JDH writes to Asa Gray regarding Alphonse De Candolle [ADC] & his endorsement of Muller creating eponymous synonyms every time he adjust the limits of a species [see also JDH146]. Also comments on ADC's responsibility for the PRODROMUS SYSTEMATIS NATURALIS REGNI VEGETABILIS & on his opinion of ADC as a weak, vain man. Discusses his own recently completed work organising the order Cornaceae [for GENERA PLANTARUM] with reference to: a Himalayan Nyassa he found in Sikkim & Khasia, also mentions Benthamia, Garrya, Bursinopetalum, Mastixia, Torricellia, & Leranthaceae being relegated to Santalaceae. Cucurbitaceae are being printed & [George] Bentham is working on Umbelliferae & Araliaceae. JDH has been nominated for the Presidency of the British Association in Norwich, he fears it will interfere with his plans for an American trip. JDH & [Thomas] Thomson are to be jurors at the Paris [International Horticulture] Exhibition. Discusses the link between class & politics in Britain, predicts the future of political influence in the United States of America & points out the lack of representation of the British lower classes & aristocracy alike in the USA press. Notes that people & the press are more apt to complain about small problems, recently it was snow preparedness in London & bad ferry service in New York. Settlement of the 'Herbarium' affair & consequent payment will allow JDH to stay on in his position at Kew. Darwin is working hard at his 'big book' [THE DESCENT OF MAN[?]]. JDH wants to be informed about the progress of a young man who wrote an article on Agassiz.

Answers to CD’s questions on expressions among the Atnah and Espyox Indians of Nass River [see Expression, pp. 22, 232, 252, 260].

Discusses the debate in America over the relationship among Indian tribes. JTR does not believe Indians are all of one race; they are as varied as Europeans.

[Forwarded to CD by Asa Gray.]

Thanks AG for his trouble about expression queries; wishes he had thought earlier of having them printed.

Is "plodding on" correcting Variation

and getting "a little amusement" from plant experiments. Oxalis is trimorphic like Lythrum.

Is continuing his experiments on seedling vigour.

Has heard hybrid potatoes can be produced by joining halves of different tubers.

Thanks AG for sending W. M. Canby’s letter on Dionaea. Although already familiar with the facts concerning the secretions, the letter "fires me up to complete and publish on Drosera, Dionæa, etc."

The two names CD could not read are "Atnah" and "Espyox" [see 5478].

He and George Thurber would like CD’s autograph.

JDH urges Asa Gray to publish his botanical writings as a collection, such a work would help JDH with the preparation of Rubiaceae for GENERA PLANTARUM. He complains that the profusion of botanical literature written in the Unites States of America is left to be catalogued, arranged & distilled by British botanists. JDH's mother [Lady Maria Hooker] is ill in Norwich. No news of [George] Bentham. [Daniel] Oliver has not returned from Skye. JDH has told Milligan to send Gray a set of his Tasmanian specimens.

Sends sheets of first volume of Variation.

Transport of seeds in locust dung.

Pangenesis will be called "a mad dream".

Statement of sales of U. S. edition of Origin.

Asks that Gray forward a letter to J. T. Rothrock. Variation is selling well. Nearly all chapters were at least partially written before Origin was published.

JDH writes to Asa Gray about his taxonomic work on the Rubiaceae family, he mentions the classification of Hedyotis, Gardeniae & Gouldia. JDH regrets the number of specimens, especially African ones, in the herbarium that remain unexamined. He is working on [William Henry] Harvey's book on Cape Genera: he will do the ferns & Lycopods but not the lower Cryptogams, [William] Munro is doing the grasses. Gay's herbarium has arrived. JDH apologises for trouble with a case of [Francis] Boott's Carices [Carex] sent to Gray. Cannot answer [Charles] Wright's letters on Rubiaceae until he has finished his systematic work on the order. Is critical of [August Heinrich Rudolf] Grisebach's work, especially on Melastoma, also mentions Wright's Cuban Melastoma. Suggests the Smithsonian Institute would undertake a particular publication[?] for Gray. Thanks Gray for seeds incl. Picea amabilis & Pera. Discusses the fact that the United States of America & the United Kingdom have different systems of Government. Asks if Gray has read [Charles] Darwin's last book [THE VARIATION OF ANIMALS AND PLANTS UNDER DOMESTICATION [?]] & gives his opinion, at length, on the chapters on heredity through Pangenesis - he considers heredity self evident from observation of propagation & inherent in the acceptance of the theory of natural selection. In a post script JDH adds that he has for sale all the sets of Boott's Carices & reduced rate copies of his book [ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE GENUS CAREX]. Proceeds of books sold through JDH will go to Boott's grandmother, who will have the care of his children. Discusses Gray publishing a supplemental part to Boott's book, comprised of additional drawings lithographed by Walter Hood Fitch's nephew, John Fitch, & outlines potential cost.

AG’s review of Variation [Nation 6 (1868): 234–6] very good.

CD’s fondness for Pangenesis; although an "infant cherished by few", CD expects it to have a long life.

AG’s coming visit to England.

Hooker’s Presidency of BAAS.

A month at the Isle of Wight has done almost nothing for CD.

Statement of sales of U. S. edition of Origin.

Thanks for answers about expression.

Is going to N. Wales to recover after his riding accident.

New edition of Origin.

French edition of Orchids.

JDH & his wife have returned from Scythia via Stockholm, Wiborg [Vyborg], Helsingfors [Helsinki], the Swedish lakes, Copenhagen, Hamburg, Neuenhausen, Utrecht, Leyden, Amsterdam, Hage [Hague] & Rotterdam. He is tired of rail travel & hotels, he would prefer a tent in the jungle or a cabin at sea. JDH regrets that Gray has given up on the FL[ORA]. AM[ERICANA]. BOR[EALIS]. He describes Regel's poor organisation [of the International Botanical Congress] at St Petersburg, including the absence of any Russian botanists except [Alexander Andrejewitsch von] Bunge. A good 'show' was put on & many medals awarded, there was some misreporting of the medals given in the GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. JDH does not like St Petersburg, he prefers Moscow. They stayed with the Andersons in Stockholm, met old Fries, Theodor Fries & [Johnan Erhard] Areschoug in Upsala [Uppsala] & spent a day each with Reichenbach & Booth in Hamburgh [Hamburg]. He admires the antiquities museums of Stockholm & Denmark. They saw Wendland's Palms at Utrecht & stayed with Miguel. JDH returned to a lot of work at RBG Kew, including the matter of opening the gardens in the morning, he thinks it is the right thing to do but will mean reorganisation & a lot of additional work for him as so much of the running of Kew depends on him personally. He is made of strong stuff so can handle the work but he expects [John] Smith, Curator of the Gardens, will be overwhelmed. JDH mentions the state of his personal finances & describes himself as 'living hand to mouth'. Concludes with news that Darwin is in North Wales & very unwell, Bentham & Baker are on holiday, the latter in Geneva, & [Thomas] Thomson is well.