Sends telegram from the Germania. Discusses crew of Hansa [see 15.292]. Asks if JH wants certain experiments done at Kew. Troubled by [W. A.] Miller's sudden illness.

Discusses germination of charlock after a long interval.

Many thanks for present of a dog: he will arrange its collection from the train whenit arrives in London.

He is correcting proofs of Descent, and will send GC a copy.

Thanks for Cirripedia. Sorry CD has had to buy the books.

Thanks for telegram and has dispatched papers about absorption power of actinometer liquid. Hopes letter written in Lady Sabine's handwriting does not indicate serious illness of ES.

In commenting on a paper on actinometric measurements varying with depth of atmosphere, JH questions the accuracy of the equipment used.

B.A.A.S. in Liverpool approved £50 grant to G. A. Erman, to be administered by Erman and JH, for computation of Gaussian constant for 1839.

Has been away from home, which accounts for the delay in replying to JH's note. Send the manuscript to NM. Hopes for an article from JH.

Reports on the 1870 BAAS meeting at Liverpool. Huxley’s address was over the heads of the laymen.

Tyndall’s was eloquent to listen to, disappointing to read.

George Rolleston’s "Rococo" address [Nature 2 (1870): 423–7, 442–6].

Murchison.

Lyell.

Has done an immense lot of work.

Regrets CD has not kept the simple title "Origin of man" [for Descent].

Will send manuscript of article by JH's daughter [?] on history of Alsace and Lorraine for publication in NM's Good Words. JH is busy compiling general catalog of all known double stars.

Outlines the evidence for his view that ascidian larvae are true vertebrates presented in his paper ["Weitere Studien über die Entwicklung der einfachen Ascidien", Arch. Mikrosk. Anat. 7 (1871): 101–302]. CD can cite this as confirmation of AOK’s earlier claims.

Concerning an American edition of Descent by Appleton’s.

A note to inform CD that ELY has sent his earlier letter [7324] to the Athenaeum, being unsure of CD’s address.

Wants sheets [of Descent] for foreign editions. Asks JM to determine price to be charged for the stereotypes of 62 cuts. Dallas would be excellent for the index but must be "civilly warned" not to delay. Encloses memo on the index.

Comments on JDH’s report of Liverpool meeting.

Huxley’s address.

Sir Roderick [Murchison]’s "apotheosis".

Tyndall’s lecture is "grand" except for egotistical beginning. Some Frenchmen have pitched into CD for using the "as if" reasoning, which Tyndall shows is justified.

Has just read George Rolleston’s address in Nature.

Anton Dohrn says German public have high opinion of Lyell.

Thanks for grant of £50 from B.A.A.S. for calculations related to request from Georg Erman [see JH's 1870-5-6].

Comments on JH's concerns about actinometric measurements [see JH's 1870-9-20]; recommends the study of periodicity of waves on Atlantic Coast.

Various arrangements concerning the publication of Descent. "It will cause men to prick up [their] ears – & to elevate their eyebrows." JM thinks he will venture to print 2500 copies.

Suggests CD tone down as possibly indelicate a passage on proportion of advances made by the two sexes in animals.

Has had a letter from Cleveland Abbe inquiring when JH's Catalogue of Double Stars can be expected. Howard and Thomas Grubb have just erected his telescope but the eye end is not finished. Instrument will be very 'handy.'

Sends notice from [C. P. B.] Walker regarding pendulum experiments in India. Would welcome suggestions for new experiments in India.