Has been so unwell that he could do absolutely nothing on Origin [6th ed.]. A new chapter seven has cost much labour.

Sorry to hear R. I. Murchison is ill.

Forwards a letter. Has distributed 220 copies of the pamphlet [Darwinism 1871].

Thomas Henry Huxley has sent review of St George Jackson Mivart’s On the genesis of species and his review of Descent in Quarterly Review (Mivart 1871a and [Mivart] 1871c) to the Contemporary Review [18 (1871): 443–76] .

Thanks for goose specimens.

Asks whether Egyptian goose throws water out of side of beak. Can it tear herbage like the domestic goose?

[Mistakenly dated 16 Sept by CD.]

CD most interested by Primitive culture [1871]. Impressed by EBT’s account of development of religious beliefs and of the survival of old customs. Hopes EBT will treat morals.

Obliged for note and sketch [of goat appendages].

Sends a reprint of Chauncey Wright’s article ["Darwinism", North Am. Rev. 113 (1871): 63–103].

Thanks for a book. "I am so much overworked at present that I cannot read it now, & I am a very poor German scholar".

Sends some questions [missing].

Bad health has prevented him from working for six weeks.

Sends proofs of Huxley’s article on Mivart, to be published in Contemporary Review ["Mr Darwin’s critics", 18 (1871): 443–76].

On THH’s review [see 7977] of Mivart’s Genesis of species and the Quarterly Review article on Descent.