Asks whether one of Balfour’s students could obtain specimens of Corallorhiza from Ravelrig bog outside Edinburgh for CD.

Thanks GG for his great kindness about Corallorhiza. CD will try to get plants from J. H. Balfour.

Thanks for Listera specimen, which arrived withered from being sent in a wooden box.

Apologises for trespassing on GG’s kindness again. Believes there is a new point of structure in Listera cordata and asks GG to send specimens if it is still in flower.

Trip to Torquay.

Superiority of Journal of Horticulture to Gardeners’ Chronicle for CD’s purposes.

Asks for more flowers of Epipactis palustris. Asks AGM to experiment on Epipactis.

Sends his article ["Quelques nouvelles espèces de poissons fossiles", Hollandsche Maatschappij der Wetenschappen, Haarlem 2d ser. 14 (1861)]

and Dutch translation of the Origin.

Family news.

Henslow’s death a sad loss. Leonard Jenyns will write a biography.

CD thanks correspondents for information relating to the fertilisation of Pelargonium and of wheat. Suggests further observations and experiments.

Regrets he does not have pedigree of CL’s "pretty pony", but assures him information was very useful, "more especially as it confirms what I heard from Norway & did not know whether fully to believe".

Seeks JL’s advice on the articles of partnership in the Southampton bank. CD and his solicitor fear they will be unfavourable to William.

Admires FJW’s article ["The boundaries of science", Macmillan’s Mag. 4 (1861): 237–47]. Thinks she understands his book [Origin] perfectly.

On design in nature: the more CD thinks on the subject the less he can see proof of it.

Has worked out homologies of orchids’ pollinia and rostellum.

On W. H. Harvey’s review ["The natural evolution of organic species considered", Dublin Hosp. Gaz. 8 (1861): 146–52].

Thanks GM for his fair review [of Origin, Zoologist 19 (1861): 7577–611].

Feels it is a pity to mingle science and religion;

explains why he did not deal with the case of man.

Thanks JL and his father for advice regarding Southampton bank. Has written to Atherley for fair terms.

Elaborates on his article ["A popular exposition of Mr Darwin on the origin of species", Macmillan’s Mag. 3 (1860): 81–92]. Was anxious to point out that CD’s method of investigation is philosophically correct. Asks permission to call.

Orchids from Kew.

JDH’s income problems.

Asks for specimen of Orchis latifolia and O. maculata. " … as some Botanists doubt whether they are distinct species it would be rather curious to show them insects distinguish them".

Found a lot of bee orchids. "All facts point clearly to self-fertilisation in this species; yet I cannot swallow the bitter pill."

Difficulty of distinguishing varieties and species. Did HCW suggest a printed list that might help?

Polymorphic genera.

He is no longer able to answer any of the correspondent’s questions concerning corals.

Places "much trust" in J. D. Dana.