Approves specimen sheet [of Origin]. Sorry book will be so long. Has now written half of last chapter; it is as long as his estimate of the entire chapter. Now thinks it will run to 6000 or 7000 words. Will do his utmost to improve his style. Anxious to publish soon; he knows of two men already writing on the subject, starting from his Linnean Society paper ["On the tendency of species to form varieties", Collected papers 2: 3–19]. Will send a diagram for the book.

Too ill to examine proofs of JDH’s Flora Tasmaniae [The botany of the Antarctic voyage, pt III].

His health has suddenly failed. He is leaving home for one week’s rest.

Has informed William Clowes that he will begin correcting on the 27th.

Returning from Moor Park. CD will take up proofs of JDH’s Flora Tasmaniae.

CD’s diagram [for chapter on "Divergence of character", Origin] is indispensable.

Finds he will have to make many corrections, his text is so obscure.

A week of hydropathy at Moor Park has done him a world of good.

THH should understand that CD’s hypothesis [natural selection] has as many flaws and holes as sound parts. The question is whether CD’s rag of a hypothesis is worth anything. A poor rag is better than nothing to carry one’s fruit to market.

Reports events at Down.

Is busy with proofs [of Origin];

is anxious to hear how WED does in his examinations.

Finds style [of Origin] incredibly bad; corrections are very heavy. Supposes it was due to his attention being fixed on general lines of argument and not on detail. Wishes to share expense of corrections.

Acknowledges receipt of £244 15s. 11d.

Discusses S. S. Haldeman’s paper ["Enumeration of the recent freshwater Mollusca", Boston J. Nat. Hist. 4 (1844): 468–84].

Centres of species origin.

Describes his corrections of Origin.

CD making extensive corrections on proofs of Origin. Worries that style is too dry.

Doubts about Joseph Prestwich’s discovery [of flint tools].

Comments on ACR’s "The old glaciers [of Switzerland and N. Wales", in Peaks, passes, and glaciers: a series of excursions by members of the Alpine Club, ed. J. Ball (1859)]. Discusses erratic blocks in the Jura. Notes views of Lyell.

Has finished ACR’s article ["The old glaciers of Switzerland and N. Wales" in Peaks, passes, and glaciers, ed. J. Ball (1859)]. Asks the authority for glacial drifts in Siberia. Wishes ACR would examine the Glen Roy parallel roads and settle the problem.

Asks if it is certain that traces of organic remains have been found in Long Mynd beds.

Thanks CL for copy of his paper ["Structure of lavas", Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. 148 (1858): 703–86].

Promises him a copy of Origin.

Thanks for answer to queries.

Expresses intention of reporting observations of traces of life in the Long Mynd beds and asks permission to cite ACR on his recent discovery of fossils in the Laurentian marbles of Canada.

Urges ACR’s investigation of Glen Roy problems.

Sends payment for Francis Darwin’s tutoring. Inquires about possible arrangements for his son Leonard, who is slow and not well, to attend with Francis.

Asks whether he can have a cutting of GVR’s carrion-smelling Arum which he needs for an experiment.

Returns JDH’s proofs. He is so involved in Origin he cannot judge force of JDH’s arguments. Some detailed comments.

Haldeman’s old paper [see 2470] clever, but does not have natural selection. Explaining adaptation has always seemed turning point of theory of natural selection.

Discusses affairs at Down and WED’s coming trip to the Lakes.

Is getting on very slowly with his "confounded proof-sheets" [of Origin].

His uncle, Sir Francis Sacheverel Darwin, has asked if FSD’s son-in-law, Marcus Huish, can shoot over CD’s Beesby property. Can JH advise?

Has written to his uncle, Sir Francis Sacheverel Darwin, to say that without revoking the right of shooting over Beesby, granted to JH, he is happy to allow Marcus Huish to shoot over the farm.