Response to ARW’s MS on geological time ["The measurement of geological time", Nature 1 (1870): 399–401, 452–5].

Groans over [what is said about] man.

Would like to call at 10 o’clock on Wednesday morning.

Thanks for a woodcut sent by ARW for Descent.

Congratulations on his removal from London,

and praise of his review of Francis Galton ["Hereditary genius", Nature 1 (1870): 501–3]. CD agrees with every word of it.

Appreciation of eulogy in preface of ARW’s book [Theory of natural selection].

CD sends a "curious drawing" [missing] relating to imitation and protection.

Praise for ARW’s reply [Nature 3 (1870): 49–50] to a paper by A. W. Bennett ["Natural selection from a mathematical point of view", Nature 3 (1870): 30–3] holding that mind is a leading cause of variation.

Is reading proof of his "confounded book" [Descent].

Sends ARW advance copy of vol. 1 [of Descent] for his review in Academy. Vol. 2 is delayed by index. "Do not swear at me more than you can help."

Responds to ARW’s comments on CD’s argument about protection in Descent.

Comments on St G. Mivart’s criticism [Genesis of species (1871)]. "The pendulum will now swing against us."

Asks whether Bugis [Buggess] are Malays. [See 7587.]

Appreciative response to ARW’s "grand review" of Descent in the Academy [2 (1871–2): 177–82]. Comments in detail on ARW’s criticisms.

On the flourishing sales of their respective books. Mentions reviews of Descent in Pall Mall Gazette [21 Mar 1871] and in the Spectator [11 Mar 1871, pp. 288–9; 18 Mar 1871, pp. 319–20].

Requests advice about Chauncey Wright’s article on Mivart’s Genesis of species [North Am. Rev. 113 (1871): 64–103]. CD thinks of publishing it as a pamphlet to counter impact of Mivart’s criticism of natural selection.

CD is allowing his family to decide whether Chauncey Wright’s paper on Mivart is dull.

Health and despondency.

Doubts his ability to answer Mivart successfully [in 6th ed. of Origin].

On a "remarkable" letter from Fritz Müller [see 7820] about mimicry, protection, and sexual selection.

Sends enclosure for ARW to read.

Sends 6th ed. of Origin;

draws attention to his criticism of ARW’s estimate of Kovalevsky;

mentions his disagreement with much of Spencer’s doctrine

and in a postscript points out an inaccuracy in an article in Once a Month.

On ARW’s "crushing" review [Nature 6 (1872): 237–9] of C. R. Bree’s An exposition of fallacies in the hypothesis of Mr Darwin.

Comments on other reviews and exchanges.

Encloses a letter to Nature [see 8448] correcting Dr Bree, who has accused ARW of "blundering". ARW should tear up CD’s letter if he does not like it or plans to reply himself.

Detailed response to reading of Bastian’s Beginnings of life [1872]. On the whole, it seems probable to CD that spontaneous generation is true.

Huxley’s report of Bastian’s having watched the development of the scale of Sphagnum. The importance of studies of possible causes of heterogenesis.