Summary

Thanks for the present of the book [Thomas Belt, The naturalist in Nicaragua (1874)].

Summary

Has just had printed a new edition of Descent [1874] and is anxious that this improved version be circulated in America.

Summary

Sends his paper ["Tidal action as a geological cause", Proc. Liverpool Geol. Soc. 2 (1874): 50–72].

Has not yet studied CD’s list of South American molluscs.

Summary

Mainly family news.

Eager to read GHD’s political economy MS "though Heaven knows whether I shall understand it".

Summary

Accepts CD’s suggestion of new edition of Descent, and asks that Murray supply the stereotype plates and woodcuts for $50 [dollars or pounds!?], as soon as possible; supply of copies of Descent is exhausted.

Will publish CD’s proposed book [Insectivorous plants (1875)] on same terms as other works.

Summary

Thanks JF for copy of Cosmic philosophy [1874].

Summary

LD’s letter recalled old scenes on board the Beagle.

CD’s "bothering correspondents" seem to increase in number and in folly; has just answered "two precious fools".

Has been working very hard on Droseraceae and can "now see daylight".

Summary

Will send Alexis Giraud-Teulon’s book [Origines de la famille (1874)], which he has received but not read, if JFM cares to read it.

Summary

Has forwarded JDH’s memorial to T. H. Farrer to take up with Sir Stafford Northcote and to ask him to consider the case of Kew personally. Has told Farrer that JDH was thinking of resigning if Government would not give him an assistant secretary.

Summary

Thanks JVC for a correction to 2d English edition of Descent, which is now finished. 1350 copies were sold at Murray’s sale.

Summary

Extremely glad to have JDH come to Down. It is wise of JDH to exert himself and face the inevitable as well as he can. [Death of JDH’s wife, 13 Nov.]

Summary

Thanks JM for granting his request. Will write to D. Appleton.

CD is sorry about heavy loss from Expression; still thinks the book will sell in the course of years.

Summary

CD thanks LN for his book [Die Welt als Entwicklung des Geistes], which he hopes to read soon, but his poor German hampers him.

Summary

Thanks for JWS’s updatings to his Darwinian bibliography and regrets he is a poor German scholar.

Summary

Quite agrees with JDH on inadvisability of Huxley’s taking on the Edinburgh lectures.

Is awaiting JDH’s memorial to the Board [of Works?] on his burdensome duties.

Glad to hear JDH finds ease in his work.

Summary

RBS seeks a testimonial from CD; he is applying for the British Museum vacancy left by J. E. Gray’s resignation and A. Günther’s promotion.

Summary

Spottiswoode is pressing for an answer to invitation to GHD to lecture at the Royal Institution. GHD is having MS of the paper he has written sent to CD, so that CD can advise whether he should accept the invitation.

Summary

Huxley feels he can accept the Edinburgh lecture invitation.

Also tells JDH he is preparing a paper for Linnean Society on classification which will uphold evolution ["On the classification of the animal kingdom", J. Linn. Soc. Lond. (Zool.) 12 (1876): 199–226]. He has thrown overboard all his old ideas of definite demarcation. He will make a clean breast of it, and will bear hard on necessity of all such ideas as Haeckel’s in dealing with systematic zoology.

Summary

Thanks WJB for his reference [see 9691]. Is curious fact that the humble bees did not use the pollen, but the hive bees did.

Summary

Testimonial stating CD’s opinion of RBS’s fitness for a higher post at the British Museum.