Is preparing new edition of Origin [6th] in which he will introduce new chapter to answer Mivart’s criticisms. Mivart is unfair: suppresses facts in CD’s later editions.
Sends article [by Chauncey Wright, see 7940] reviewing Genesis of species.
Mivart writes to CD full of respect, but reviles him in print.
No summary available.
Sends proofs of Huxley’s article on Mivart, to be published in Contemporary Review ["Mr Darwin’s critics", 18 (1871): 443–76].
On Huxley’s article for Contemporary Review [see 7977] confuting Mivart. It has cheered him,
for he is very low about his mother’s state.
Is also in detestable position with "my lord and master", A. S. Ayrton. JDH has denounced him to the [First] Lord of the Treasury [W. E. Gladstone] for his conduct.
ARW's reservations about human evolution.
Sorry to hear of JDH’s troubles;
pleased he thinks so highly of Huxley’s article [see 7977].
Huxley makes CD feel infantile in intellect (as JDH once said of himself). CD is not so good a Christian as JDH thinks, for he did enjoy his revenge on Mivart.
No summary available.
JDH’s servant carries his letter to Henry Holland about problems with Ayrton. Suggests servant take CD’s letter to Holland to town and post them at same time. Holland is said to be very intimate friend of Gladstone.
Has written to Henry Holland in strongest terms. Will be surprised and disappointed if he does not accede to JDH’s request.
CD agitated by JDH’s letter. Forgot to say that he heard Henry Holland was going to Turin. Beseeches JDH not to resign. No one could possibly replace him.
JDH has no intention of resigning. Thinks W. E. Gladstone would rather see Ayrton turned out than himself. Gladstone knows JDH has friends who would be troublesome. Only moral and political cowardice of Cabinet keeps Ayrton in office.
Lyell is much altered since autumn.
Has CD read Charles Martins’ paper on the glacial origin of the tourbières of the Jura [Arch. Sci. Phys. & Nat. 42 (1871): 286–308]?
John Scott has an admirable series on horticulture in Bengal ["Notes on horticulture in Bengal", J. Agric. & Hortic. Soc. India 2 (1871) pt 1: 241–96; 3 (1872) pt 1: 1–82].
No summary available.
Details of the JDH–Ayrton–Gladstone imbroglio.
Henry Holland is taking an active part in helping JDH in the Ayrton affair.
JDH suggests [Sir Mountstuart Elphinstone] Grant Duff become a Fellow of the Linnean Society. Asks after Grant Duff's continental tour with his wife. Complains that the Ayrton controversy is deteriorating further, JDH has brought it to the attention of Prime minister Gladstone & predicts it will end with the dismissal of himself or [Acton Smee] Ayrton.
CD is considering repeating experiments on melastomads in which different pollen sizes produced differing seedling sizes.
Responds to JDH’s query on differences in pollen within the same species.
No summary available.
JDH informs Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant Duff that he is sending Cosmo Melville a report on the pamphlet relating to an injured poppy crop. JDH thinks the pamphlet is unfairly harsh toward Bihar Opium agents & should not have been published by the Government. He believes his report is to be sent to India so asks Grant Duff to read over it & get it approved by 'his Grace'.
Will be in London until 21st. Would rejoice if JDH could come to lunch during their stay.
Cannot come to lunch to meet Sir Henry Holland. Holland may have seen Robert Lowe [Lord Sherbrooke] already. Will CD let him know his views?
