The family gardener reports on seeds he has gathered. RWD transmits the letter.
The family gardener reports on seeds he has gathered. RWD transmits the letter.
Wishes to inform CD that, contrary to CD’s impression, natural selection is widely accepted in U. S. by educated men; encloses copies of his lectures, papers, and the Index.
Thanks CD for interest in FEA’s work and for money for Index. Sends 1870 volume of Index.
Praises CD’s services to free-thought.
Asks for CD’s view of the influence of his theory on religion, to use in lecture.
For CD’s approval, cites passage from CD note he wants to quote in a lecture;
pleads for CD’s moral support for FEA’s work in free-thought movement.
Sends $50 [dollars or pounds!?] because he wants CD to become regular contributor to Index.
Thanks CD for five dollars and two-year subscription to Index, and for permission to quote CD’s compliments on Truths for the times.
Asks CD to read and comment, for publication, on his forthcoming essay in Index on the evolution of conscience and morals through action and reaction between man and the moral environment.
Thanks for money for further subscription to Index; FEA soon to step down as editor.
On CD’s solid reputation in America among rising men of science.
A poem, "Burns to Darwin".
Is studying Variation, especially Pangenesis. Reports earlier notion of Dr Robert Lee, that resemblance between husband and wife may be partly owing to her having man’s blood circulating in her during pregnancies; thus spouses most resemble each other in large families.
Thanks for letter on ALA’s qualifications for vacant chair of natural history.
Reports observations on deer which have larger left antlers than right, possibly for protection of heart.
Sends newspaper clipping about a nest of young birds, apparently hybrid offspring of a cock goldfinch and a hen green linnet.
Asks whether he may see CD before leaving England.
Instances of sexual differences in viviparous fishes, suggested by reading chapters on sexual selection [in Descent] and by Mivart’s Genesis of species.
Notes on echinoderms.
Thanks for new [6th] edition of Origin.
Is working on Echini.
The more material he gets the less easy it is to diagnose a genus or species. Has little doubt that "classification is nothing but the most arbitrary convenient tool, depending upon the material at our command at a special time".
Thanks for Expression.
Has lost a year’s work in the fire that has devastated Boston.
Is mapping coral distribution on the Tortugas reef. His observations on the Florida peninsula suggest that it was built up from the debris of animal remains and was not elevated.
Discusses the structure and formation of the Florida peninsula. Part played by marine animals in building banks on which coral can thrive.
Introduces J. P. Lesley, "the most accomplished geologist of the United States".
LA clarifies his opposition to CD’s views, which does not blind him to the great value of CD’s original researches.
Answers CD’s questions regarding sexual coloration of Amazonian fishes and the protuberances on the head of male Geophagus and Cichla during the spawning season [see Descent, pp. 520, 529].
Introduces his son Alexander; believes CD will find him "more tractable" on certain questions than LA himself is.