Performed a large number of Lythrum crosses before leaving home.

Working on Drosera for amusement. Has tried effect on plants of vegetable substances active on animal nervous systems, e.g., opium; makes Drosera inactive for hours.

Strongly recommends Condy’s "Ozonised Disinfectant" as a cure for scarlet fever.

Congratulations on the balloon ascent to 30,000 feet by James Glaisher and Henry Coxwell. Suggests far greater heights are possible using compressed oxygen to breathe and the 'Peruvian coca leaf' [cocaine] as a source of strength.

Praises Orchids.

He has finished his work on Quercus.

H. Lecoq has worked on hybridism,

and P. Duchartre on orchid polymorphism.

Thanks for JDH’s letter [3725].

Has become interested in experimenting on Drosera.

Observations on the ovaria of Cruciferae.

Acknowledges presentation copy of Orchids.

Asks advice on what to do with all his fossils. Sending various specimens.

Would like to go to Cambridge [for BAAS meeting]. Reminisces about his student days.

Pleased that WDF likes his book [Orchids]. At one time CD agreed with Lyell that he was an ass to publish it.

Working on dimorphism and sensibility of other plants.

Offers to exchange fossils with CD. He has very good series of French and German fossils.

Asks his opinion of A. C. Ramsay’s glacial lake theory. Encloses Julius Haast’s communication on glacial phenomena.

Thanks for Haast’s observations. Particularly glad to get geological evidence of glacial action (in Southern Hemisphere).

Thinks Ramsay’s theory to large extent true, but thinks that in a much disturbed country some lakes would have been formed in depressions.

Last chapter of Orchids opens up a "knotty sort of question about accident or design".

Changes in orchid flowers as they age.

Thinks CD may find trimorphism in Nesaea verticillata.

Encloses MS ["On the American fossil elephant", Nat. Hist. Rev. (1863): 43–114]. Shows persistence of specific characters through glacial period.

Eocene monkeys mistakenly described as pigs.

No summary available.

Encloses MS on observations and experiments on Drosera. JDH’s opinion will help him decide whether to pursue subject in some future year.

Describes experiment on role of labellum in fertilisation of orchids. Asks for information.

Delighted with performance of WL's telescopes in Maltese climate. Invites JH to visit. Awaiting JH's catalogue of nebulae. Seeking assistant.

Describes galaxy-like gaseous nebula with interior elliptical ring.

Encloses letter from G. J. Stoney, who had journal of WP's nebulae observations. Hopes WP's observations will be helpful for JH's proposed catalogue of nebulae.

No summary available.

Thinks "ozonised fluid" is a pure solution of permanganate of soda. Sends dosage.