Applauds CD’s expression of dissent from J. S. Mill’s view of differences of mental powers of men and women [Descent 2: 326–9]. Sends some corrections.

Suggests alteration in Descent [1st ed. 7th thousand] in citing pagination of George Busk’s paper "The caves of Gibraltar" [Trans. Int. Congr. Prehist. Archaeol. 3 (1868): 106–67].

Thanks for the present of CD’s long-expected book [Descent].

Descent publication costs, "including a heavy item of £126 for corrections" have been received. JM can now offer CD 600 guineas for the edition of 2500 copies.

Receipt for payment by John Murray of £630 for the first edition, consisting of 2500 copies, of Descent.

Has devised a respirator for firemen by moistening cotton wool with glycerine and adding charcoal. JT suggests the nose with its hairs and mucus is a respirator that would give protection against diseases caused by floating particles. The presence of hair and mucus is thus explained by CD’s theory.

Received copy of Descent.

Discusses CD’s comments on EH’s work.

Speculates about reception by press and scientists.

Remarks on sexual selection;

on human relationship to catarrhine apes.

Has rejected offer of chair at Vienna.

Compares Jena to Down.

Describes growth of his salary.

Mentions birth of Emma Haeckel.

A. M. Norman’s collection of calcareous sponges is very valuable.

Would be pleased if CD called.

Thanks for copy of Descent.

Admires natural selection.

Climbing plants has attracted attention in Germany, but most botanists are interested in cell development and similar questions.

Sends two books detailing a new medical method that will produce "a state of health & vigour on every occasion & in every instance" and is applicable to "the entire circle of animated nature" [William Hibbert, Important discovery. Hibbert’s new theory and practice of medicine (1870) and The new theory and practice of medicine (1870)]. The volumes apply to animals and man. Subsequent books will detail the method for insects and plants.

[Letter erroneously addressed to E. A. Darwin, and forwarded by EAD to CD.]

Verses on the Origin and Descent.

Urges CD to repent and seek salvation through Christ.

Older settlers in U. S. are taller and thinner than recent immigrants.

Thanks for Descent.

He believes he has observed a predominance of the right side over the left in monkeys and man. If so, this is another support of their relatedness.

Suggests sending his book [Descent?] to Popular Science Review.

Admires CD’s ability to work so hard under adverse circumstances; finds his health makes all work an effort.

First edition [issue] of Descent is exhausted. Asks CD to send corrections at once for a new printing of at least 1000 copies.

Thinks JT’s discovery of a glycerine respirator is an interesting practical discovery. CD has been wondering about the hairs in our nostrils, but doubts that JT has explained their function, since there are hardly enough.

Will ask W. Ogle to observe hairs in nostrils of different races.

Says Descent is "selling like Mad.––" Murray will print another 1500 or 2000 copies. Has received £630 for the 2500.

On Monday he visited Mivart, who is a charming man.

He seemed to be taken aback by CD’s points about the larynx and giraffe.

[See 7507 and 7519.]

He seemed to have forgotten CD’s argument regarding the formation of the greyhound.

Discussed the larynx and the silence of the Cetaceans.

If FD mentions any of this to [Marlborough Robert] Pryor, ask him not to mention it to anyone else "as it is perhaps rather a breach of confidence to repeat even to friends private conversation."

Thanks CD for Variation.

From his work on insect embryology he sees a great parallelism between insect and vertebrate embryology.

The zoological station is slowly advancing.