Encloses a sketch of the principal events in his life [for RH’s memoir on CD in Walford, ed., Portraits of men of eminence (1863–7)].
Regrets that JvH is not on list of candidates for Royal Society. This year the Council of Royal Society is extraordinarily deficient in natural historians and geologists. Thinks JvH is sure to be elected another year.
Writes a line of thanks; includes instructions on procedure for crossing experiments.
Asks for the name of a hummingbird.
The apparent difference in arm lengths of compositors is due to a drooping shoulder. File-makers stand in a peculiar position and call one of their legs the hind leg.
Caspary wants to visit Down. CD would like to see him but dreads the exertion.
Pleased that JDH will get D.C.L. at Oxford.
Memorial to the Chancellor of the Exchequer from the fellows of the Royal, Linnean, Geological, and Zoological Societies of London, stating the importance of separating the administration of the national natural history collections of the British Museum from that of the library and art collections, and placing it in the hands of one officer, immediately responsible to one of the Queen’s ministers.
Acknowledges receipt of £262 8s. 8d.
Had not heard they had suffered so much from the cattle plague in Lincolnshire.
Has forwarded FH’s paper on Fumariaceae to horticultural congress. Comments on its findings.
Discusses forms of Oxalis.
Glad to see Asa Gray’s letter.
Asks whether he may insert a sentence about Cape Verde alpine plants in new edition [4th] of Origin.
Fears "twaddle" may also be the word for his two chapters on cultivated plants. Asks for Crawfurd’s paper.
Thanks for information on orchids
and facts on coastal flora and fauna.
Asks FM to look out for dimorphic aquatic and marsh plants.
Has read pamphlets "in our favour" by Carl v. Nägeli and Oscar Schmidt.
Has corrected and improved Origin.
Now hopes to make real progress [on Variation].
Comments on JDH’s list – very good, but Orchids and Primula paper have too indirect a bearing to be worth mentioning. The Eozoon is a very important fact and to a much lesser degree the Archaeopteryx. Müller’s Für Darwin [1864] perhaps the most important contribution.
CD has forgotten to mention Bates on variation and JDH’s Arctic paper ["Distribution of Arctic plants", Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 23 (1862): 251–348] in new edition of Origin.
Now finds that Owen claims to be originator of natural selection.
No enclosure in JDH’s last letter.
Would like to be amused "for my stomach & the whole Universe is this day demoniacal in my eyes".
