Is pleased that AdeC is interested in the Primula case ["Dimorphic condition of Primula", Collected papers 2: 45–63]. Is pursuing analogous experiments on other plants and on seedlings raised from the unions.

CD’s "large work" progresses slowly owing to ill health and his work on Orchids.

CD is not surprised that AdeC is unwilling to admit natural selection – "the subject hardly admits of direct proof or evidence. It will be believed in only by those who think that it connects & partly explains several large classes of facts".

Hopes AdeC will publish on Quercus

and rejoices that he intends to return to the study of geographical distribution. No one can claim to have read AdeC’s truly great work on that subject [Géographie botanique (1855)] with more care than CD.

Has broken up school a few days early to avoid danger. Hopes CD’s son is nearly recovered.

Enclosed is from Mr. Moffat, son of the missionary. Thanks for the essay on Meteorology. The Cape Meteorological Observations for 1841-7 were printed under the direction of Edward Sabine. The mss. for the later series are in possession of Robert FitzRoy, who is trying to find the means to print them. Serious gales at the Cape. Vessel wrecked on Sunday night attempting to enter Table Bay.