CD is studying the Bible, likes the gospels best.
Glad he stayed for T. C. Hope’s lectures on electricity.
Is running short of funds.
Account of insects he has collected, with figures drawn by sister.
Mainly concerned with entomological specimens CD has recently captured. Three figures of beetles are included.
CD on a reading party at Barmouth, Wales;
difficulty with mathematics.
Reports on his entomological collecting.
His idle life and the pleasures of Barmouth: "my reading [in mathematics] is a failure"; "Beettle hunting … is my proper sphere".
Accepts invitation to a Music Meeting at Osmaston, Derbyshire.
Entomological news and queries.
Has taken up angling.
Asks JMH to collect some insects at Barmouth.
Reports on his shooting luck.
Sends some stuffed birds for "Osmaston Museum" and some insects.
Home having cloyed, plans to go to Woodhouse to visit the Owens and the black-eyed houris [Sarah and Fanny] there.
[Caroline Darwin on behalf of CD] submits a petition to Darwin family for £20 to purchase a new double-barrelled gun, CD’s present one having become dangerous.
CD obliged for JMH’s labours in "the science". He reports having spent a pleasant month. Entomological pursuits succeeded.
Looks forward to receiving beetles and butterflies from JMH when he passes through Shrewsbury.
Has met Frederick William Hope, the entomologist; relates F. W. Hope’s praise of CD’s collection and his generous offer of assistance.
Has found nice rooms in [Christ’s] College, which he has furnished with some very good prints. Lives almost entirely with W. D. Fox and entomology.
News of John Price, B. H. Kennedy, and Charles Whitley. Fanny Owen is as charming as ever.
CD is collecting entomological specimens;
extols the charms of Fanny Owen.
Entomological news, his poor success in collecting, observation of chrysalis.
Commiserates with WDF in his dismal pre-examination state.
Congratulates WDF on finishing at Cambridge; he regards his place as a very good one, and comments on how others did.
Father much pleased by gift of a swan.
Adds some entomological news.
Entomological visits with F. W. Hope and J. F. Stephens in London. News of insects taken and birds shot.
Has been advised by his tutor to defer the "Little Go". Sends news of Cambridge friends.
His routine days at Cambridge.
Entomology stopped for the present.
His reading, gambling, and parties. News of Cambridge friends.
Eager to hear how WDF and his family get on.
Entomology goes poorly. Harbour has given C. C. Babington first pick of the beetles, and CD has stopped buying from him.
Fire at Linton.
Has been in "a perfect and absolute state of idleness", riding and walking in the morning, gambling at Van John [vingt-et-un] in the evening.
"Little Go" has been unusually strict.
CD writes with much sympathy for WDF, whose sister [Mrs Bristowe] is alarmingly ill.