Has not heard of Curtis on Dionaea.

Duke of Argyll is clever, but it is a sin to speak of a real old Duke as a "little beggar".

"My theology is a simple muddle: I cannot look at the Universe as the result of blind chance, yet I can see no evidence of beneficent Design."

On spontaneous generation and Bastian.

Would like to incorporate JH's suggestions in his paper and he has revised the numbers. Made an attempt to photograph the moon while totally eclipsed, but was unsuccessful.

Comments on sunspot activity; agrees to inclusion of some paragraphs in a paper WD is writing.

Sends a letter by Mr Teebay on variation in wild ducks.

Offers to lend Dr Cooper’s book on game fowls.

Is preparing a new edition [1873] of his Poultry book.

Asks AG to identify the species of Triton Mr Ford has drawn.

AG’s help has turned CD’s chapter on fishes and reptiles from "much the worst" into "one of the best" [in Descent].

WBT may use any of CD’s material for the new edition of his poultry book. Hopes WBT will keep firmly to his idea of working out pigeon variation.

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]?

Writes concerning the questions on consanguineous marriages which CD wishes to have inserted into the Census. Discusses the form the questions might take and the value of the information that would be gained from them.

CD would like questions on consanguineous marriages inserted in the Census to ascertain effects, if any, on fertility.

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.

Sends list of his publications.

Is grateful for interest QdeB has taken in his election [to Académie Française].

Thanks JL for his book [Origin of civilization (1870)], which he has read with "extreme interest". Wishes JL had published four or five months earlier as CD would have "so profited & saved so much work". CD will have to modify some of what he has written [in Descent]. Sees they differ a good deal about moral sense "but hardly two men ever do agree on this perplexing subject".

JL’s note of the 16th [see 7277] about the Census arrived too late for CD to answer.

Thanks Quatrefages for his work on species. Explains that he received the Wollaston Medal for his three geological works.

No summary available.

Please send GW information about a wondrous coca [cocaine] reported by Mrs. Gordon.

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

Asks JH's advice on whether a method devised by RP of charting bright stars in isographic projections based on star gauges seems best. Describes the method and urges that the charts will produce useful suggestions about the distribution of stars.