First impressions of the water-cure establishment are not favourable – "I always hate everything new".
CL’s comments on Origin. Mentions corrections to last chapter suggested by CL.
Comments on lack of peculiar bird species on Madeira and Bermuda. Emphasises importance of American types in Galapagos.
Denies necessity of continued creation of primitive "Monads".
Denies need for new powers and any principle of improvement.
Discusses gradations of intellectual powers.
Adaptive inferiority and extinction of groups of species and genera.
Asserts that climate is less important than the struggle with other organisms.
Suggests an experiment involving primroses and cowslips.
The chapter on hybridisation.
Rudimentary organs.
Gives opinion of Lamarck’s work.
Discusses events at Ilkley.
Thanks JP for bearing in mind his strong wish to learn any facts on inheritance at corresponding ages, and on correlation of growth.
JP’s case of teeth affected by syphilitic parents seems very curious. Would like to hear a few particulars when they meet.
Book finished some two weeks.
Feeling much better at Ilkley.
Lyell thinks favourably of book but "staggered" at lengths to which CD goes.
Which continental botanists should receive presentation copies?
Origin is finished.
Asks for names of foreign speculative naturalists.
Hopes THH will think he is on right road despite errors.
Discusses presentation copies [of the Origin].
Comments on CL’s letters.
Discusses foreign animals naturalised in Australia and elsewhere.
Affirms man’s capacity to survive in Eocene climate.
Comments on American types.
Denies necessity for "continued intervention of creative power".
Cannot suggest an appropriate device or ornament for cover [of Origin].
Will send a list for distribution of author’s copies as soon as JM tells him approximate trade price.
Declines an invitation to visit [Moor] Park.
He hopes that Dr Lane is arranging things to his satisfaction.
Tells how to get information on, and gain membership in, the London Library.
Congratulates JDH on finishing his introductory essay [to Flora Tasmaniae].
Lyell’s position on mutability appears more positive in his letters to JDH than in those to CD. Considers JDH a convert.
Discusses P. S. Pallas’ theory of origin of domestic dog breeds. CD believes domestic dogs descended from more than one aboriginal wild species but ultimately "we believe all canine species have descended from one parent and the only question is whether the whole or only part of difference in our domestic breeds has arisen since man domesticated them".
Races of man offer great difficulty. The doctrine of Pallas and Agassiz that there are several species "does not help us" in the least.
Hopes Henry Holland will not review Origin.
CD’s and CL’s difference on "principle of improvement" and "power of adaptation" is profound. Improvement in breeds of cattle requires neither. Urges him to reread first four chapters of Origin carefully. Natural selection is not to be contrasted with "improvement": every step involves improvement in relation to the conditions of life. There is no need for a "principle" to intervene.
More detailed comments on JDH’s introductory essay [to Flora Tasmaniae]. Remarks on struggle of vegetation are admirable.
JDH will receive Origin in about ten days.
Further discussion of origin of domestic dog breeds.
Effects of crossing separate races.
Comments on rate of artificial and natural selection.
The origin of pigeon breeds.