No summary available.

Sending JH his Essays [Essays: Scientific, Political, and Speculative, 1857] and HS's 'Recent Astronomy and the Nebular Hypothesis,' the latter just published in the Westminster Review. Requests JH's comments on the latter publication.

No summary available.

[Responding to JH's 1859-1-16,] HS defends the nebular hypothesis, HS's theory of comets, and sets out HS's theory of sunspot formation, noting that John Tyndall supports it.

[Responding to JH's 1860}-1-12,] HS admits some of JH's objections to HS's views on distribution of cometary orbits, but attempts to salvage HS's cyclonic theory of sunspot formation.

CD has caused a great change in HS’s views, in showing how a great proportion of adaptation should be explained by natural selection not direct adaptation to changing conditions. HS had remarked on the survival of the best individuals as a cause of improvement in man, but he "& every one" overlooked selection of spontaneous variation. Believes so many kinds of indirect evidence must add up to a conclusive demonstration of the doctrine.

Asks JH to become a subscriber to a work that HS is bringing out. Lists prominent persons who have already done so.

Thanks JH for agreeing [1860-3-17] to be a subscriber to HS's project and for JH's critique of HS's use of the term 'Absolute.' Admits that it has difficulties.

Recalls JH having written that an 'annulus of stars might be in equilibrium.' Asks where this claim appears in JH's writings.

Thanks JH for sending HS a copy of JH's dialogue ['On Atoms']. Comments on it.

Doubts the claim that Auguste Comte has significantly influenced English scientists. Asks whether JH believes Comte has influenced JH or others. Asks whether it is more difficult to calculate the moon's motion or the motion of a projectile through a resisting medium.

No summary available.

Recounts efforts to establish The Reader as a respected weekly journal of science. Asks that JH submit material for publication in it.

The Reader does not plan to publish a list of contributors, but would welcome letters by JH, which would imply JH's support for the new weekly journal of science.

Wonders whether CD might contribute, if possible, an occasional letter to the Reader to help in their effort to establish the journal.

Asks whether CD will add his name to a list supporting them in the "[Edward John] Eyre prosecution matter".

No summary available.

Thanks CD for copy of Variation.

Discusses Pangenesis and considers CD’s "gemmules" comparable to his own hypothetical "physiological units" ["On alleged ""spontaneous generation"", and on the hypothesis of physiological units", appendix in The principles of biology, vol. 1 (1864)].

No summary available.

Thanks CD for copy of Descent; wishes it had appeared earlier so that he could have made use of the facts in his Principles of psychology [2d ed. (1870–2)].