Informs Smith of his marriage [to Mary Hardcastle, daughter of Lucy Hardcastle]; sends piece of wedding cake.
Married [Mary] Hardcastle on 3 July, a piece of wedding cake was sent to Smith. An account of the courtship, beginning with their first acquaintance in 1811, credits her mother with teaching him botany and leading him to appreciate literature, and account of his abortive attempt to return to America and devote himself solely to the study of botany.
Leaves parcel and letter for Smith, just received. His joy at having seen and conversed with Correa [at Linnean Society meeting].
Recovering from a severe bout of typhus. Has heard Smith is working on fourth volume of "Flora Britannica", gives habitat for a rare 'Clavaria ardenia' of [James] Sowerby.
Sends a piece of Arabic poetry for Lady Smith. Eulogises on the "pleasing associations" made by encounters with friends in the "noise and bustle" of London.
Thanks for plants and copy of "Selection of the correspondence of Linnaeus"; his admiration of [Peter] Collinson [(1694-1768)] and [John] Ellis [(1710-1776)] from reading their letters. Extremely cold spring. Joy at wild specimen of '[Hedysarum] gyrans' and majestic fruit of the "Dalichos". Will forward [David] Hosack's parcel to Smith.
No summary available.
Returns paper by Asa Gray [? "Review of Darwin’s theory", Am. J. Sci. 2d ser. 29 (1860): 153–84].
Greatly admires Origin.
Can follow effects of natural selection in Carex, but when CD brings millions of years into play, he is like Church which demands faith. FB cannot believe in divinity of Christ, resurrection, or miracles.
Has sent CD the published part of his work on Carex [Illustrations of the genus Carex (1858–67)]. Hopes to add 200 more figures. Comments on great variability among the 600–odd species, and on their geographical distribution.
Has had news from Asa Gray about Civil War.
Belatedly thanks CD for Orchids, which shows CD to be the successor to Gilbert White.
On his particular spiritual faith; worships great naturalists and authors.
Does not wish to see American newspapers that Asa Gray offers to send, or hear about Civil War.
His son wants CD’s opinion about a cub supposed by Frank Buckland to be progeny of a lioness and mastiff.
Lyell working at last proofs [of Antiquity of man]; he is scornful of Owen.
