JDH prepares Anniversary Address to the Royal Society [Proc. R. Soc. Lond. (1876): 339–62].
Return of Challenger.
JDH informs Sir Charles Wyville Thomson [CWT] that he has received copies of the latter's correspondence with the Admiralty & Treasury regarding the publication & dispersal of the results of the HMS 'Challenger' Expedition. The Treasury has asked for the advice of the Royal Society Council on how this can best be done independently & for the greatest scientific benefit. JDH quotes at length from the Treasury's request which asks especially for advice on what the limits of the published works should be, given CWT's insistence that they be restricted to the particular objects of the expedition. To help the Royal Society deliberations JDH asks CWT for his opinions on how the collections should be 'worked up' & what audience he has in mind for the published works & who should write them. Also as regards payment for & ultimate length of the work & whether or not the deep & shallow ocean fauna could be considered & published separately. He asks for the information promptly as the Challenger Committee must report for the Parliamentary Settlement of 1877-1878.
He has examined Hoya flowers with Bentham and Oliver, but they are not satisfied about the five processes alternating with the sepals. [See Forms of flowers, pp. 331–2.] Sends specimens of plants.
Babington’s surprise at JDH’s advocacy of Darwinian views at Norwich [BAAS meeting].
Criticism of the behaviour of the trustees of the British Museum [in the Challenger affair].
Plants received from JDH.
Requests he verify an identification by Fritz Müller.
Complains at Albert Günther’s imputations against Charles Wyville Thomson [as a result of the dispute between Thomson and the British Museum, regarding the disposal of the specimens from the Challenger].
No summary available.
JDH has sent a short-styled Forsythia from Kew. CD surmises that all Forsythia at Kew may be short-styled, hence he is curious to know whether they set seed.
Notes variation in style and stamen length in Forsythia.
JDH writes that he is waiting to hear whether the Royal Society has accepted the proposal that it undertake the work on Sir Wyville Thomson's specimens [from the HMS 'Challenger' expedition]. If the suggestion is approved JDH will submit a detailed plan. The plan has already been prepared, a complex procedure as a work of such scope has never been undertaken before. The plan will ask for £3500 for 1877-1878 for the publication of the work. JDH asks Smith to authorise the submission of the plan to the Navy[?].