At work on abstract.
Continues argument on effectiveness of dispersal. Has doubts about relationship of isolation to highness of Australian flora. Questions about survival of European plants introduced in Australia.
CD receives the Wollaston Medal of the Geological Society.
Darwin encloses letters from ARW, and expresses admiration for the spirit in which they were written. Darwin thanks Hooker and Lyell for their intervention in the joint reading of ARW and Darwin’s papers at the Linnean Society in 1858. Darwin makes enquiries about the geology of the Himalayas.
Wallace has written and is well satisfied with the joint presentation.
CD requests some facts to make case in his abstract for former glacial action in Himalayas.
CD not convinced that naturalisation of European plants abroad is strictly dependent on creation by agriculture of disturbed ground.
More than half through his chapter on geographical distribution.
Has finished geographical distribution chapter and asks JDH to read it.
Is it just to say embryological characters are of high importance in plant classification?
Will read JDH’s printers’ slips on variation.
CD has been so ill, he wonders whether he will get his book done, though so nearly completed.
Sends MS [of Origin] on geographical distribution. Wants JDH to correct facts and say what he most vehemently objects to.
Has received JDH’s note on plant embryology.
Will finish last chapter (except recapitulation) tomorrow.
Pleased with JDH’s response to geographical distribution chapter;
CD disagrees with Lyell’s view that glacial epoch is connected with position of continents.
Hopes Murray will publish after seeing MS [of Origin].
Demurs at JDH’s saying that CD changes climate to account for migration of bugs, flies, etc. "We do nothing of the sort; for we rest on scored rocks, old moraines, arctic shells, and mammifers." Has given up the Lyellian doctrine as insufficient to explain all changes in climate; CD has no theory about the cause of the cold.
Thanks for letter of caution about Murray. He has offered to publish without seeing MS. CD thinks book will be popular to a certain extent. Lyell’s inducing Murray to publish Origin grates CD’s pride.
Has read first sheets of JDH’s Flora Tasmaniae [introductory] essay [published separately as On the flora of Australia (1859)]. Criticises lack of evidence supporting views that best marked varieties occur at edges of range of species and that species remain under cultivation for many generations and suddenly begin to vary.
Murray has read first three chapters of Origin and abides by his offer to publish.
CD agrees cultivated plants may begin to vary after some time and then may vary suddenly, but cautions JDH on lack of evidence. His explanation is that small variations are ignored until they accumulate.
No summary available.
CD favours occurrence of reversions, although lack of experiments forces one to vague opinions. Reversions oppose only the inheritance not the occurrence of variation. Discusses relation of reversion, direct influence of conditions, and selection.
JDH’s comments on style of Origin MS leave CD confused.
CD advises on how to get Acacia to set seed.
Darwin delighted at Asa Gray's reaction to Darwin and Wallace 1858.
JDH finds style of CD’s MS obscure.
CD wary of JDH’s starting point on variability: it is not inherent, it does not lead necessarily to divergence, and it must be distinguished from inheritance.
Asa Gray has misread CD’s views on pre-glacial migrations and botched the subject.
Too ill to examine proofs of JDH’s Flora Tasmaniae [The botany of the Antarctic voyage, pt III].
Returning from Moor Park. CD will take up proofs of JDH’s Flora Tasmaniae.
