JH appointed to a committee including George Wilson, David Brewster, Clerk Maxwell, William Thomson, and William Pole to study color blindness. They will be granted £10.
Wishes CD would enlarge on the doctrines of [Pyotr Simon] Pallas about the various races of dogs having come from several distinct wild species or sub-species.
Suggests organisms have a latent principle of improvement which is brought out by selection or breeding.
Encloses note from R. J. Kane. JH observed oscillating wave created by small waterfall in EW's garden at Holybourne. Requests diagram and measurements of it.
Tells how to get information on, and gain membership in, the London Library.
Congratulates JDH on finishing his introductory essay [to Flora Tasmaniae].
Lyell’s position on mutability appears more positive in his letters to JDH than in those to CD. Considers JDH a convert.
The antlers of 800 deer of the glacial period have been found in a cave. They show great variety of form, but gradation from one to the other can be traced when all are laid out. Suggests CD study changes that have taken place in the species since glacial period.
Has ordered the wicked book [Origin] CD has been so long a-hatching.
Discusses P. S. Pallas’ theory of origin of domestic dog breeds. CD believes domestic dogs descended from more than one aboriginal wild species but ultimately "we believe all canine species have descended from one parent and the only question is whether the whole or only part of difference in our domestic breeds has arisen since man domesticated them".
Races of man offer great difficulty. The doctrine of Pallas and Agassiz that there are several species "does not help us" in the least.
Hopes Henry Holland will not review Origin.
CD’s and CL’s difference on "principle of improvement" and "power of adaptation" is profound. Improvement in breeds of cattle requires neither. Urges him to reread first four chapters of Origin carefully. Natural selection is not to be contrasted with "improvement": every step involves improvement in relation to the conditions of life. There is no need for a "principle" to intervene.
Extract of letter from Charles Grey, asking B.A.A.S. to inform Prince Albert of estimated expenses for proposed five-year survey of terrestrial magnetism. As president of joint committee of B.A.A.S. and R.S.L., JH should answer this. Entry of three U.S. observatories may eliminate need for observatory in Newfoundland. Recent visit to Kew by A. T. Kupffer suggests that Russian stations may soon have self-recording instruments. Proposes suspending observatory in Falkland Islands until colonies decide to join survey. Dutch observatory in Java. Describes buildings needed for observatories. Estimates expenses for six years.
More detailed comments on JDH’s introductory essay [to Flora Tasmaniae]. Remarks on struggle of vegetation are admirable.
JDH will receive Origin in about ten days.
Sending a stereoscopic photograph of the gibbous moon and requesting information on various points. Has recently taken many photographs of the moon in various states.
Testimony to the value of HF's work when JH was Master of the Mint.
Since dogs have same gestation period as the wolf it is likely that the wolf is the ancestral wild species, if it is just one species.
CD’s belief that domestic dogs are descended from several distinct aboriginal species seems to contradict views on sterility of hybrids and variation in Origin. If domestic varieties came from hybrids of wild species it will be impossible to trace ancestry. Opponents will exploit these problems.
Requests information concerning a letter to the Treasury, which ES had asked JH to write, regarding funding for [meteorological] stations in Vancouver, Shanghai, Newfoundland, and the Falkland Islands.
Wavelet in garden stream is gone due to scarce water, but EW describes it from memory. [Husband] Walpole adds measurements. Returns note from R. B. Kane. EW hurt that her word about Elizabeth Baily was doubted by Lady K. B. Kane. Thanks JH for accepting EW's claim.
Proper procedure for communicating with Charles Grey. Cost and effectiveness of self-registering instruments versus older visual instruments. ES's method of estimating observatory expenses. Importance of observatory in Shanghai.
Is grateful for JH's testimonial, which will doubtless be of great value.
Further discussion of origin of domestic dog breeds.
Effects of crossing separate races.
Comments on rate of artificial and natural selection.
The origin of pigeon breeds.