CD approves of HES’s "laws" [of nomenclature]. Regrets that [J. E.?] Gray does not approve of the scheme. CD has sent the paper to William Ogilby and suggests that HES send it to G. R. Waterhouse, of whom he has a high opinion.
CD saw Andrew Smith, who is interested in the subject [of zoological nomenclature], but CD thinks he differs from HES on some points. Sends Smith’s address.
Comments on birth [of Catherine Elizabeth Sophia Wedgwood].
Plans to visit Shrewsbury.
Describes behaviour of William Darwin.
Discusses speculation losses of acquaintances, including T. Carlyle’s. Mentions his own loss on Journal of researches.
Family news from Shrewsbury.
News of family and of his stay at Shrewsbury.
Calculates the newly instituted income tax will mean £30 per annum.
Letter of condolence on the death of WDF’s wife [Harriet Fletcher Fox].
Second letter of condolence, following burial of Mrs Fox.
The fourth number of part four is now published; the Smith, Elder & Co. account is presented.
Glad to hear that LJ will repeat his notes to Gilbert White’s [Natural history of] Selborne [1843] in a separate work.
Critical of G. R. Gray’s attaching his own name to Furnarius cunicularius [in Birds, pp. 65–6]. Strickland’s nomenclature laws are needed to check egoism.
Acknowledges Mrs H’s disappointing answer to his quest for a house in the country. Five miles from a railway station is "the length of my tether".
Is "stomachy and be-blue-devilled" because of costs of publishing [Zoology and Coral reefs]. Wonders how the remainder [of the Zoology and Geology of "Beagle"] can be published without taking £200 or £300 out of their personal funds.
Is sending fish skins and bottles off to Cambridge Philosophical Society.
Fish numbers [of Zoology], now finished, give CD satisfaction when he doubts whether he ought to have applied for Government money.
Wishes Thomas Bell would finish his part [Reptiles].
CD has just corrected last page of index of Coral reefs.
Gives instructions for sending out copies of Coral reefs to various journals. Discusses the complimentary copies which have already been sent out.
Comments on HES’s Report ["Report of a committee … (on) nomenclature of zoology", Rep. BAAS 12 (1842): 105–21]. Suggests limit be put to changing names that are only partially erroneous to prevent those who detect the error from coining new names and attaching their own. HES’s rule for "authority for a species" is difficult, though on the whole best. Suggests stating it boldly to prevent appropriation of species names by "tacker[s] of two old names together".
[Excerpt copied from a letter CD wrote to WHF.]
CD’s gratefulness to William Buckland for his guidance on the glaciated terrain of N. Wales. "I am also convinced that the valleys of Glen Roy … have been occupied by arms of the Sea, & very likely, (for on that point I cannot of course doubt Agassiz & Buckland) by glaciers also."
Has made an offer for house at Down, renting having been refused. Discusses price, risks involved, and Edward Cresy’s advice.
Describes the village of Down and the house they are thinking of buying.
The Smith, Elder & Co. account for the first number of part five of the Zoology, now published, is presented.
Congratulates HES on producing an authoritative document [BAAS committee report on zoological nomenclature].
Has been to N. Wales looking at glacier traces described by W. Buckland, which are most interesting and clear. Has written an article on what he saw ["Ancient glaciers of Caernarvonshire" (1842), Collected papers 1: 163–71].
Discusses toad [mentioned in Journal of researches, p. 115].
Describes house at Down.