the Royal Society of London's Royal Medal.

Asks JDH to verify an observation on Dicentra – what CD thought was a branch in the young plant now looks like a gigantic leaf in the old.

Concurs on Spencer’s clever emptiness.

Ramsay exaggerates role of ice. Sorry to hear that Tyndall grows dogmatic.

Admits difficulty of making case for Wallace’s Royal Medal at this time.

Will soon finish the first draft of Variation.

"Read a letter from Mr Darwin suggesting the Translation of Gaertner’s work [Bastarderzeugung im Pflanzenreich (1849)]."

[Copley] Medal very great honour. Cordial thanks.

Chuckled over [Gaspard-Auguste] Brullé and pupils.

Splendid converts in Rudolf Leuckart and Carl Gegenbaur.

Appreciates THH’s note more than Medal.

Encourages THH to write a popular treatise on zoology.

Sends Mrs Huxley a quotation from Tennyson, with sarcastic comment.

Thanks ES in connection with award [of Copley Medal].

Thanks for congratulations on award of Copley Medal by the Royal Society.

Discusses his long period of ill health.

Gratified to receive Copley Medal. Cannot attend anniversary [of Royal Society]. Would HF receive medal for him?

About buying shares.

Sends Living Cirripedia [vol. 2].

Has employed translator for Fritz Müller’s book [Für Darwin (1864)].

Thanks for paper and speech.

CD sends [to the Linnean Society] a paper "On one of the most curious orchids in the world" [read J. Linn. Soc. Lond. (Bot.) 9 (1865): 156–62]. [See 4680].

Has forwarded RT’s paper on Bonatea to the Linnean Society [J. Linn. Soc. Lond. (Bot.) 9 (1865): 156–60].

The Oxalis sent by RT flowered but CD has made out only two forms; he thinks there ought to be three, so would welcome more seed.

CD’s Lythrum paper has given him as much satisfaction as working out complemental males in cirripedes.

Response to award of Copley Medal.

Letters from Germany and France support natural selection.

Now that climbing plants are done, CD asks for Drosera.

The Copley Medal is considered a great honour, but such things make little difference to CD, except for the several kind letters he received. It shows that natural selection is making some progress.

His health is poor.

Work is crawling on Variation;

occasional botany recreative.