Praise for abstract of JL’s paper on insects ["On the ova and pseudova of insects", Proc. R. Soc. Lond. 9 (1857–9): 574–83].
Regarding the reasons for the confusion in the nomenclature of the genus Wellingtonia and Sequoia. Comments on the aquatic Anacharis.
On moving the natural history collection of the British Museum to Kensington.
Subscription for John Ralfs.
Sends WED a bank draft.
Hooker has convinced him that move of British Museum by Government is anticipated. He is now willing to sign the memorial. Still fears for library needs, and objects to distant Kensington site. Lyell should be asked to sign.
Had no idea that JH had written on sound. Sends him an abstract of his book on harmony. Explains various aspects of chords and their notation.
Discusses matters relating to WED’s first term [at Cambridge].
No summary available.
Has sent him the abstract on harmony. Further remarks on this.
Discusses the use of the stereoscope, including stereoscopic views of the moon and sun. Also discusses the appropriate stereoscopic angle.
Asks about dark stripes on shoulders and legs of Hungarian horses. Are stripes plainer in foal or adult?
Sending one of his tracts. Comments on the subject of duplicate equalities.
Lyell receives Copley Medal; CD to write notes for JDH’s éloge of Lyell.
Arrangements to meet JSH at station for his visit to Down.
Having outgrown his self-built telescope, hopes to borrow a larger 'metal' from JH, or to obtain from JH William Herschel's method for polishing telescopes.
Thanks RMR for contribution to Down charities. Declines invitation.
WS's brother-in-law [George Peacock] has died after an illness.
On some of the elements of the orbit of a newly appearing comet.
Busy with introductory essay to [The botany of the Antarctic voyage, pt III] Flora Tasmaniae [printed separately as On the flora of Australia (1859)].
Now explains greater abundance of European species in Tasmania than in Fuegia by CD’s "refrigeration" hypothesis.
Reports the decreased yield of pods resulting from excluding bees from the flowers of the kidney bean. Gives other observations suggesting the importance of bees in the fertilisation of papilionaceous flowers.
Cites cases of crosses between varieties of bean grown close together and requests observations from readers on the subject. States his belief "that is a law of nature that every organic being should occasionally be crossed with a different individual of the same species".