Discusses the Census Bill and CD’s attempt to get questions on consanguineous marriage added to the census.

Sends CD some seeds.

Has been experimenting with Oxalis crosses.

The Census Bill is down on the paper for tomorrow; will CD restate how he wants to put the question [on cousin marriages]?

CD lost first round of nominations at the Académie Française to Jean-Frédéric de Brandt. QdeB and Milne-Edwards continue the battle, but CD is fiercely attacked.

Asks for complete citation of CD’s geological work on South America because it has to be shown he did more than collect objects.

Supplies names of moths and references.

Describes his breeding experiments with butterflies to test effects of reduced light.

Brought forward the "cousin question" in the House; read most of CD’s letter to the House.

Some good men spoke for CD’s amendment, but in vain.

Would much like CD to contribute a note for insertion after his paper on Aymara Indians.

CD has complained of pins and needles keeping him from working on his book [Descent]. If he could spend ten days with HBJ, he would be well and fit.

Thanks CD for compliments on the first part of his "discours",

but the later part was critical of natural selection. Nevertheless, CD should see him not as a systematic adversary, but in the camp of Quatrefages de Bréau and Milne-Edwards.

Is glad John Lubbock made the fight he did [to amend Census Bill to enable insertion of questions on consanguineous marriages].

JM informs CD that he will have Clowes give him written assurance that the printing [of Descent] will proceed without interruption.

The [Franco-Prussian] War is a sad damper on international science and his publishing plans.

Plans to visit Down in a week.

Sends last chapter of his book in press [Systems of consanguinity and affinity of the human family vol. 17 in Smithsonian contributions to knowledge (1871)], which supports CD on man.

Ethnology must study the ages of barbarism as the formative portions of man’s physical and mental history.

Wishes to visit Down.

Is studying Variation, especially Pangenesis. Reports earlier notion of Dr Robert Lee, that resemblance between husband and wife may be partly owing to her having man’s blood circulating in her during pregnancies; thus spouses most resemble each other in large families.

Statement of sales of U. S. edition of Origin.

Accepts CD’s offer to order books from the Royal Society Library.

VOK asks for information about W. B. Carpenter’s dredging expedition in the Porcupine.

Could not go up the Niger, as trading steamers are trying to keep their trade in the dark.

Has seen several albinos, but no blushing. Thinks blacks do blush.

Will order the first set of casts from Murray.

Thanks CD for a book for his wife from the Royal Society Library.

His brother [Alexander] is delighted at being referred to in CD’s work [Descent 1: 205].