My dear Gray

I have not indulged myself for some little time in writing to you, though I have to thank you for two very pleasant notes, & for some pages of Silliman with several notices which I was glad to see.² Lythrum salicaria is coming out so clear (though all seed not counted) that I do not care much for other species; but I shall be very glad of seed of Nesæa.³ My geese are always at first Swans; but I cannot help going on marvelling at Lythrum. It is a consolation to me for I am utterly routed, beaten, “whipped” by those odious Melastomatads; yet I feel sure there is something very curious to be made out about them.⁴

On getting your last note, I looked at Rothrock’s observations on Houstonia;⁵ they are capital on the structure; but when I began to think how I could put the case for Gard. Chron, I failed; for the observations are not sufficient about reciprocal fertilisation.⁶ It would be a pity to spoil a good case; by aid a few experiments, if your seed will grow, I could make a paper & give all his facts.⁷

Now that we are at home again, I have begun dull steady work on “Variation under Domestication”; but alas & alas pottering over plants is much better sport.—⁸

By the way at Bournemouth, for the want of something else to do, I worked a bit at my old friend Drosera: I took to testing all sorts of fluids, which are not corrosive & do not, I believe, act on ordinary organic compounds, but do act on the nervous system of animals; & I declare I am coming to the conclusion that plants or at least Drosera, must have something closely analogous to nervous matter.⁹ It was pretty to see effect of acetate of strychnine, how it stopped all movement; & how acetate of morphia greatly dulled & retarted movement. I think I shall some day pursue this subject.—¹⁰

Another little point has interested me, viz finding such a number of natural hybrids between two species of Verbascum; & linking V. thapsus & lychnitis closely together. They are all utterly sterile. This fact has given Hooker, to whom I told it, a fit of the horrors.—¹¹

So we are all come to you next summer! Alas my days for moving anywhere are come to an end.¹²

Many thanks for sending the article in Daily News, which we read aloud in Family conclave.¹³ Our verdict was, that the N. was fully justified in going to war with the S.; but that as soon as it was plain that there was no majority in the S. for ReUnion, you ought, after your victories in Kentucky & Tennessee, to have made peace & agreed to a divorce. How curious it is that you all seem to believe that you can annex the South; whilst on this side of the Atlantic, it is the almost universal opinion that this is utterly impossible. If I could believe that your Presidents proclamation would have any effect, it would make a great alteration in my wishes;¹⁴ I would then run the risk of your seizing on Canada (I wish with all my heart it was an independent country) & declaring war against us. But slavery seems to me to grow a more hopeless curse. How detestably the special correspondent of the Times writes on the subject; the man has not a shade of feeling against slavery.¹⁵ This war of yours, however it may end, is a fearful evil to the whole world; & its evil effect will, I must think, be felt for years.— I can see already it has produced wide spread feeling in favour of aristocracy & Monarchism: no one in England will speak for years in favour of the people governing themselves.

Well good night.— Do not be indignant with me & do not let M^rs Gray be more indignant than she can help.—¹⁶ Good Night & farewell | Yours cordially | Ch. Darwin

N.B | Do you chance know anything of M^r Floy of N. York¹⁷ who sent in 1846 Hort. Soc. Journal vol I to Lindley ears of wild maize & says he cultivated it & saw Bracts decreasing.¹⁸ De Candolle doubts story.¹⁹ Is he trustworthy ie M^r Floy?)