Sends CD passages from A. S. Taylor’s book [On poisons in relation to medical jurisprudence and medicine, 2d ed. (1859)], citing smallest portions of poisons that are chemically detectable. "Drosera beats the chemists hollow."
Explains discrepancies in weights and measures caused by changes since 1836 in apothecaries’ measures.
EC has found that a discrepancy in A. W. von Hofmann’s experiments with iodine solutions resulted from an error in Hofmann’s use of decimals.
Reports S. P. Woodward’s opinion of the Origin: "a very sad book, it unsettles all one’s religious principles and the worst of it is so much of it is true".
Comments on presentation copy of Orchids: bee Ophrys self-fertilisation; origin of nectar; odour of orchids. Book gives strong cases for special creationists.
Walter White [Asst.-Sec. and Librarian, Royal Society] has introduced EC to Richard Kippist of the Linnean Society, who has made little progress toward accepting Origin.
CD’s Linum paper [Collected papers 2: 93–105].
Sending up-to-date railway map of southern region.
Requests letter of introduction to Asa Gray.
Went to Linnean Society to hear CD’s Lythrum paper read [Collected papers 2: 106–31].
Impressed by Fritz Müller’s argument for natural selection in air-breathing apparatus of crustaceans ["The Darwinian hypothesis supported by observations on Crustacea", Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. 3d ser. 15 (1865): 410–16].
Plans to visit CD.
Sends Fritz Müller citation as CD requested.
Huxley is boldly proclaiming his Darwinism at Royal Institution ["Methods and results of ethnology", Not. Proc. R. Inst. G. B. 4: 460–3; also Collected essays 7 (1894)].
Reading Carl Vogt [Lectures on man (1864)].
Vogt, though anti-Lamarck, is converted to Darwinism.
How did CD handle his sons’ expenses at Cambridge?
Returns Hooker’s paper [unidentified].
Sends references to books by Charles Lebrun.
Congratulations on George’s being Second Wrangler at Cambridge.
Thanks for loan of Variation. "The Saturday Sadducees" do not believe there are a hundred people who understand the argument. EC fancies he does.
Says Hooker does not want plant.
Obliged for account of change in quality of wool. "Some authors will not admit that climate has any perceptible action."
Hopes his health is re-established.
Agrees that naval expeditions to the Arctic are a waste of money. Believes Sir J. Barrow responsible. "Dr [Richard?] King is quite right in the advantage of Land Expeditions".
May go to Paris next summer about barnacles.
Unable to appreciate second volume of Alexander von Humboldt’s Cosmos [1848].
Recommends review by Sir John Herschel [Edinburgh Rev. 87 (1848): 170–229].
Recommends book by Mary Somerville [Physical geography (1848)].
Mentions article [on species] by M. E. Chevreul [Ann. Sci. Nat. (Bot.) 3d ser. 6 (1846): 142–214].
Has written to William Buckland, recommending EC for position.
Encloses note from William Buckland [1190], stating that no appointment of surveyor is to be made. Thinks further recommendation would be unwise, but will write to Sir Henry De la Beche and [Robert?] Hutton if EC wishes.