Thanks for HHV’s interest in the census [CD’s plan to add questions on consanguineous marriage to the census] on which CD hopes to persuade Sir J. Lubbock to speak.
Desires permission to present JH's 'diagram of "macularity"' to the R.A.S.
Good news: one little rabbit has a white forefoot.
Crossing experiments and self-sterility [in Eschscholzia].
Pangenesis.
Hermann Müller on insect adaptations for fertilisation of flowers.
CD working on book on man and sexual selection.
Thanks JH for commentary on RP's Other Worlds than Ours. Responds to JH's comments, accepting most objections. Acknowledges his major debt to JH's writings.
About a grant to support [H. J. R.] Petersen while he carries out the reduction of terrestrial magnetic observations.
The research shows no particularly 'maculiferous' area on the sun, but WS may, as WS requested, present 'data' to the R.A.S. Has noticed two new spots on helioautographs on 20 and 27 April.
In a fortnight will begin to arrange notes on expression. Asks for FCD’s conclusions about the contraction of eye muscles. Is interested in abstract of FCD’s experiments on "rate of travelling of the nervous powers".
Encloses part of letter from Fritz Müller on Passiflora, with seeds.
Is endeavouring to have included in next census a question as to whether the parents in each household are cousins.
Answers to CD’s queries on expression; observations on the facial expressions of the insane.
Would support the application for a grant [see JH's 1870-5-12], but would like to see some changes in the way calculations are made.
Refers to several items of correspondence, and then comments on the calculation of Gaussian earth-constants to a higher power than has been done to date.
Comments on WP’s biographical article on CD. Asks him to thank O. F. Peschel for his present of the publication [Das Ausland 2 Apr 1870].
No summary available.
Assures RP that he is not upset at RP for publicly questioning some of JH's ideas. Continues discussion of point in perturbation theory for Uranus.
The Council of the R.A.S. would like JH's opinion on the accompanying paper and drawing by Francis Abbott, and whether it should appear in the R.A.S.M.N.
The illness and death of his daughter have delayed his answers to CD’s queries. He has, however, worked on the circulation of the eye and has almost finished a paper on it, which he will send to CD. In general, the views of Charles Bell are confirmed.
As for CD’s second query, he doubts that the relationship exists, but will answer fully in next letter.
On death of his wife. Botany a solace.
Admits JH is correct in suggested correction of RP's statement regarding perturbations of Uranus. Suggests that JH urge astronomers to observe the solar corona carefully.
Asks CD to review Wallace’s recent book of essays [Natural selection (1870)], particularly the new essay, which questions the applicability of natural selection to man.
