Darwin thanks Hooker for reporting that all went well at the Linnean Society and supports Hooker's suggestion that he (Hooker) write to ARW to "exonerate" Darwin.

Thanks JDH for his report on the reading of the Wallace and Darwin papers at the Linnean Society [read 1 July 1858; Collected papers 2: 3–19]. Considers how to publish his work. Offers to forward a note from JDH to Wallace.

No summary available.

Darwin comments that Hooker's letter to ARW is perfect and that he has forwarded it to ARW along with one from himself. Darwin states he had resigned himself to giving up priority regarding evolution by natural selection to ARW but for influence from Lyell and Hooker.

JDH’s letter to Wallace perfect. CD’s feelings about priority. Without Lyell’s and JDH’s intervention CD would have given up all claims to Wallace. Now planning 30-page abstract for a journal.

Observations on floral structure

and slave-making ants.

Sends proofs [of "On the tendency of species to form varieties … ", read 1 July 1858, Collected papers 2: 3–19]. CD could publish his abstract [later the Origin] as a separate supplemental number of [Journal of the Linnean Society].

JDH has studied in detail CD’s manuscript on variable species in large and small genera and concurs with its consequences. Discusses methodological idiosyncrasies of systematists, e.g., Bentham, Robert Brown, and C. C. Babington, which complicate CD’s tabulations.

Regards from Isle of Wight.

Darwin requests a clean proof (of his abstract?) for ARW.

Correcting proof for CD–Wallace paper. Has begun abstract.

Large and small genera.

Six children have died of scarlet fever in Down village.

Writing abstract is amusing and improving work. Thanks JDH and Lyell for setting him to it.

No summary available.

The CD–Wallace paper has gone to press.

JDH’s tabulation of variable species from Bentham was done in haste.

References Darwin's after notes about Darwin/Wallace publication on evolution by natural selection.