The Linnean Society Council wants CD to review two papers, with reference to their value for publication.

Sends a letter (and seeds) from Fritz Müller about a strange monstrous form of Begonia found wild in Brazil. Asks GB whether it is worth communicating to Linnean Society.

Will have Fritz Müller’s letter ["On the modification of the stamens in a species of Begonia", J. Linn. Soc. Lond. (Bot.) 11 (1871): 472–4] read at next Linnean Society meeting [read 3 June 1869].

Has given the seeds to Daniel Oliver.

Has heard that CD thinks GB is wrong on some points in his [Presidential] Address [to Linnean Society, see 6793]. Asks CD to point out where he is wrong.

CD finds GB’s address interesting; assures him that he has never said GB was wrong on any point, but that there were differences between them, which he now thinks are not great.

Comments on specific parts of the address [see 6793]: colonisation, variability of large and small genera, descent from a single parent or pair of parents, rapid multiplication and change in species, isolation.

Comments on CD’s observations on his address; clarifies his view of the importance of isolation, the effect of climate, the plants of S. Africa and Australia.