Paris is in the hands of "brigands and socialists", but one grows accustomed to sporadic bombardment,

and VOK is peacefully studying invertebrate palaeontology collections.

Reports on Paul Gervais’ successful cross between a Triton and an axolotl.

Provides details of JH's health, which is very tenuous, but seems to be improving.

CD is perplexed about illustrations for Expression, i.e., whether photographs are better than woodcuts. He thinks photographs, but does not know which process is preferable. Asks JM to inquire.

Offers CD same payment for the 3d issue of Descent as for 2d.

Has bespoke four better drawings of birds in case a 4th issue is needed.

Vanity Fair wants CD’s portrait by Carlo Pellegrini ["Ape"].

Has no objection to LP’s replacing Loescher in publishing an Italian translation of Descent. Murray will give proper authorisation.

Thanks CD for his letter referring to JWS’s bibliographical paper ["Darwinian bibliography", Z. Ethnol. 3 (1871): 56–67]. Will be glad to inform CD of any additions to the list and would be grateful for information on future publications.

Thanks correspondent for item of criticism in a foreign newspaper.

Wishes to inform CD that, contrary to CD’s impression, natural selection is widely accepted in U. S. by educated men; encloses copies of his lectures, papers, and the Index.

Asks for a ticket for THH’s lecture at the Royal Institution for WED. With ED’s and HED’s forgeries of CD’s signature.

Writes of the gentle, peaceful nature of JH's death that morning in the presence of many of the family.

Writes that he does not share at all in Lionel Beale’s letter in Nature [4 (1871): 25–6];

his new experiments are not hopeful.

Will require at least six weeks’ notice before a new edition of Descent has to go to press because of considerable corrections needed.

Thinks cheap edition of Origin is needed, since he could answer objections in it.

Obliged for letter about human ear. Comments on ears and on E. R. Lankester’s idea about the ear-lobe.

Has arranged a trip to the U. S. with Cambridge friends; believes it would be much jollier if Frank could go too.

JDH writes to his wife, Frances Hooker, to inform her that he is in a camp at the 'axis' of a high ridge in the Atlas Mountains. The party travelled from Morocco to the place where [John] Washington made an attempted ascent, as described in the JOURNAL OF THE GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY. The 'Caid' or chief of that part of the mountains hates Christians & tried to persuade them not to go further, however they climbed to 5000 feet & could see enough to establish that it was not a god route to the peaks that Washington had been trying to reach. They then went further West. Their progress that way was hampered by the mules being unable to continue for more than a few hours in the rugged terrain & they were unable to reach the snowline there. Instead they travelled to the province of Reraia on the headwaters of the Oued El Fist [elsewhere spelt Enfisk, possibly referring to Tensift River], & then further south to their current position at 3-4000 feet above sea level in the district of Sheik El Graoui. El Graoui has taken them to the lowest snow bed, at 8000 feet. They will next make camp at the highest village, 7000 feet, & use it as a base for botanising higher. They will then try an ascent of the great peaks to the West en route to Mogadore [Essaouira]. The mountains are inhabited by a race called the Shelloos [Shilhah], to whom JDH is administering medical treatment. JDH saw the first sign of ancient ice action in a moraine at 6000 feet but there were no other indications of glaciation in the surroundings. He describes the landscape. He characterises the vegetation as 'mainly Spanish' & notes the presence of: Cisti, Lentisk, Arbutus, Phillyrea, Roses, Honey-suckle, Willow, Ash, Oak, Laurustinus Juniper, Callitris, Walnut, Olive, Chamerops & Elder. Also many species of unspecified herbaceous plants including new ones. Above 6000 feet: wild Gooseberry, harsh grass, many herbaceous Compositae, 2 or 3 Saxifrages, Cruciferae & Leguminosae. They have seen remarkably few ferns.

Recommends [W. M. Williams] The fuel of the sun [1870] as remarkably illuminating about physical astronomy. Williams solves the problem of duration of sun’s heat in "a most satisfactory manner".

George [Darwin] plans a trip to America and would like FD to go [see 7757]. CD will gladly pay whole cost if the trip will not interfere with FD’s medical work.

Is pleased GL is to translate the Journal of researches into Swedish.

Disagrees with CD and especially with Lubbock and McLennan about communal marriage. [See Descent 2: 361–3.]

He is waiting to hear about the requirements for the MB examination before considering the possible trip to north America.