Remarks that each of two species of Fagus separated by 1000 miles has a fungus that grows on it; the fungus species are probably closely allied.

Acknowledges election as Honorary Member of Shropshire and North Wales Natural History and Antiquarian Society.

Looks forward to the paper on CD’s edible fungus specimen from Tierra del Fuego [read 16 Mar 1841; Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 19 (1845): 37–43].

Sends a correction: Fagus betuloides, not F. antarctica, is the common tree of Tierra del Fuego.

Inquires about financial matters.

Thanks for finding a purchaser for the Shrewsbury Street Act securities and encloses the Transfers.

Encloses the transfer, signed and witnessed.

Asks for a pea variety for an experiment.

Discusses C. F. v. Gärtner’s results [in Bastarderzeugung im Pflanzenreich (1849)]. Criticises Gärtner’s belief that hybrids are always less fertile than their parents.

Asks about MJB’s experiments.

Thanks MJB for peas.

Thanks for approval of seed-soaking experiments in Gardeners’ Chronicle ["Does sea-water kill seeds?", 26 May 1855; Collected papers 1: 255–8]. They seem not to have convinced Hooker of consequences for geographical distribution.

Reports success of seed-soaking experiments. Celery and onion germinate after 85 days’ immersion.

Preparing paper on seed-soaking for Linnean Society ["Action of sea-water on seeds", Collected papers 1: 264–73]. Wants to use MJB’s results. Lost ardour when he found seeds would not float.

Has grown MJB’s purest pea seeds and got a few variants. Gärtner’s experiments suggest direct action of pollen, but CD thinks it is "mere variation".

Congratulates TB on his son’s success in scientific studies.

Susan Darwin’s death [Oct 1866] has severed last ties of family with Shrewsbury.

Appreciates MJB’s address [Rep. BAAS 38 (1868): 83–7]. Has had great respect for MJB’s knowledge since his undergraduate days at Cambridge.

Agrees that Pangenesis gemmules probably do not develop into free cells, but penetrate other cells in a manner analogous to fertilisation, and modify their development.

Discusses the division of R. W. Darwin’s estate.