The potato seeds were collected in 1835 from tubers in a remote area of the Cordilleras of Chile and were certainly wild. Refers him to Journal [of researches, p. 347].
His memory of his recently deceased father is a treasure to him.
Thanks WDF for information on the water-cure. Dislikes the thought of it.
Reports results of his experiments with tied-up fruit-trees.
The entire family will set out for Malvern for six to eight weeks’ trial of J. M. Gully’s water-cure.
Family news.
Reports progress with water-cure. Describes the treatment.
Continues to improve, but water-cure has produced "indolence and stagnation of mind".
Continues water-cure treatment at home and must do so for a year. Considers himself absolutely cured.
Account of the birth of Leonard Darwin, during which he administered the chloroform to Emma.
Continues the water-cure.
Has begun work on fossil cirripedes.
Details of his continuing water-cure regimen.
Has heard that Louis Agassiz maintains the doctrine of several species of man "much I daresay to the comfort of the slave-holding southerners".
Homeopathy excites his wrath even more than clairvoyance.
Is concerned about the education of his boys and is undecided between Rugby and Bruce Castle schools; is inclined toward the latter, but afraid to experiment on so important a subject.
Reports on his pear-trees.
Sends condolences to WDF on the death of his father. Has brought his daughter [Anne] to J. M. Gully for the water-cure.
His favourite child, Anne, has unexpectedly died.
Congratulates and "condoles" with WDF on a tenth child.
On education, he has not had courage to break away from "the old stereotyped stupid classical education"; has sent William to Rugby.
The first Ray Society volume [Living Cirripedia] is finished.
Has joined in a society to prosecute violators of the act against use of children in climbing chimneys.
News of his health; has been well of late, but cannot stand excitement. Hereditary weakness is another of his bugbears.
At work on cirripedes – "I hate a Barnacle as no man ever did before."
Discusses education of his sons. Would like to see more diversity.
He is pleased that Richard Owen and others had a good opinion of his first volume [on Living Cirripedia].
Discusses Rugby and education in general. The enormous proportion of time spent on classics checks interest "in anything in which reasoning & observation comes into play".
Expresses shock and sympathy on learning of the deaths in WDF’s house.
Sympathises with WDF’s tribulations.
Thanks WDF for writing so soon after his misfortunes, and again expresses sympathy.
Asks WDF to observe at what age pigeons have tail-feathers sufficiently developed to be counted.
CD is hard at work on his notes for a book with all the facts "for & versus" the immutability of species.
Asks for a young chicken and a nestling common pigeon.
Thanks WDF for his offer of assistance in collecting varieties of poultry. Describes his needs. He will raise his own pigeons.
Often doubts whether, despite all help, the problem of species will not overpower him.