His suspicions regarding [Edward] Sabine’s treatment of CD were justified by the Anniversary Address. THH, [George] Busk, and [Hugh] Falconer insisted on a more accurate account of the grounds on which the Copley Medal was awarded to CD.
He is certain he heard "expressly excluded" [of Origin from consideration in Royal Society award of Copley Medal]. Believes GGS may have inadvertently substituted "excluded" for "omitted". THH then submits his reasons for objecting to the passage as a whole even with the word "omitted".
THH never imagined that "we" referred to anyone but the [Royal] Society Council. Still objects to inclusion of the passage, since "an agreement to say nothing" [about the Origin] does not justify comment on it by one party to the agreement.
THH rejects GGS’s charges. Chides him with possibility that if he substituted "Falconer" for "Busk" he might have done it also for "excluded" and "omitted".
Sends photograph.
THH wishes he could write the popular zoology but writing is a boring and slow process when he is not interested, and he is overburdened with lectures.
Thanks for [E. Eudes?] Deslongchamps’ paper.
Henry Huxley born.
Leader in Reader [4 (1864): 821] is by THH. It has got him into trouble with some of his friends.
Sends Catalogue [of the collection of fossils in the Museum of Practical Geology (1865)], most of which was written in pre-Darwinian epoch [i.e., 1857].
Hears magnum opus [Variation] completely developed, though not yet born.
Glad to read what CD sends. Any glimmer of light on those subjects is of utmost importance.
Quotes a letter from Haeckel on progress of Darwinism in Germany.
MS arrived. Has glanced at it and sees he must put on his sharpest spectacles and best considering cap.
Did not intend to persuade CD against publishing Pangenesis. Will not take the responsibility, nor risk being made a horrible example 50 years hence.
Has returned from holiday. Family news.
Concern over Hooker’s health.
Has taken memorial to G. H. Richards, the Hydrographer. He favours the proposal and will instruct Capt. Mayne. THH will communicate with Dr Cunningham, the naturalist for the expedition.
Thanks for 4th ed. of Origin.
What a basting CD gives "our mutual friend" [Owen].
Glad he argrees with THH on Jamaica affair [Gov. Eyre and the "rebellion"].
On Haeckel’s Generelle Morphologie; the logical argument for natural selection is still incomplete. THH jumps over the hole by an act of faith.
Congratulations on George’s attaining Second Wrangler.
Variation has just arrived. Wishes he had two heads or a body that needed no rest.
Prof. Kühne would like to visit CD.
BAAS Norwich meeting. Hooker [President] came out in great force. "Darwinismus" spread over the sections and crept into everything. CD will have rare happiness of seeing his ideas triumph during his life.
CD is welcome to come for breakfast on Sunday.
Sends letter [from Haeckel?] opened by mistake.
August Schleicher a great loss.
Nothing new in Lushington’s letter. Two paragraphs are offensive – that THH sought to stir up Scotch Presbyterian prejudices against Comte at Edinburgh and that he had not read Comte.