Apologises for delay in thanking him for the flowers. Has been too unwell to write.
Morning Herald had an account of CD’s 80 specimens of Mammalia and 450 birds at the Zoological Society.
John Gould has described new species in CD’s Galapagos birds.
Much interest in CD’s "Laurels".
Family news.
"I could think of nothing for days after your lesson on coral reefs, but of the top of submerged continents. It is all true, but do not flatter youself that you will be believed, till you are growing bald, like me, with hard work & vexation at the incredulity in the world."
News of family and friends.
Caroline repeats story told to R. W. Darwin of FitzRoy’s feeling of obligation to Captain John White, from whom he gained release to marry Miss O’Brien.
Fanny Biddulph has had a son.
Interested in Lyell’s address [Proc. Geol. Soc. Lond. 2 (1833–8): 479–523]. Asks what the points are on which CD and Lyell are fully agreed.
Inquires about the paper FitzRoy and CD wrote on missionaries ["Moral state of Tahiti" (1836), Collected papers 1: 19–38].
News of family.
“The Botanists” and “The learned Linguists” give thanks for book and assistance.
Reports on the insect specimens [collected by CD] from Australia, New Zealand, and Tierra del Fuego. Has not completed descriptions.
Dissected beak of Rhynchops shows no extensive innervation. But beak may nevertheless be a sensitive organ of touch as CD suggests.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer and their Lordships after receiving numerous representations in support of Mr Darwin’s proposal concur in the opinion that Public Funds in aid of the Expenses should be granted as soon as he is ready to proceed in conformity with the enumerated conditions.
Syenitic granite from Norway carried as far as Osnabruck.
Has met warm reception in Germany.
Leopold von Buch mistaken in believing that granite overlies transition rock in Norway. Granite sends veins into transition and gneiss.
Has been examining fossil shells of Crag with Heinrich Beck. Beck admits some shells are of species still living.
CL still believes Eocene, Miocene, and Pliocene are satisfactory divisions of Tertiary epoch.
The Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty’s Treasury approve CD’s request for £1000 in aid of publication [of Zoology].
Suggestions are presented respecting CD’s proposed publication of his zoological work in accordance with the Government requirement.
Their Lordships communicate their entire approval of the proposal in CD’s letter of 20 September 1837. [See 378a.]
Fragment glued to CD’s notes on rock specimens. The recto refers to one of CD’s specimens, the verso mentions his Keeling Island plants.
Sends information about, and dates of treatment of peaty fields. Marl seems to have sunk to the natural stratum of hard white sand which lies below the peat.
Thanks for "Maer Hypothesis" ["Formation of mould" (1840), Collected papers 1: 49–53].
RF declines to give an opinion on the wording of the preface to CD’s volume [Journal and remarks, vol. 3 of Narrative, published separately as Journal of researches] and refers him to a disinterested third party.
CD’s response [missing] comes from the heart. RF explains that CD’s preface [to Journal and remarks, vol. 3 of Narrative] offended him in not acknowledging the part RF and the other officers had in helping CD. Beagle voyage was the first on which officers could have kept any specimens they collected, but they gave preference to CD.
Father says he sowed broom plants soon after house was built in 1798; these never came up. In 1835 the terrace was made; thereafter the broom sprang up.
Advice on a medicine CD is taking.
