Gives an extract from L. von Buch on the flora of the Canaries [Physikalische Beschreibung der Canarische Inseln (1825)].

Natural selection does not explain why animals of different groups in the same place often resemble each other.

Must prepare new edition of Origin.

Discusses structure of beehives. Mentions writings of Chauncey Wright on bees’ cells ["Remarks on the architecture of bees", Proc. Am. Acad. Arts & Sci. 4 (1857–60): 432–3].

Please accept his thanks for his article on telescopes. Comments on JH's views. Would like 50 copies of the article to distribute to opticians.

Many thanks for JH's article on the telescope; will read it with much interest. Has employed an assistant to prepare drawings of the nebula. The six-foot reflector requires repolishing.

Is sick of hostile reviews but they have helped in showing where he must expatiate and expand in new edition of Origin.

Has more confidence in the general truth of his view. Disappointed THH does not think it more probable than he did at first.

No summary available.

Asks again how great a hurry there is for new edition [of Origin, 3d ed.]. Corrections will enlarge volume by a dozen or twenty pages, plus a short historical sketch. Would like "With Corrections" in title.

"You cannot tell how much your paper on Gestation has interested me" ["On some unusual modes of gestation in batrachians and fishes", Am. J. Sci. 2d ser. 27 (1859): 5–13].

Robert McDonnell has made curious discoveries on electrical organs of rays.

Is giving JW’s hog case in corrected ed. [3d] of Origin.

Would like account of tip of tail of young rattlesnake.

Third edition of Origin will answer reviewers.

Drosera experiments detailed.

Hopes for W. H. Harvey’s conversion.

Sale of Origin requires new edition [3d (Apr 1861)].

Further discussion of geological elevation and subsidence in Europe. Compares evidence to that of South America. His theory that semi-fluid matter underlies earth’s crust.

Mentions David Forbes’s explanation of South American nitrate deposits.

Has followed CL’s advice not to reply directly to reviewers.

Thanks for information on cave rat.

CD is obliged for news of J. D. Dana’s recovery.

Will use BS’s information about cave rat in revised [3d] edition of Origin.

Thanks THH for his note; pleased by what he says. Is too sensitive about shades of opinion of men like THH.

The Macmillan article on Origin [H. Fawcett, "A popular exposition of Mr Darwin on the origin of species", Macmillan’s Mag. 3 (1860): 81–92].

J. E. Gray’s misunderstanding of Origin.

Account of the encounter at Oxford BAAS meeting.

Wishes to apply for a position as professor and would like JH's recommendation.

Reminds JM that copies of diagram must be printed off [for Origin, 3d ed.]. It must be carefully reproduced or parts of the book will be as unintelligible as Hebrew. Hopes never again to have to make so many additions in order that many rather stupid reviewers will at least understand what he meant.

There is a good article on the Origin in Macmillan’s Magazine [by Henry Fawcett].

JDH’s page-by-page criticisms on Origin, first edition, as requested by CD for preparation of the third edition.

Summary of research on terrestrial magnetism in other countries. Will send paper on magnetic storms to JH.

Expresses his admiration for HF’s review of Origin in Macmillan’s Magazine (Fawcett 1860).

Henry Fawcett’s article on Origin [Macmillan’s Mag. 3 (1860): 81–92] quotes JDH’s Oxford speech.

Discusses Origin, suggesting confirmation might come from studying reproduction in microscopic organisms.

Gives anecdotal observations of blind rats and white cats.

A note with a copy of JH's article on telescopes for the Encyclopaedia Britannica, together with some papers to be forwarded to James Glaisher.