Does not think Dennen’s transaction was dishonest, but can see no satisfactory explanation for it; feels they must inform their fellow trustees.

Responds to JH [see JH's 1863-6-2] about basic rules for admission to the observatory [for JH's future guidance]; GA discourages the visit of ladies 'who understand nothing and learn nothing.'

Asks whether JT can reprint JH's letters on the British modular standard of length, which letters were published in the Athenaeum.

Have made several of JH's actinometers but have always experienced difficulty with the fluid, ammonia sulphate of copper. Can some other fluid be used? They are now making two actinometers for a foreign observatory and would like to make them as accurate as possible.

Thanks CD for influence used with Hooker to obtain a colonial position. Has offended J. H. Balfour by refusing the Darjeeling post and James McNab has become unfriendly, although his experiments do not detract from his garden work.

Will write Primula paper for Linnean Society as CD suggests.

His Darwinism is unpalatable at Edinburgh Botanic Garden.

Describes results with non-dimorphic Primula species. Such cases do not accord with CD’s view that characters are slowly acquired.

Thanks for criticism of his writing style.

Passes on recent reports of good news that daughter Caroline is improving, and that JH's wife, Margaret, survived the journey well. [Margaret went to Dublin to be with Caroline when she became very ill at the birth of her daughter Kathleen.]