Fears England and U. S. will drift into war; he and AG must "keep to Science".

Thanks for facts on Incas; regrets he has always avoided the case of man.

Has sent his Linum paper [Collected papers 2: 93–105].

Is it true that Ohio has legislated against marriage of cousins?

Can AG explain the invariable angles in phyllotaxy; are they the consequence of packing in the early bud?

Owen’s comments on heterogeny in the Athenæum [28 Mar 1863] have vexed W. B. Carpenter; CD has replied [Collected papers 2: 78–80].

Hopes AG will observe Gymnadenia; John Scott has been experimenting on its fertilisation.

Gives his observation on pollination of Cypripedium.

AG’s opinion of Lyell’s Antiquity of man.

Would like photographs of JH, one for himself and one for the American Philosophical Society. Busy at the Mint. Issue of bronze coinage continues. Supplying foreign Mints with his gas apparatus.

Attacks by Falconer [Athenæum 4 Apr 1863, pp. 459–60] and Joseph Prestwich on Lyell.

W. B. Carpenter fails to attack Owen.

Welwitschia male cones with useless ovules marvellous example of lost function and retained structure.

JDH evaluates his sons.

Outlining the requirements for the new Assistant Secretary at the Geographical Society. Gave Frank Buckland encouragement last week.

No summary available.

Has not yet read the pamphlets [selection of reviews of Origin, sent by CD at GB’s request]. Though GB does not go so far as Hooker in accepting all of CD’s hypotheses and does not feel up to a thorough discussion of his views, he hopes in his Linnean Anniversary Address [Proc. Linn. Soc. Lond. (1863): xi–xxix] to speak on the present state of the [species] question.

CD thinks HBD’s tables would be a considerable gain because "the importance of hereditary transmission can hardly be exaggerated from every point of view". Makes suggestions.

Asks him to send any remarkable cases of inheritance to him and, as well, any case of regrowth of amputated additional digit.

Thanks for paper on Linum [Collected papers 2: 93–105].

One of his gardeners [John Scott] is also studying such fertilisation and appreciates CD’s encouragement; Scott has paper to read for Edinburgh Botanical Society.

Disagrees with GB when he says he is not up to treating the whole subject [the present state of the species question]. He is especially equipped to handle the "great subject of affinities in relation to descent and independent creation".

Sent off Corydalis. Observations on Corydalis pistils.

Good of HF to tell him about Brazilian beast. So intermediate a form is "very glorious". Must assume it is very old.

Is very grateful for CD’s note and return of the bond for £250; promises to repay CD any profits made from those shares, even in the event of DTA’s death.

Is sorry to hear CD is ill.

Observations on Catasetum.

Figs require insects in order to set seed.

Grieved by Falconer’s and Prestwich’s treatment of Lyell.

Reproductive anatomy of the common ash reminds CD of JDH’s Welwitschia because of its transitional forms.

Pleased JDH encourages Oliver to do orchids.

Bryanthus erectus, said by [D. D.?] Cunningham to be a hybrid, has been found wild in North America.

Further description of the Toxodon-like mammal, Typotherium.

[JH's summary of letter] Instructions and corrections relative to data on nebula for JH's catalogue.

Has obtained fossils from Gibraltar that he believes are human. Requests Lyell’s address so that he can send the bones.

Thanks for LAR’s book [The land and freshwater mollusks indigenous to, or naturalised in, the British Isles (1863)].