As JH has accepted the superintendency of the Admiralty Manual he will try to undertake the geological part, but it will take time as he is busy on another project.

Has forwarded JH's note to Robert Mallet, who no doubt will compress his part. Encloses his own part,which he fears may be too long. Would like a chance to see the proofs. When completed would like several copies.

Sends his manuscript. P.O. has been unable to trace the missing parcel. Comments on J. B. Elie de Beaumont's method of measuring lava streams; emphasizes the importance of repeated observations. Would like copies of the manual when completed.

As JH is interested in colors he sends him details of the color changes that the genus Ibla undergoes. Will send him a specimen if desired.

Encloses samples of the Ibla. Outlines the method of making it change color. Hopes he will not have to re-write his geological chapter for the Admiralty Manual.

Thanks him for Balanus specimens. Comments on his findings. A large Acasta in the wet state would be valuable. Asks JSB to mention his work to J. T. Quekett at the College of Surgeons.

Testimonial recommending B. Waterhouse Hawkins [for a teaching post].

Suggests various remedies for toothache.

Seeks excuse from jury duty on grounds of ill health.

CD asks if he may have the use of the cirripedes JS collected in Portugal. He will need to break up or make a section of at least one of each species.

Expresses admiration for JS’s paper on Malta ["On recent depressions in the land", Q. J. Geol. Soc. Lond. 3 (1847): 234–40], with its striking demonstration of the change of level between land and water there discovered.

Thanks WCW for his article ["Microscopical objects found in mud of Levant", Mem. Lit. & Philos. Soc. Manchester 2d ser. 8 (1848):1–128]. Comments on it; offers to send Ascension Island specimens. Urges WCW to re-examine coal-beds for Infusoria to determine whether intervening beds were deposited by sea-, brackish, or fresh water.

Undertakes to write geological part of Admiralty Instructions [A manual of scientific enquiry (1849), Collected papers 1: 227–50]. Has doubts as to his success.

Has been invited to contribute geological instructions [to J. F. W. Herschel, ed., Manual of scientific enquiry (1849); Collected papers 1: 227–50]. Asks RO whether remarks on coral reefs appertain to geology rather than zoology.

Looks forward to visit by Owens.

Invites him to dinner on Saturday the 12th. Charles and Mrs Lyell, Edward Forbes, Richard Owen, and Thomas Bell coming also.

"Will you bring your map of S. America … and we will have a talk over it."

Thanks the Trustees of the British Museum for entrusting to him the collection of Cirripedia and allowing him to disarticulate one specimen of each species.

Discusses loan of cirripede specimens from the British Museum and problems of classification. Encloses a note of thanks to be laid before the Trustees [see 1153].

Thanks for present of fossil Balani.

Thanks also for JS’s request to David Landsborough to send barnacle specimens.

Invites GRW to a dinner party with other scientists.

CD cannot find the lagoon-island mud that WCW asked about, but he sends other geological specimens he hopes will be interesting.

Thanks RC for information on hand-level; he has recommended it in his "Instructions" ["Geology", Collected papers 1: 227–50].