Invites GB and wife to luncheon.
"… Mr Herbert Spencer. I will call tomorrow about half past 12".
Declines contributing to Land and Water. Asks if Frank Buckland can insert a question about the feet of otter hounds.
Did not think JDH had written Murray review [see 5217].
Does not think Gardeners’ Chronicle best for publication of "Insular floras" [Gard. Chron. (1867): 6–7, 27, 50–1, 75–6].
T. Laxton’s article, on direct action of pollen of peas on seed and pod, a grand physiological fact and "delightful" for Pangenesis.
Interview with Herbert Spencer.
Requests information about the feet of otter-hounds. Is the membrane between the toes more largely developed than in other hounds? To which part or joint of the toes does the skin extend? Is it hollowed out? [There is a hand-written copy of this letter in Invercargill City Libraries and Archives (Alex Robertson Collection, vol. 1: A0444 S12450001). The handwriting is not CD’s: it may be a copy made for the printer, or maybe by a reader of the magazine.]
Susan Darwin is dead.
Comments on proofs [of Principles of geology, 10th ed. (1867–8)]: CL does not allude to the specialisation of classes.
Discusses CL’s argument from the absence of Cetacea in Secondary rocks;
finds his discussion of man "superfluous and too orthodox".
More comments on proofs [of CL’s Principles of geology, 10th ed.]. Discusses permanence of continents and other points.
Refers to passage describing evaporation of snow in Journal [of researches, pp. 277–8].
Cites astronomers’ views on increasing length of day.
Responds to CP’s sermon. Corrects CP’s confusion of what CD said about eyes of the Articulata with human eye,
and questions applicability of CP’s mathematical arguments about length of geological time needed for evolution.
Agrees he was foolish about the Wealden, now struck from later editions [Origin, pp. 285–7].
Instructions on paying a bill.
Greatly interested in case of purple nuts but, after seeing TR’s specimens, dares not trust his case. Wishes he lived near TR or were strong enough to visit.
Arrangements for woodcuts [in Variation]. Hopes to be ready to print early in 1867.
Encloses letter from Asa Gray [5160] about Appleton’s refusal to alter their plates for a new edition of Origin.
CD asks JM to consider Gray’s plan to have the English edition compete with the American.
Hopes to begin printing Variation at the beginning of next year.
Mary Somerville may use diagrams from Orchids [in her Molecular and microscopic science (1869)], but permission should be obtained from John Murray.
Lists some alterations which must be made to the drawings [for Variation].
Explains how to get to Down for visit.
Introduces Ernst Haeckel.
Lyell sent same chapters to CD, who thinks them very good but is not convinced that changes of land and water will do all he thinks.
A letter from Asa Gray informs CD that Ticknor & Fields will not publish a new edition of Origin to compete with Appleton’s unrevised edition. They recommend sending copies of the English edition for the American market.
Thanks for box of crossed peas.