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JDH returns Poulton to Thiselton-Dyer [WTTD], [presumably a copy of Edward Bagnall Poulton's book CHARLES DARWIN AND THE THEORY OF NATURAL SELECTION]. JDH comments that Poulton makes too much of [Thomas Henry] Huxley & that Newton wishes to belittle both. JDH says he has written to F[rancis] Darwin on the matter. JDH talks about how he is unable to grasp the notion of Pangenesis & he & Darwin disagreed on it. Comments that WTTD's judgement of [Brian Houghton] Hodgson is just. He is a different person from the one JDH knew in Darjeeling. Comments on rumours, perpetuated by Yule & [Sir William Wilson] Hunter, of an alleged alliance with a Kathmandu woman, likely to have been a girl he bought at the market. JDH sees it as an unwise, chivalrous act for Hodgson to have brought her to live in his house at Darjeeling, which Hodgson may now regret. Describes how [Archibald] Campbell felt the dishonour of his 'old chief', Hodgson. Hunter did not include [in his biography THE LIFE OF BRIAN HOUGHTON HODGSON] all JDH said of his obligations to Hodgson. Mrs Hodgson assumed wrongly thought he JDH was one of her husband's paid collectors in India. JDH encloses duplicates of a Medallion [probably Wedgewood with a portrait of Hodgson] & a copy of one of [Sir Joseph] Banks's for Australia. He says that he has sent all to [Ferdinand von] Mueller.

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JDH says that he will investigate the Cypripedia when he is next at Kew. He reports that the Indian Orchideae [in FLORA OF BRITISH INDIA?] need thorough revision. He says that he had not heard of the discovery of Antherozoids in Cycas or Salisburia. Declares that [Sir Robert Falcon] Scott's research interests him. Mentions that he does not credit [Thomas] Hanbury's right to the title of Marquis any more than [Ferdinand von] Mueller's to a Baronial title. JDH is currently re-reading Boswell's Johnson: A SONG OF DEGREES, also mentions a book on Japan by an American author that he says has given him a clearer idea of ancestor worship & the oriental mind-set. Professor Morris of Melbourne wrote to compliment JDH on the publication of Joseph Banks' journal. JDH says that he looked for Myersii in Part 1 of the Kew arboretum until [George] Nicholson advised that it was in the Temperate House, however it should be hardy in the Bamboo Garden. JDH is glad that the Temperate House is to be completed, it will be a credit to Thiselton-Dyer [WTTD]. Hopes that WTTD got sufficient help during his recent illness and wonders if he would be able to travel to the Canary Islands or Madeira.

JDH informs Sir William Thiselton-Dyer of his thoughts on what he believes would be a spurious division of Cypripedia based on the character of coriaceous leaves in some Indian Cypripedia as opposed to membranous leaved species. This is a difficult distinction to make, & further if it was applied as a generic characteristic more widely, many other genera of Orchideae would be split. JDH points out that that a distinction could be made between the evergreen varieties within oaks & beeches but this has never been properly adopted. JDH wonders whether the name [for the Indian Cypripedia?] had even ben published when he was working on orchids; between 1882 & 1886. JDH is keen to know more about the antherozoids in Cycas & Thuja. References to various publications have been added to the end of the letter in a hand not that of JDH but appearing contemporary to the letter: PAPHIOPEDILUM by [Ernst Hugo Heinrich] Pfitzer, MORPHOLOGISCHE STUDIEN UBER DIE ORCHIDEENBLUTE, and BOTANISCHE JAHRBUCHER FUR SYSTEMATIK, PFLANZENGESCHICHTE UND PLANZENGEOGRAPHIE XIX.