Darwin responding to Hooker's request for papers. Darwin seems resigned to not to ARW usurping him regarding the explanation of how and why species change over time, "I daresay all is too late. I hardly care about it.—".

Conveys news of the death of Darwin's baby son. References letters received from Hooker regarding the suggestion that they present ARW's paper and Darwin's writings as a joint paper to the Linnaean Society.

Death of Charles Waring Darwin [1856–8] from scarlet fever.

JDH’s and Lyell’s kindness [presumably about A. R. Wallace’s letter]. CD can provide a copy of his letter to Asa Gray [about CD’s species theory].

JDH wants papers at once. CD sends Wallace’s paper and CD’s abstract of his letter to Asa Gray. Sends [species] sketch of 1844 with JDH’s notes to assure JDH he had read it.